Like it or not, the holidays are upon us. It's a time when our drinks become browner and richer. This milk punch is a nice compromise if you're not an egg nog fan. The milk brings a richness to the warmth of the spirits, and the nutmeg adds the aroma that always puts me in a good mood.

As a big fan of Charles Dickens, Punches intrigue me. So reading through the Punch iOS app and samplng Dave Wondrich's book has put me in a mind to do a future series on punches. Perhaps as a spirit-raiser in the new year.

• 1 1/4 ounce brandy or bourbon
• 1/2 ounce dark rum
• 2 ounces of whole milk or half-and-half
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 ounce simple syrup

Add all components to a shaker with ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into a rocks glass and garnish with nutmeg to taste.

Photos by Lisa Denkinger

See photo

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Holiday Milk Punch in Garden & Gun

Punch: Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl by David Wondrich

Punch iOS app

Rate Cocktailing on iTunes

Off to Osaka Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/