The Tom & Jerry
History and Recipe of a Popular Christmas Cocktail
The Tom and Jerry is a popular Christmas drink that spans the ages. Developed in the 1820's by sports writer Pierce Egan, the drink was named after his book, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom. The book was also turned into a stage play entitled Tom and Jerry, or Life in London. In order to generate buzz about his book and play, Egan invented a new version of eggnog that added brandy in addition to rum, and named it the Tom and Jerry.
Other Theories
There have also been theories that the drink was named for Professor Jerry Thomas, a celebrated bartender at San Francisco's Occidental Hotel in the 1860's, and the creator of The Bartender's Companion and The Bon Vivant's Companion, the world's first standardized guide to cocktail mixing.
Despite some common theories, the drink is not named for the famous cartoon cat and mouse of the same name.
"Let's Head Down to the Tom & Jerry"
Due to the popularity of the drink, pubs were often called Tom & Jerry's during the mid 1800's.
Mugs & Batter
The drink is traditionally served in a Tom & Jerry mug, but coffee cups can replace the traditional mug. The practice of smashing mugs after drinking was a common ritual well into the 1950's.
Making the batter for the Tom & Jerry can be an all-day process, but will last all through Christmas Day or can be frozen for a later time. Many bars make their own Tom & Jerry batter, so it may be worth it to try out different versions. If you prefer not to prepare batter at all, frozen batter can be found in bakeries or in the dairy coolers at the grocery stores, in liquor stores or on the internet.
The Tom & Jerry
Ingredients for batter:
- 12 eggs, separated
- 1 pound sugar (if you'd like it sweeter, add more)
- 2 ounces aged rum
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
Ingredients for Serving:
- Brandy
- Aged rum
- Hot milk
- Boiling water
Beat the egg yolks well, then gradually whisk in the sugar. Add the rum and spices. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the yolk mixture until well mixed. Keep batter refrigerated until serving.
For each drink, put 2 ounces of batter into a mug. Add 1 oz each of brandy and aged rum, and fill with equal parts hot milk and boiling water. Top with grated nutmeg. If using a small coffee cup or classic Tom & Jerry mug, you can cut the serving size in half. Serve with a spoon.
Tom & Jerry Mugs were often smashed after drinking
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