Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (2024)

  • Rum co*cktails
  • American Food
  • Winter Drinks co*cktails

By

Colleen Graham

Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (1)

Colleen Graham

Freelance writer and co*cktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 10/4/22

Tested by

Tom Macy

Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (2)

Tested byTom Macy

Tom wears many co*cktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive co*cktail nerd."

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Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Total: 10 mins

Serving: 1 serving

Yield: 1 co*cktail

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The Tom & Jerry is a classic winter co*cktail thatevery explorer of the drink world should try at some point. It's a sweet, frothy, warm beverage flavored with dark rum and cognac, and it's been a holiday favorite since the 1820s. There's no sugarcoating it: The Tom & Jerry is not the easiest drink to make, but it is worth doing. Even though it's a pretty old-fashioned drink, it's still a popular selection around the holidays, particularly in the Midwest.

While this drink is often compared to eggnog, it is a completely different drink. The main difference is that a Tom & Jerry is served warm, andthe drink is built in the serving mug. Eggnog, on the other hand, is cold and already mixed and ready to drink; it's also not inherently an alcoholic beverage. However, the Tom & Jerry is a fantastic alternative to eggnog, and many drinkers prefer it because it is more of a warm milk punch and has less of an eggy flavor.

You may find that putting together the Tom & Jerry is much like making a hot buttered rum. It all begins with mixing the spiced batter, which can be refrigerated or frozen in a sealed container until it's time for a drink. You'll have enough batter for 25 drinks. Once ready, it's as simple as pouring warm milk over your liquor and batter. It's a fabulous way to have a tasty hot co*cktail at the ready for the holidays.

"This delicious Tom & Jerry co*cktail is meant to made for a crowd. The preparation is all part of the fun. I don't typically use butter in my Tom & Jerry’s, but butter makes everything better. Be sure to stir vigorously when pouring in the hot milk to keep the eggs from scrambling!" —Tom Macy

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Tom & Jerry Batter:

  • 12 large eggs, separated

  • 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

  • 4 ounces (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves

  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 ounces dark rum

For One Tom & Jerry Drink:

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Tom & Jerry batter

  • 1 ounce dark rum

  • 1 ounce brandy, or cognac

  • 4 to 6 ounces hot milk, or water, or both; to taste

  • Grated nutmeg, for garnish

Steps to Make It

To Make the Batter

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (4)

  2. Separate the egg whites from the egg yolksand place them in separate bowls.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (5)

  3. Add the cream of tartar to the eggwhites and whip with a mixeruntil you have a meringue-like texture with stiff peaks.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (6)

  4. Add the softened butter and sugar to the bowl of egg yolks and whip until it is fully incorporated and a liquid.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (7)

  5. Gently fold the egg yolk mixture into the egg whites.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (8)

  6. Stir in the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, and rum. Cover and store the batter in the refrigerator until it's time to make the drink.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (9)

To Make the Tom & Jerry Drink

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (10)

  2. Preheat the mugs you will use for serving.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (11)

  3. Add 1 or 2 heaping tablespoons of the batter, along with 1 ounce each of dark rum and cognac (or brandy) to every mug.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (12)

  4. Fill with hot milk or hot water (or a combination of the two), stirring constantlyuntil the drink is foamy.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (13)

  5. Garnish with grated nutmeg. Serve and enjoy.

    Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (14)

Why Is It Called a Tom & Jerry?

co*cktail origin stories are typically interesting to trace, and there are often multiple accounts. Contrary to what you might think, this one doesn't refer to the classic cartoon characters. (It's possible the characters reference the drink, but that's up for debate.)

One story says that the drink was named after British journalist Pierce Egan's book "Life in London: Or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorne, Esq., and His Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom." A play was staged shortly after its publication in 1821, and it's said that Egan named the drink as a cross-promotion for its debut.

In co*cktail historian David Wondrich's book "Imbibe!" (2nd edition, 2015), he makes no mention of Egan. Instead, he recounts the story that "Professor" Jerry Thomas often told, which claimed he named it after two pet mice. Wondrich also points out that this was a barman's tale because Thomas was born in 1830 and would have started bartending in the 1840s. An 1827 article in the Salem Gazette referenced the drink in a court case about a young boy acquitted of stealing, who apparently had been drunk on "Tom and Jerry" at the time.

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Recipe Variations

  • Some recipes skip the spices and vanilla in the batter. In this case, consider garnishing with a mix of ground cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg to spice up the drink.
  • A few of the older recipes use a considerable amount of sugar and skip the butter altogether, typically when mixing the drink with hot water to give it more froth and cream.
  • Other recipes are written without the premade batter. Whipping egg whites is not an easy task, though, so it's smarter to do this in bulk rather than with just an egg or two at a time. Take advantage of the fact that this recipe yields ample batter.

How Strong Is a Tom & Jerry?

There may be two liquors in the Tom & Jerry, but there's also a lot of warm milk, so it's a surprisingly light beverage. On average, it mixes up to 12 percent ABV (24 proof). That's equivalent to a glass of wine, but this drink is far more comforting.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
223Calories
4g Fat
9g Carbs
6g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories223
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g5%
Saturated Fat 2g12%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 87mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 9g3%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 221mg17%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 259mg6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Rum co*cktail
  • american
  • winter
  • beverage

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Serve the Classic Tom & Jerry Warm Punch This Holiday Season (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between eggnog and Tom and Jerry? ›

Even though it's a pretty old-fashioned drink, it's still a popular selection around the holidays, particularly in the Midwest. While this drink is often compared to eggnog, it is a completely different drink. The main difference is that a Tom & Jerry is served warm, and the drink is built in the serving mug.

What is the difference between Tom and Jerry and hot buttered rum? ›

While both are hot, alcoholic beverages, their ingredients differ. Tom and Jerrys are also often made with rum, though they can also be made with whiskey or vodka. Both are also spiced. However, a batter instead of butter (see what we did there?) is used to make a Tom and Jerry rich and creamy.

What is the history of Tom and Jerry drink? ›

The Tom and Jerry's origins are frequently traced back to a clever publicity stunt orchestrated by the British journalist Pierce Egan. The story goes that Egan added brandy to eggnog to create a signature co*cktail to promote his 1821 book, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq.

What is the old name for eggnog? ›

"While culinary historians debate its exact lineage, most agree eggnog originated from the early medieval" British drink called posset, which was made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavored with spices. In the Middle Ages, posset was used as a cold and flu remedy.

What do the English call eggnog? ›

Good question. Well first you could argue that colonial America was a part of Britain, being part of its proto-empire; and second, eggnog is part of the evolution of a British drink called posset, something I have already written about.

What cut of meat is Tom and Jerry? ›

This steak is a cross section of a steer's leg and is often sold as a “Bone in Arm Roast”. Because the steak is a cross sectional leg cut it results in several noteworthy features. . . . . .

What is rum and Dr Pepper called? ›

Known by many names around the world – including "Dark n' Stormy" in Bermuda, "Gangsters' Paradise Cooler" in Jamaica, and even simply as "Booze Soda" in some parts of the United States – this drink packs a powerful punch with its perfectly-balanced blend of sweet-and-sour flavors.

What is the cheese in Tom and Jerry? ›

In Tom and Jerry they used Yellow Cheese, its a Emmental is a yellow, medium-hard Swiss cheese, It has a savory but mild taste.

What was Tom and Jerry real name? ›

Tom & Jerry were originally named "Jasper & Jinx" by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Only Tom was ever identified on-screen by his original name ("Jasper"). The name Jinx was used by H&B in their television cartoon about the mice Pixie and Dixie and their adversary the feline Mr. Jinx.

What was Tom and Jerrys last name? ›

Warner Bros. Are they kitten us? Tom and Jerry, the cartoon cat and mouse enemies who've been feuding since the 1940s, have a secret. Apparently their full names are Thomas Jasper Cat, Sr., and Gerald Jinx Mouse, and as CNET sister site ComicBook.com points out, some fans weren't expecting that name game.

What country invented Tom and Jerry? ›

Tom and Jerry is an American animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series centers on the rivalry between the titular characters of a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry.

What is the difference between nog and eggnog? ›

There's holiday nog made with milk and eggs but can't be called eggnog because of added booze, for example. Same goes for nog made of dairy alternatives, like almond or soy milk. But straight up milk and cream with no eggs—well, that's considered to be poor cousin of the real deal.

What drink is similar to eggnog? ›

Typically made around Christmastime, the Tom and Jerry is a classic co*cktail that looks and tastes a lot like eggnog. Its exact origins are unclear, but there's evidence to suggest that the Cognac and rum-spiked drink's roots date back to England in the 19th century.

Is eggnog the same as a snowball? ›

To complete the famous drink you add cold lemonade, lime juice or lime cordial to the Advocaat and include ice and a maraschino cherry as a garnish. Advocaat is not to be confused with Eggnog, another popular Christmas drink which has milk, cream and rum in it (as well as the eggs and sugar).

How do you drink old Tom's eggnog? ›

Serving Suggestion

Enjoy warmed up or over ice.

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