Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch (2024)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. Click here for details.

Warming and cozy hot bourbon milk punch is a great drink to have when the snow is coming down on a winter’s day! Creamy, a little bit spicy, just sweet enough, and steaming. It will warm you all the way to your toes!

Hello, all!

Chilly enough for you? Then you need a hot drink and I have just the thing.

If you’ve been here before, then you might have noticed my love affair with bourbon. I put it in desserts, in dinner recipes, and of course in co*cktails. I love the rich, mellow flavor with its maple and vanilla and caramel notes. It’s just so friendly with the way I like to cook and eat!

I love it especially for winter friendly co*cktails, like my hot apple pie co*cktail, and my cranberry old fashioned, so it seems an excellent time to make a new winter co*cktail featuring bourbon, maple syrup, and warm spices. This recipe has a lot in common with eggnog, but it’s simpler since you don’t have to deal with the eggs, perfect for those times you want a hot drink and you want it now.

Lost and Found

Though I will admit that you almost didn’t get this co*cktail.

This is the co*cktail I made and lost and made again (but not quite right) and then found.

Way back towards the beginning of my blogging career, I was…shall we say…less organized about keeping track of my recipes. I have always used a recipe notebook and done my best to write the recipes in the notebook and not on loose pieces of paper, but making an index didn’t occur to me until I was about halfway through notebook #2 and realized I was losing track of older recipes which were still being tested.

Recipes like this one! Which I made and wrote down and then got distracted by shiny new recipes and then forgot I had even written it down! When I tried to recreate it this winter (my daughter wanted the kid’s version), I couldn’t get quite right and had given up. And then by pure chance I opened the old notebook to the right page and there it was!

Once I found the recipe again, I wasted no time in putting it into a properly indexed notebook, taking photos, and getting this post up. I’m not going to take any chances of losing this hot and cozy co*cktail recipe a third time.

Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch (2)

What do you need?

  • Milk – Go with whole for just enough creaminess.
  • Spices – Cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla.
  • Maple Syrup – For its complexity and flavor!
  • Bourbon – Don’t use the expensive stuff, but any mid-range bourbon would be great.

How to make this

To make bourbon milk punch, heat milk together with cinnamon, allspice, and maple syrup until steaming. Steep to infuse with the spices, then strain, and add the bourbon and vanilla. Serve topped with whipped cream and nutmeg.

This is a very simple co*cktail to make! I do have a few tips and tricks, though.

Tips and Tricks

  1. Whole Spices. Use whole spices and not ground when steeping the milk. Ground spices will make the milk gritty and won’t have the same full flavor as the whole spices.
  2. Keep it Hot. If the bourbon cools off the milk too much, rewarm it briefly before pouring it into your glass. (Alternatively, give your cup a quick trip in the microwave.)
  3. Make Ahead. You can make the spiced milk base ahead and store it in the fridge until you want to warm it up and add the alcohol.
  4. Enjoy Without Alcohol. This recipe is easy to make kid-friendly! The spiced milk is delicious on its own. Warm it up as a fun treat for the kids.

Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch (3)

Can I make this non-alcoholic?

Certainly!

Skip the bourbon, and it is a great warming drink for kids and anyone else who doesn’t want to drink alcohol. My daughter gives the kid version of the recipe high marks. (That’s her hand there below snagging a drink as I finished pictures.)

Milk punch vs. eggnog

Eggs.

Honestly, that is the big difference. In an eggnog recipe, you will heat the milk and then add egg yolks and gently heat them in the milk until the eggnog is thick and creamy. In milk punch, you heat the milk and spices with no eggs, which is a simpler recipe, though not as thick.

Basically, the differences are: eggs, thickness, ease.

Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch (4)

More Winter co*cktails

  • Hot Spiced Eggnog
  • Peppermint White Russian
  • Thick Italian Hot Chocolate

If you try my recipe for Bourbon Milk Punch, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.

You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails or liking my Facebook or Pinterest (see the form and icons in the sidebar or below the recipe card)

– Happy Drinking, Annemarie

Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch (5)

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch

Hot spiced bourbon milk punch is a simple and cozy winter co*cktail full of warming spices and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup. Top with whipped cream to make it extra special! Great as for the holidays or as a Christmas drink.

Prep Time0 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: bourbon milk punch, milk punch

Servings: 2 drinks

Calories: 300kcal

Author: justalittlebitofbacon

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 6-8 allspice berries
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3 oz bourbon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • toppings: whipped cream, nutmeg

Instructions

  • Pour the milk into a saucepan. Add the cinnamon stick, allspice berries, and maple syrup.

  • On medium heat, warm the milk until it's steaming and very hot, with small bubbles around the edges, but not boiling.

  • Take it off the heat, cover, and let steep for about 10 minutes.

  • If you are adding the bourbon, add that now. (If the punch cools down too much at this point, put it back on the heat and warm until steaming.) Then stir in the vanilla.

  • Strain out the spices. Pour the punch into two glasses. Top with whipped cream and nutmeg.

Notes

  • Non-alcoholic version: Simply omit the bourbon and enjoy the spiced milk alone.
  • Variations: 1- Change it up by using brandy or rum. 2- Add a few whole cloves to the milk along with the other spices. 3- Use half and half or heavy cream for some of the milk.
  • Cold Weather Version: Once the milk has done steeping, strain and add the bourbon and vanilla. Then fill glasses with ice and pour the co*cktail over to chill.

Related Posts:

  • Homemade Hot Spiced Bourbon Eggnog
  • Maple Lime Bourbon Sour
  • Peppermint White Russian Holiday co*cktail
  • Hot Apple Pie Bourbon co*cktail
  • Blood Orange Bourbon Smash
  • Classic Manhattan co*cktail with Amarena Cherries
Hot Spiced Bourbon Milk Punch (2024)

FAQs

What does bourbon milk punch taste like? ›

Bourbon and nutmeg combine on the nose to offer strong earthy notes. It's sweet on the tip of the tongue, followed by a delicate creaminess and a spicy finish from the base spirit. Bourbon's sweet nuttiness cuts through the dairy resulting in a lush, silky texture similar to a Brandy Alexander.

How much milk do you put in a milk punch? ›

(Do not use ice cold milk as it will inhibit the curdling needed for this process.) Traditional recipes use a 1:4 ratio of milk to co*cktail—one part milk for every four parts mixed drink. Add the milk into a separate container. Then, sacrifice your crafted co*cktail to the dairy gods by slowly pouring it into the milk.

How do you clarify milk punch? ›

Line a large, fine-mesh sieve with a commercial-sized coffee filter (we like those made for 1.5-gallon machines) and strain the mixture into a wide, 4-quart container. Once completely filtered, typically about 1 hour, transfer to a quart jar or pitcher and chill to serve.

Is milk punch the same as eggnog? ›

Eggnog (/ˈɛɡˌnɒɡ/), historically also known as a milk punch or an egg milk punch when alcoholic beverages are added, is a rich, chilled, sweetened, dairy-based beverage. It is traditionally made with milk, cream, sugar, egg yolks, and whipped egg whites (which gives it a frothy texture, and its name).

What kind of milk do you use for milk punch? ›

Rule one of milk punches: use full fat milk. Skim milks, nut milks, soy, oat and coconut milk won't curdle as well and therefore won't clarify as well, meaning your end result will be cloudy.

Is bourbon Sweet or spicy? ›

Finally, it must be between 80 and 160 proof. For a spirit that is so regulated, it is surprising how many varieties and flavors you can find on the shelf. Bourbons are typically described as sweet or spicy. Most bourbons tend to have some sweetness.

How long do you leave milk punch on? ›

The milk should break as you add the co*cktail. Stop stirring when it breaks, and gently add the rest of the co*cktail batch without agitating it. Allow the mixture to rest for at least 15 minutes and up to a few hours.

Do you need to refrigerate milk punch? ›

It is a preservation method, so it stabilizes the acid so that it cannot go bad. You can keep them refrigerated in glass jars but you can even keep them at room temperature in a wine cellar. The method is just totally bulletproof, no matter what you do to it.”

How do you clarify bourbon with milk? ›

i.e. 100 grams of bourbon would be 20 grams of whole milk. Slowly pour the bourbon into the milk (not the other way around, because the milk curdles instantly otherwise) and watch as curds start to magically form. Gently stir and let the mixture sit for 3 hours before straining multiple times through a cheese cloth.

Why make a milk punch? ›

Appearing on the menu of almost every single bar featured on North America's 50 Best Bars list, clarified Milk Punches are beloved by bartenders and drinkers alike for their plethora of creamy flavors, elegant clear appearance, and easy-to-serve nature.

What is another name for milk punch? ›

There are two kinds of milk punch. The first called bourbon, or brandy, milk punch was very popular in New Orleans in the 18th century. This punch includes milk and spirits. The second type is called English milk punch, or clarified milk punch.

What is rum and milk called? ›

The Milk Punch is a classic co*cktail that traditionally combines brandy or rum with sugar, vanilla extract and milk (of course). Its history is extensive, dating to at least the 1600s, when the recipe first appeared in print.

Why is it OK to drink eggnog? ›

You can ensure that you and your guests are sipping safely, though, Rogers says. Almost all the eggnog sold in stores is pasteurized, which kills bacteria, but he says to be sure to check that the carton or bottle is clearly labeled as such. If you make your own, use pasteurized liquid eggs, which are sold in a carton.

How would you describe a milk punch? ›

It consists of milk, the spirit, sugar, and vanilla extract. It is served cold and usually has nutmeg sprinkled on top. Milk punch may be clarified through the addition of ingredients which cause the milk to curdle, so that the solids contributing to the beverage's opacity may be strained out.

How would you describe the taste of bourbon? ›

Bourbon tastes strongly of vanilla, caramel, and oak, and depending on what option you choose, you'll find that some flavor notes are stronger than others. These flavors are imparted through the mash bill and the aging process of the whiskey, with different practices resulting in slightly different and varied flavors.

What does bourbon cream taste like? ›

You'll experience sweet vanilla and salty caramel notes from the Four Grain Bourbon base.

What is bourbon and what does it taste like? ›

Bourbon is often characterized as being sweet with vanilla, caramel, custard, butterscotch, marzipan, maple, honey, or chocolate notes. This is generally caused by flavor compounds that the Spirit picks up from the charred oak barrel that it is aged in.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 5896

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.