Tom and Jerry
Cognac and rum with whipped egg and hot milk. A Victorian Christmas classic.
Served hot · Heatproof glass · Advanced · about 4 minutes · about 11% ABV
Ingredients
- 30 ml Cognac
- 30 ml Dark rum
- 1 Whole egg
- 15 ml Sugar syrup
- 90 ml Milk
- Grated nutmeg (garnish)
Method
- Warm the glass
- Pour 30 ml cognac into the glass
- Pour 30 ml dark rum into the glass
- Add 1 whole egg
- Pour 15 ml sugar syrup into the glass
- Pour 90 ml milk into the glass
- Garnish
Tip
Whisk the egg with sugar until fluffy, then add the spirits and hot milk.
About the Tom and Jerry
The Tom and Jerry is often linked to the 1820s book Life in London by Pierce Egan, whose characters were called Tom and Jerry. Jerry Thomas made it famous in America. It was a Christmas classic long before the cartoon cat and mouse.
The hot drink family. Hot drinks of spirit, sugar, spice and hot water were common in Britain and America by the 1700s, as a remedy against cold and illness. The toddy took its name from a palm-sap drink in India. Mulled wine, hot buttered rum and the Tom and Jerry carried the tradition into Victorian times.
Tom and Jerry FAQ
What's in a Tom and Jerry?
30 ml cognac, 30 ml dark rum, 1 whole egg, 15 ml sugar syrup, 90 ml milk, garnished with grated nutmeg.
How strong is a Tom and Jerry?
About 11% ABV once mixed with ice, which is 1.9 Australian standard drinks per serve. That is about as strong as a glass of wine or lighter.
Should I shake or stir a Tom and Jerry?
Neither. Build it in a warm glass and stir until any sugar dissolves.
What glass do you serve a Tom and Jerry in?
A heatproof glass, about 250 ml. Warm the glass first. No heatproof glass? Use a coffee mug.
