Alton Brown’s Aged Eggnog
WTF is aged eggnog?! I had never heard of such a thing until I stumbled across a recipe for it on Alton Brown’s web site. As it turns out, it is indeed a real, if arcane, preparation, even covered by Cook’s Illustrated, which researches all things food. The idea is that the eggnog ages for at least two weeks, and up to a year. One potential benefit of aging is that the alcohol can substantially reduce harmful bacteria over time, although aging is not a guarantee of food safety. Pasteurized eggs and continuous refrigeration remain advisable. Longer aging means that the eggnog loses its eggy freshness and becomes aggressively boozy. I don’t think I will be able to confirm that. I expect the batch I made to only last a month or so.