The next time you take a sip of eggnog, you should know you’re indulging in a centuries-old tradition that traces back to medieval Britain. This sweet concoction — made from milk, cream, sugar, spices, and eggs — is the modern descendent of posset, a fixture of festive gatherings in the Middle Ages. Posset recipes vary, but most combine wine or beer with cream, sugar, and eggs, and are topped with a thick gruel made from bread, biscuits, oatmeal, or almond paste. To separate the drink from its rich topping, it was served in specialized “posset pots,” teapot-like vessels with two handles and a spout. These unique pots were passed around at English celebrations, particularly weddings, to toast prosperity and good health.
George Washington banned eggnog from his Mount Vernon estate.
On the contrary, Washington seemed to embrace this tradition. Several eggnog recipes have been discovered at the estate, including one believed to be from Washington himself, which he reportedly served to guests. It includes eggs, sugar, salt, whipping cream, nutmeg, and bourbon.
Several centuries later, the drink made its way to the American colonies, where it became a hallmark of holiday festivities. Colonists added rum, making it more potent, which paved the way for the modern recipe as we know it. By1775, the term “eggnog” was part of the American English vernacular. Etymologists pose two theories about its origin. The first suggests that “nog” comes from “noggin,” meaning a wooden cup, while others speculate it comes from “grog,” a strong beer. The origin of the word “posset” is more mysterious, possibly from the Latin word posca for a drink made of vinegar and water. The term endures to this day in the world of British baking, although it now refers to a cold cream-based dessert.
Often called “Puerto Rican eggnog,” coquito is a festive coconut milk-based drink.
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Spiked eggnog caused a “grog mutiny” at West Point.
The infamous “grog mutiny” at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, is an uncharacteristically unruly chapter in the highly esteemed institution’s history — and it all started with spiked eggnog. In 1826, West Point’s annual Christmas party erupted into chaos after Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, the superintendent, banned alcohol — including eggnog — from campus.
A group of defiant cadets boated up the Hudson River to gather whiskey from a nearby town, smuggling a few gallons onto campus by bribing a guard 35 cents for reentry. Mayhem ensued as eggnog-fueled cadets sought retribution by assaulting Captain Ethan Allen Hitchcock, the officer on duty during the party. As the revelers smashed windows, broke furniture, and even drew swords, Hitchcock barricaded himself in his room, calling upon the commandant for reinforcements. The mutiny eventually dispersed, but 19 cadets and one soldier were court-martialed for their involvement in the “eggnog riot” — a holiday rebellion that’s since been cemented into West Point lore.
Rachel Gresh
Writer
Rachel is a writer and period drama devotee who's probably hanging out at a local coffee shop somewhere in Washington, D.C.
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