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Here’s how to make milk punch, a delicious brandy cocktail made with milk and sugar! It’s cold and creamy, and works for brunch or as an evening drink. It’s also just as good as bourbon milk punch!
Here’s a glass full of complex, creamy flavor: milk punch! This tasty drink is one of the oldest cocktails there is, featuring brandy, bourbon, milk and sugar. It’s a popular brunch drink in New Orleans and in the American South.
The concept sounds baffling until you try it. Then you realize the genius of it: the creamy, cool milk against the spice of the brandy and the nuance of vanilla extract. Alex and I are cocktail experts and certified mixologists, and from the first sip, we were sold. It’s just as good as bourbon milk punch if you don’t have brandy on hand.
What is milk punch?
Milk punch is a drink made with brandy or bourbon, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. Get this: the drink was first written down in 1688 in Scotland! How’s that for history? The first mention in a cookbook was in 1711. Benjamin Franklin even recorded a version of it in 1763. So it’s got quite the history.
A popular type of milk punch you’ve probably heard of? Eggnog! But to us, milk punch is exponentially tastier, at least in our book. The ingredients you’ll need for milk punch are:
- Whole milk
- Bourbon whiskey
- Brandy
- Simple syrup
- Vanilla
- Grated nutmeg, for the garnish
Creamy vs clarified milk punch
There are two ways to serve milk punch: creamy and clarified. Here’s the difference:
- Creamy milk punch is milky and creamy, the type you’ll likely get if you order it at brunch in a New Orleans restaurant. (This is what you’ll find in the recipe below.)
- Clarified milk punch means that the mixture is heated, which makes the dairy curdle. Then the milk solids are strained out, leaving behind a clear liquid. So the clarified version actually looks crystal clear!
How to make milk punch (basic steps)
You might think milk punch would be a hot drink, served in a big punch bowl in the winter. But you make it like any shaken cocktail! Add the ingredients to a cocktail shaker, shake, and strain! Here’s what to do (or jump to the recipe):
- Shake in a cocktail shaker. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker: milk, bourbon, brandy, simple syrup, and vanilla extract. Add ice and shake! (Don’t have a cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar!)
- Strain into a glass. Strain the drink into a low-ball glass. If you’d like, you can use a round tumbler like the one shown.
- Garnish: The garnish is important here! Grate on a little nutmeg for the perfect spiced touch.
Garnish with star anise
Want to add the perfect flair to the garnish for milk punch? Add star anise! Star anise is a unique star-shaped spice. It’s native to China and Vietnam, and you may have seen it in blends of cider mulling spices. It’s available at most grocery stores, and if you can’t find it, you can also buy star anise online.
More brandy drinks
Love brandy? Here are a few more brandy cocktails to use up a bottle:
- A Brandy Alexander is creamy and boozy; a classy dessert drink with brandy and Creme de Cacao.
- The Wisconsin Old Fashioned is state’s variation on the classic cocktail is made with brandy and has some unique twists.
- A Sidecar Cocktail is one of the best classic cocktails of all time: the perfect balance of Cognac, Cointreau and lemon.
- The Vieux Carre cocktail is a 1930’s classic from New Orleans! It’s strong and sippable, featuring rye whiskey, Cognac and vermouth.
Frequently asked questions
Clarified milk punch means that the mixture is heated, which makes the dairy curdle. Then the milk solids are strained out, leaving behind a clear liquid.
While whole milk is traditionally used, you can experiment with other types like oat milk, almond milk, or even coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
While milk punch has a smooth and creamy texture, it can be quite potent due to the alcohol content. It’s easy to forget how much you’re drinking because of the sweet and creamy taste.
Perfect Milk Punch
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
Here’s how to make milk punch, a brandy cocktail made with milk and sugar! It’s cold and creamy, and works for brunch or evening.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) whole milk
- 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) bourbon whiskey
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) brandy
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) simple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- For the garnish: grated nutmeg, star anise (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake it until cold.
- Strain the drink into a lowball glass. Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and if desired, star anise.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Shaken
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegetarian
More creamy cocktails
Love creamy cocktails? Here are a few more that might strike your fancy:
- White Russian This creamy cocktail made with vodka and Kahlua hits the spot anytime and in any season. (Also try it sans cream as a Black Russian.)
- Amaretto Coffee Whipped cream tops this spiked hot drink that’s cocktail, part dessert.
- Piña Colada It takes only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes, and has incredible flavor.
Incredibly good! We ran out of simple syrup so we used agave. Delicious!
This is now our winter dessert drink.
Thank you, Sonja and Alex.
You’re welcome!
I’m not going to lie, I did not make this as is. I’ve had a bottle of brandy in my cupboard for what seems like 30 years and I decided to try something with it for once besides making chicken livers.
I use this recipe as a base for what I should do. I only had powdered sugar so I added that straight to the milk. I added vanilla and Brandy; it was still a little too strong for me so then I added the milk mix to coffee. Delicious.
I’ve no doubts the recipe as written is delicious for a brunch or an after dinner indulgence.