Milk Punch

Creamy Milk Punch is a centuries-old cocktail, combining creamy milk with warming bourbon, dark rum or brandy. Sweetened with simple syrup and garnished with freshly-ground nutmeg, this easy cocktail has the perfect balance of sweetness. It has all the makings of eggnog — without the egg!

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About this Classic Milk Punch recipe

In my opinion, there aren’t enough creamy cocktails out there. I love a smooth, rich and velvety drink and this Milk Punch is one of those! It’s a quick and cozy little cocktail and is wonderful served with dessert, as a nightcap or even during brunch.

When I make drinks like a white Russian or a pink squirrel, I’m reminded of how delicious sweet cocktails like these can be! Milk Punch is incredibly easy too — so easy that you only need five ingredients and a couple tools to make it.

The holiday season is often full of warm drinks, but for those in the warmer climates (like me) the warming beverages can sometimes be too much. That’s where recipes like easy bourbon milk punch come in!

This classic cocktail is a lot like eggnog, sans eggs. Each sip has that creamy, smooth texture and delightful nutmeg undertones! It’s a wonderful beverage to serve during the holidays, whether you’re enjoying chilly weather or soaking up warm sunshine.

More creamy cocktails: Nutty Irishman Drink • Bailey’s White Russian • White Chocolate Peppermint Martini

Why you’ll love this recipe

This lovable, classic cocktail will quickly become a favorite recipe:

• Easily adjust the recipe to make milk punch dairy-free and vegan! That way, anyone and everyone can enjoy this yummy treat.
• Serve milk punch at parties, brunch, for dessert or simply as a fun drink on the weekend. It’s simple enough that you can truly make it at any time!
• With only five ingredients needed, virtually anyone can make this cocktail. There’s a reason it’s a classic that has stood the test of time.
• It’s a great alternative to eggnog with a similar flavor and vibe.

What is Milk Punch?

Milk punch is a rich, creamy cocktail made with milk (or cream), a spirit such as brandy, rum or bourbon, sugar and a dash of nutmeg. Served chilled, it’s a classic Southern drink, especially popular at brunches and festive gatherings.

Its history dates back to 17th-century England, where it was initially a clarified beverage enjoyed for its smooth texture and ability to keep well. Clarified milk punch is made by adding an acid like lemon juice to curdle the milk. The solids are strained off, leaving behind a silky, clarified liquid. This type is still popular today, and you’ll sometimes find it on the menu of craft cocktail bars.

The recipe made its way to America and non-clarified milk punch found its place as a popular refreshment in the 18th century. This rich, velvety version was especially loved in New Orleans, where it became a staple at Brennan’s Restaurant in the French Quarter, open since 1946. It’s popular at the holidays, as it’s a lighter cousin of eggnog.

Tools & glassware 

You only need a few basic tools for this quick cocktail! Make sure you have a jigger to measure all of the ingredients, as well as a cocktail shaker and plenty of ice. You’ll need a rocks glass for serving and a microplane grater to grate the fresh nutmeg. Other than that, you’re set!

Ingredients

You only need five ingredients to make this milk punch! Here’s what to grab to make this easy recipe:

• whiskey, dark rum or brandy — or a combination of these
• simple syrup
• whole milk, or your milk of choice
• freshly-ground nutmeg, for garnish
• ice

Best alcohol for Milk Punch

Whiskey, rum and brandy are all excellent and classic choices for milk punch. You can even use a combination of them! Just keep it to about 2 ounces of alcohol total.

• bourbon: Use your favorite bourbon in this classic cocktail! The spicy notes of bourbon cut through the creaminess of the milk and make the most delicious combination. If you need help choosing a good brand of bourbon, I go over all the details of different brands in bourbon 101.
• dark rum: The rich, caramel-like notes in dark rum are perfect for milk punch. You can use my homemade spiced rum too if you’d like more flavor! Otherwise, check out rum 101 for a guide on the best rums.
• brandy: Brandy is a great and underrated cocktail mixer. It adds a smooth, fruity sweetness to a drink like the brandy alexander.

Substitutions & variations

Use a flavored simple syrup: Regular ol’ simple syrup is all you need to sweeten this cocktail. However, you can get adventurous and change up the flavor of the simple syrup for an extra cozy beverage! Cinnamon simple syrup would be so tasty too. Maple syrup is a delicious (and festive) sweetener to use if you don’t have simple syrup.

Make it thicker or thinner: I like whole milk because it makes this drink really creamy, but you can use 2% or skim. You can also stir in some heavy cream for an extra creamy drink.

Make it dairy-free and vegan: Make milk punch dairy free by using a milk substitute like almond milk, oat milk, or coconut milk.

Instructions

There are only a few steps to this extremely simple, yet wonderfully delicious cocktail:

Carefully measure each ingredient — the whiskey, rum, simple syrup, vanilla extract and milk — and add them all to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well to combine, which will thicken the milk to a velvety consistency.

Then strain the mixture into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a dusting of freshly-grated nutmeg. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Grated nutmeg garnish

This simple garnish adds a lovely flavor to your cocktail. If you don’t have a microplane grater, you can use powdered nutmeg. It just won’t have quite as bold of a flavor that fresh nutmeg has. Add extra spices into milk punch if you’d like! Cinnamon and clove would be tasty. Or even add a cinnamon stick as a garnish.

Tips & tricks

These few tips and tricks will help ensure your milk punch is perfect:

• The key to a good milk punch is fresh milk. Use the highest quality milk you can get! Local is even better.
• Give the milk punch a taste before serving. If you find that it isn’t sweet enough, you can add an extra splash of simple syrup.
• Experiment with flavors like using a quality cinnamon whiskey or homemade vanilla syrup to enhance the drink.

Food pairings

This is a fabulous cocktail to serve with breakfast and brunch treats! While I love a mimosa, it’s great to have a break from citrus beverages sometimes. Serve these cinnamon sugar donuts or some blueberry muffins with milk punch.

Cinnamon rolls or a fried egg and avocado toast make for tasty pairings as well. Since this is often served as a dessert cocktail, you can also pair it with treats like chocolate bourbon pecan pie or earl grey shortbread cookies.

For cocktail hour, pair it with things like a charcuterie board or some spiced nuts. It’s also a delicious nightcap or dessert drink.

FAQ

More bourbon cocktails

• Bourbon Ginger Ale Cocktails
• Bourbon Hot Toddy
• Whiskey Sour
• Bourbon Slush