Drinks

Auld Man’s Milk

January 8, 2016 by Jennifer

labeled cocktail

For the past several months all we’ve been hearing about here in California is the El Niño. It’s a serious rain storm that comes from the warming of the oceans. We’ve been waiting and waiting for all this cold rain and wind and it finally showed up this week. In abundance.

Yes, it’s finally cold and super wet here in California, and when it’s that cold and wet all I want to do is cuddle up under a blanket in front of a crackling fire with a nice warm drink. In the past I’ve enjoyed Hot Buttered Rum, Mulled Wine and even the occasional Hot Toddy. I love the rich flavors from those drinks. But more than that, I love the feeling of that hot elixir passing my lips, coating my tongue and warming me up as it travels down my throat. It’s heaven. So when I discovered there were hot classics that used beer, I just had to try them.

Now I’ll admit, I’m not a beer fan. In fact I hate beer. Well, I enjoy light beers like Corona. But Hubs loves beer. He enjoys the full spectrum from light to dark. He’s not a big fan of mulled wines or spiced ciders though, as they tend to be too sweet for him. It was clear these cocktails, from Charles H. Baker’s Gentleman’s Companion, were made for men like him. And just as I suspected he really enjoyed the drink. But “it must be hot,” he said. “Once it cooled off it wasn’t very fun.”

So there you have it, right from the man’s lips: this is not a drink to be sipped over a couple hours. This is a cocktail to be enjoyed shortly after it’s poured. But don’t worry, when it’s as chilly and wet as it is here these days, I’m going to be imbibing the drink as quickly as my tongue can handle it.

close up

Auld Man’s Milk

Ingredients:

  • 1 (12 oz.) bottle of Scotch Ale
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
  • 1-1/2 oz. Scotch

Directions:

  1. Pour the bottle of ale into a small saucepan and cook over low heat until it begins to simmer. DO NOT boil.
  2. Whisk in the cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger until combined.
  3. While the ale is heating up, whisk together the egg yolks and brown sugar in a small bowl. Once the ale is hot, whisk in the egg mixture until thoroughly blended.
  4. Fill a mug with the ale mixture, add the scotch whiskey and serve immediately.