The Ultimate Barrel-Aged Eggnog

'Tis the season for eggnog. You can skip the Starbucks latte variety and opt, instead, for a grown-up version at New York City's The Modern.

Bar Director Patrick Smith has been working on the libation since last May when the restaurant sourced a previously used BERTOUX Brandy barrel and began slowly filling it with the ingredients. Finally uncorked at the beginning of November, the resulting nog is round and balanced while light in color and body, with plenty of floral and citrus notes to balance the richness. At the end of this season, the team will begin refilling the same barrel, thus beginning the world's first Egg Nog Solera System.

In addition to the brandy (featured in our Taste of the Holidays gift guide), the one-of-a-kind concoction includes Appleton Estate Rum, Dalmore 12-Year-Old Scotch, Gonzalez Byass "Alfonso" Oloroso Sherry, Giffard Vanilla Liqueur, demerara sugar, housemade cr�me anglaise, and is garnished with a housemade gingerbread cookie.

Few know that The Modern has been making Egg Nog for years, and the holiday tipple has a base of loyal fans that return for it every season. For 2019, they decided to up the ante by aging it in a BERTOUX Brandy barrel.