milk with a punch

Last week we enjoyed oatmeal muffins à la Great-aunt Helen’s recipe box and the promise was made to next find an appropriate beverage to accompany.Now to borrow an advertising slogan: Got Milk?Muffins and milk make good partners, but because we’re trying to up the ante here (see Cocktail U) it seemed important to add a little sumpin’ sumpin’ to that milk. Milk Punch anyone?I don’t remember where I first read about milk punch, but the concept struck me as brilliant: A childhood favorite, all grown up. Were I from Louisiana, I would be more familiar with its history as it’s a classic New Orleans brunch drink. Typically made with brandy, simple syrup, vanilla, and a high-fat milk, milk punch would be my choice over a Bloody Mary any day.

Turning to a favorite cocktail cookbook, Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails, scored me the perfect recipe. (The book’s subtitle, From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind Them, is well worth noting.)

Calling for both brandy and rum, it promised a lovely flavor profile. Instead of simple syrup, I called upon honey’s affinity with milk and used this sweetener instead. And using all whole milk would have been too rich for my blood; I split the difference with half whole and half 2-percent.Milk punch has the vintage thing going for it, but it’s also just plain tasty. Think everything you like about milk–cool, refreshing, crisp, clean–with a hint of sweet, whiff of vanilla, and swift boozy kick. The shaved ice keeps it chilled and helps it go down even easier. In the interest of fun, the glass was rimmed with a bit of espresso sugar.So whether you have muffins at the ready or cookies that need milk for dunking, this adult beverage is worth checking out. Milk mustache, optional.

Milk Punch

adapted from Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails

• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) whole milk (I used 1/4 cup each whole and 2%)
• 1 ounce brandy
• 1/2 ounce dark rum
• 2 teaspoons simple syrup (I used honey)
• 2 dashes vanilla extract
• Shaved ice

In cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients; shake well. Strain over fresh shaved ice in cocktail glass. Serves 1.