{"id":33624,"date":"2024-12-24T20:34:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-25T01:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/?p=33624"},"modified":"2024-12-26T20:36:19","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T01:36:19","slug":"cocktail-recipe-set-sail-for-a-potent-holiday-adventure-with-the-atomic-navy-nog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slammie.com\/atomicgrog\/blog\/2024\/12\/24\/cocktail-recipe-set-sail-for-a-potent-holiday-adventure-with-the-atomic-navy-nog\/","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail recipe: Set sail for a potent holiday adventure with the Atomic Navy Nog"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s nothing more ubiquitous during the Christmas season than a traditional eggnog, whether its a non-alcoholic version for the whole family or a boozy variation featuring whiskey, rum and\/or brandy. It’s hard to mess up this holiday standard if you know what you’re doing, so we saw no need to weigh in with a unique recipe of our own. Until now.<\/p>\n

\"Jeff<\/a>
Jeff “Beachbum” Berry serves up a tasty nog at Sippin’ Santa. (Official photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Over the past decade or so, we’ve tasted some excellent examples of modern nogs at the annual Miracle<\/a> and Sippin’ Santa<\/a> pop-up bars. In general, the craft cocktail revival has raised the bar on this formerly cringey classic that was more often served out of a carton.<\/p>\n

Esteemed author and barkeep Jeffrey Morgenthaler is widely credited with championing eggnog with a craft cocktail slant,<\/a> leading to a plethora of modern recipes. The recent explosion of local Christmas pop-ups that followed in Miracle’s wake has made the options even more plentiful.<\/p>\n

But even in its most elevated form, eggnog is not typically a showcase for bold and aggressive rums. Kevin Crossman’s Ultimate Egg Nog<\/a> is solid, but it splits the base with bourbon. Inspired by Derek Cole’s Tiki Eggnog, updated this year on his Make and Drink channel on YouTube<\/a>, I sought to lean into the Tiki spices but also bring to the table the most flavor-packed (and potent) rum(s) in a classic eggnog format.<\/p>\n

\"Hamilton<\/a>
Hamilton Beachbum Berry’s Navy Grog Blend (114 proof) and Planteray Mister Fogg Navy Rum (111.4 proof) are robust and flavorful mixing rums. (Official photos)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The result is the Atomic Navy Nog, featuring not one but two Navy-style rums that have been calling my name since their release. Both Beachbum Berry’s Navy Grog Blend<\/a> from Hamilton Rum and Mister Fogg Navy Rum<\/a> from Planteray are outstanding mixing rums that deserve a lot more use beyond the namesake Navy Grog.<\/a><\/p>\n

You could easily use one bottle or the other in this recipe if that’s all you have, but the 50\/50 blend is surprisingly not too muddled or muted. In the Don the Beachcomber tradition, two rums are indeed better than one, even if they already are complex three- and four-country blends. To complete the link back to Donn Beach, I tried to employ some of his other favorite ingredients (cinnamon syrup, Gardenia Mix) to give the nog some depth of flavor beyond the rum.<\/p>\n

The result, I hope, is a spicy and rummy eggnog that retains its classic form but gives rum and Tiki aficionados an extra special treat.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Atomic<\/a>
Atomic Navy Nog in the Atomic Grog, December 2024. (Photo by Hurricane Hayward)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ATOMIC NAVY NOG<\/strong><\/font>
\n(By Hurricane Hayward, The Atomic Grog)<\/em><\/p>\n

• 1 ounce Planteray Mister Fogg Navy Rum
\n• 1 ounce Hamilton Beachbum Berry’s Navy Grog Blend
\n• 1\/2 ounce vanilla-infused brandy
\n• 1\/2 ounce cinnamon syrup
\n• 1\/2 ounce Don’s Gardenia Mix (see substitution suggestions below)
\n• 3\/4 ounce heavy whipping cream
\n• 1\/2 ounce evaporated milk
\n• 1 large whole egg<\/p>\n

Method:<\/strong> Put all ingredients into a mixing tin and blend with a top-down mixer (or shake) without ice for around 8 seconds. Add 3\/4 cup of crushed ice and pulse blend (or shake) for another 8 seconds. Strain into a festive double old-fashioned glass containing a large snowball (ice sphere). Top with grated nutmeg.<\/p>\n

Eggnog is usually served without ice. I like mine to remain ice cold, so instead of crushed or cubed ice, which could add too much dilution, I opted for a large sphere. It not only dilutes the drink less, it adds a nice festive touch if you imagine it to be an errant snowball. As Buddy the Elf would say: “Son of a Nutcracker!”<\/p>\n

Tasting notes:<\/strong> A rich and spicy grog-meets-nog that packs a boozy punch. The bold rums are tempered by the creamy ingredients, and the nuanced flavors rise above your typical milk punch.<\/p>\n