Tom and Jerry

Where Did the Cocktail Come From?

A popular Christmastime cocktail in the US, a Tom and Jerry was invented in the 1820s by Pierce Egan. It’s a variation of eggnog with rum and brandy added. This cocktail is served hot, usually in a bowl or mug.

Another variation uses beaten stiff, egg whites, vanilla extract and sugar and yolks folded in. Rum and hot water are then added and the drink is topped with nutmeg.

A Tom and Jerry is hard to find outside of the Northern Rocky Mountain or Upper Midwest area. It’s served mainly in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Regional supermarkets also offer pre-made Tom and Jerry batter during the Christmas season. The batter is usually produced by Minnesota and Wisconsin manufacturers.

The name of the drink is related neither to Jerry Thomas, a popular bartender and author of one of the original guides for bartenders nor to the well-known cartoon characters of MGM, Tom and Jerry. Its name is a reference to Pierce Egan’s book titled Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom and the stage performance Tom and Jerry, or Life in London.

To promote the play and the book, Egan produced a variant of eggnog by adding brandy. He called this new creation “Tom and Jerry”. The extra fortification made the drink popular.

Ingredients for Making the Cocktail

·         One bottle dark rum

·         One bottle brandy

·         One cup sugar

·         Twelve eggs

·         Milk

·         Ground allspice

·         Ground cloves

·         Ground cinnamon

·         Nutmeg

Preparation Stages

Separate the eggs and beat the whites until a stiff froth is formed. Combine the yolks and sugar and beat it until it’s as thin as water while slowly adding four ounces of brandy. You can also add a pinch of ground cinnamon, cloves and allspice. The whites can now be folded into the yolks. When it’s ready to serve, stir it one more time and put one tablespoon of this batter into a small tumbler or mug. Add one ounce Jamaican rum and one ounce of brandy. Stir it constantly to prevent curdling. Fill to the brim with hot milk and keep stirring until you get foam. You can sprinkle a bit of grated nutmeg on top.

Making your own Tom and Jerry may need a particular amount of fiddling and some practice, but it is worth the time and effort. Some may find the milk too filling and rich, so what they use instead is half boiling water and half hot milk.

Also, do not worry about raw eggs. If your water or milk is above 165⁰ F, the eggs are prepared and cooked in a way that bacteria cannot survive. A Tom and Jerry is a completely safe drink.

A Tom and Jerry is a must try for every explorer of the world of drinks. The classic winter cocktail is best with hot milk as it makes the drink thicker compared to hot water.