Bourbon Milk Punch
Bourbon Milk Punch is a creamy, bourbon-forward cocktail that is a wonderful merriment of flavors and perfect for brunch or a chilly night!
Why We Love Bourbon Milk Punch
- Bourbon milk isn’t just classic, it’s historic! First created centuries ago, it became a bourbon drink when it was brought to America, as bourbon was much more common. Cheers to history!
- You may think the words “milk” and “punch” shouldn’t mix, but punch just means 5 ingredients, which this drink has! Check out the Tips section on bourbon swaps too, to enjoy the different flavors this punch can have.
- For all those who dislike eggnog but crave a creamy and boozy milk punch cocktail, this drink is for you!
- Bourbon Milk Punch is not just a fantastic holiday or cold-weather drink, but also a traditional brunch cocktail! Not too sweet, heavy, or thick, this milk punch is perfect for sipping anytime!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make a Milk Punch Cocktail
DAIRY: You will need 2% milk for this punch, along with a little half-and-half. Fat-free half-and-half is fine to use in this drink.
BOURBON: You’ll want to either pick up your favorite bourbon or at least purchase one that tastes good! If you’re not a bourbon drinker, ask friends and family what they like or pick up a popular brand like Knob Creek, or Maker’s Mark.
PANTRY ITEMS: Add a touch of sweetness to this drink with powdered sugar and vanilla extract. You’ll also need a little nutmeg to garnish the drink.
How to Make Milk Punch
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add the milk, half-and-half, bourbon, and vanilla extract. Lastly, add the powdered sugar on top.
STEP 2 Close and shake the cocktail shaker well for about 30 seconds. Strain the drink into a rocks glass.
STEP 3 Grate fresh nutmeg over the top of the milk punch before serving.
Tips & Tricks
- If you don’t have a cocktail shaker you can use a mason jar with a lid and once the drink is shaken, pour the drink through a strainer into a glass.
- I highly recommend fresh nutmeg for the garnish. The aroma of the drink and nutmeg together is too delicious to describe. You can use a sprinkle of ground nutmeg, but the fresh stuff will give your cocktail an extra oomph.
- Popular bourbon substitutions for this milk punch include whiskey, brandy, and rum. In New Orleans, brandy milk punch is a much-loved drink. In Ireland, where Irish whiskey is used in the punch, it has its own name- Scaitlin. Rum is loaded with its own spices and would make a wonderfully tasty rum milk punch alternative to bourbon. Try out all the ways to make milk punch and find your favorite!
- This drink is best made by the glass and not in a pitcher. Shaking the drink is essential to fully mixing the powdered sugar, which is not accomplished by stirring everything in a pitcher.
Milk Punch Recipe FAQ
What is Milk Punch?
Milk punch is a drink that originally hails from Scotland and is typically made with milk, a spirit, vanilla extract, sugar, and a spice garnish. The type of spirit used in milk punch varies by region, with bourbon, whiskey, and brandy being the most popular spirits used.
Clarified milk punch is also very popular and historic. When food storage was more of a concern, it was discovered that heating the milk with an acid, such as lemon juice, would cause the fat in the milk to curdle, which could then be strained out, leaving a clear punch that could be bottled and preserved thanks to the alcohol.
Which Christmas beverage is milk punch?
The quintessential Christmas drink is egg nog, which can be made with or without alcohol. When the drink is made with alcohol it becomes a milk punch, specifically known as egg milk punch! The only difference between egg nog and milk punch is the addition of raw eggs in egg nog.
All milk punches are garnished with a lovely and fragrant spice and around the holidays, even more spices can be used to really give the drink a great seasonal smell and taste. Just think of how great your milk punch will be with cinnamon and cloves in addition to the nutmeg!
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Bourbon Milk Punch
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ounces 2% milk
- 2 ½ tablespoons half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ ounces bourbon
- 4 teaspoons powdered sugar
- Fresh nutmeg or ground nutmeg, for garnish
- Ice
Instructions
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in the milk, half-and-half, vanilla, bourbon, and powdered sugar.
- Secure the lid in place and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into a rocks glass. Grate some fresh nutmeg over the top before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.
GAH!!!!!!!!!!! Pour me one ASAP, lady!
Bring your butt up here and I will!
I must have been from the French Quarter in a precious Life!