Friday, March 24, 2017

Bourbon Milk Punch - A Short History

Frozen Bourbon Milk Punch from Bourbon
House New Orleans. Image by Alison Gootee

"...Benjamin Franklin’s 1763 mention of his milk punch recipe..." 
(Virginia Billeaud Anderson - BoudinandBourbon.com gives a short history of the Bourbon Milk Punch, enjoyed by Benjamin Franklin and Queen Victoria. Made iconic by New Orleans bartenders. See the recipe.)


Bourbon Milk Punch - A Short History

Recently "Garden and Gun" magazine posted a recipe for “Frozen Bourbon Milk Punch.” The Milk Punch image by Alison Gootee brought memories of when I was a kid and my parents had Sunday lunch soirees. Their friends arrived mid-day, and tossed back potent Bloody Mary's, Old Fashioned's and Milk Punch's, this last a blend of milk and Bourbon topped with nutmeg. In its more decadent version, the Milk Punch included brandy.

My memory and the magazine's image inspired me to look into the history of the Milk Punch. Here is some of what I learned. Warren Bobrow writing for “The Alcohol Professor” said the bourbon milk punch dates back to the pre-colonial era of Benjamin Franklin. New Orleans writer Ned Hémard locates the drink in an 1862 bartenders’ manual, and notes Benjamin Franklin’s 1763 mention of his milk punch recipe in correspondence.

Like many things in New Orleans, the milk punch can actually be traced back to Ireland. There exists a 1405 historical record of whiskey mixed with milk, sugar, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. Centuries later Queen Victoria enjoyed the drink. It was probably perfected by New Orleans bartenders.

Bourbon House Recipe - Frozen Bourbon Milk Punch - Ingredients: 4 cups vanilla ice cream, 1 cup Old Forester bourbon, ½ tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp. simple syrup. Blend ingredients. Top with grated nutmeg.

Drink recipe is from Bourbon House in New Orleans. www.bourbonhouse.com


(Selected Articles on BOUDINANDBOURBON.COM)

Consciousness Screwing with Us: Rice University’s 2023 Archives of the Impossible Conference

Garland Fielder Weighs In on Architectural Design and the Creative Process
A Talk with Angie Dumas About Her Blog "Da'Stylish Foodie" - Interview

Eating Garlic Beef at Mai's Vietnamese Restaurant - Mai's Immigrant Story

Discovering S.P.Q.R. and Miraculous Oil at the Church of Santa Maria in Trastevere
Visiting Azienda Agricola Casamonti in the Chianti Classico - Wine and Cinta Senese Pigs
My Visit to the Houston Farmers Market

Visiting ShyKatz Cafe on Galveston Island, Historical Architecture

Eating Oysters at Topwater Grill in San Leon at Galveston Bay

A Tribute to Legendary Wildcatter Jim Bob Moffett

Norbert’s Restaurant - John and Lillie Mae Norbert - Broussard Louisiana History Biography
A Talk with Food Guru George Graham about Acadianatable.com - Graham’s New Cookbook “Fresh From Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking” - Interview

Morvant’s Bar and Grill - Formerly Bero's Youngsville Louisiana - 96 Year History
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2020/07/morvants-bar-grill-formerly-beros.html

Ryan Baptiste - The Light Beyond The Blight - Redbud Gallery - Echoes of New Orleans
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2020/06/ryan-baptiste-light-beyond-blight.html

Bar Boheme - Houston Bars - Drag Brunch - Architectural Preservation
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2020/05/bar-boheme-houston-bars-drag-brunch.html

Bayview Inn, Cypremort Point Louisiana, Cranking Up
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2020/05/bayview-inn-cypremort-point-louisiana.html

Billeaud's Too, Calvin Trillin, and Jacking with Cajun Boudin
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2020/04/billeauds-too-calvin-trillin-and.html

Martha Stewart Visits Lucullus Antiques - Patrick Dunne - New Orleans
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2019/11/martha-stewart-visits-lucullus-antiques.html

Jimmy Domengeaux Chats about His Louisiana Wetlands Photography Exhibition – Interview

Long Live Irma Thomas - Essay

Notes on van Gogh’s Irises, Walter Annenberg, Louisiana Politics - Essay

A Closer Look at Christy Karll’s Painting “Swerve” –  Interview

A Closer Look - Beef Empanadas with Olives - Seco’s Latin Cuisine - Essay

Giacomo Restaurant's Foradori, Rotaliano, Trentino 2015" - Red wine produced by Elisabetta Foradori in Trentino Italy - A Closer Look
https://www.boudinandbourbon.com/2018/06/giacomo-restaurants-teroldego-foradori.html