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So eggnog is just one of those odd things around this time of year. Ask ten people you’ll probably get eight that don’t like it. Sure the carton stuff is kind of dubious and a bit odd tasting, but the home made stuff can be pure silky divinity. Rompope’s spicier than your traditional eggnog, and we take it a step farther with a vanilla bean and demerera sugar. That’s what makes it a bit darker. Once you’ve mastered the basics of making Rompope you can try other alterations like adding cocoa powder or perhaps coffee. This Holiday indulgence is full on fat, but you have to splurge sometimes right?

Rompope

(Pronounced: ro̞mˈpo̞pe̞)

32 oz whole milk

1 cup demerera sugar

1 cinnamon stick

1 vanilla bean, scraped

¼ cup pecan ground fine

12 egg yolks

10 oz dark Jamaican rum

Combine milk, nuts, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then reduce heat and simmer for fifteen minutes stirring constantly. Whisk the egg yolks until very light gold and frothy. Remove the vanilla bean, and cinnamon stick.  Then temper them by very, very slowly introducing in the hot cream mixture. Once combined return to medium low heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and coats  a spoon well, this could take up to 10 minutes or more depending. Stir in rum, bottle, and cool completely before serving with a grate of nutmeg or a splash of dark roast coffee.

This Mexican nog is thick, spoonable, like a dessert. The nuts give you a bit of little flavor crystals to chew on and change up the texture. The spices are all present as is the nice demerera sugar modification. The rum still manages to be a real player in this, which you might not expect with all the other big creamy and spicy flavors. A great drink, worth the mega dose of calories it brings.

Best of all, it ages well in the fridge, put an extra bottle or two away for next year, it will increase in flavor and complexity in the mean time. Just make sure you include the alcohol and keep it cold. If you’ve been down on store bought nog give Rompope a try this holiday season.