A Tom and Jerry is a traditional Christmastime

cocktail A cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink. Most commonly, cocktails are either a combination of spirits, or one or more spirits mixed with other ingredients such as tonic water, fruit juice, flavored syrup, or cream. Cocktails vary widely across ...

in the United States, sometimes attributed to British writer and

professional boxing Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse bid, purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regula ...

journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s. It is a variant of eggnog with

brandy Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...

and rum added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl. Another method uses egg whites, beaten stiff, with the yolks and sugar folded back in, and optionally vanilla extract added. A few spoonfuls are added to a mug, then hot milk and rum are added, and it is topped with nutmeg. Pre-made Tom and Jerry batter, typically produced by manufacturers in Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas, is sold in regional supermarkets during the Christmas season.

Name

The drink's name is a reference to Egan's book, '' Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom'' (1821), and the subsequent stage play ''

Tom and Jerry, or Life in London ''Tom and Jerry, or Life in London'', first staged in 1821 was one of several stage adaptations of Pierce Egan's popular book '' Life in London'', published earlier in that year. Its most successful production at the Adelphi Theatre in the Wes ...

'' (also 1821). To publicize the book and the play, Egan introduced a variation of eggnog by adding of brandy, calling it a "Tom and Jerry". The additional fortification helped popularize the drink.

In popular culture

Tom and Jerry was a favorite of President Warren G. Harding, who served it at an annual Christmas party for his closest friends. Two much later cartoon duos, a short-lived Tom and Jerry from Van Beuren Studios in the 1930s, and the famous cat and mouse rivalry from the 1940s through the 1960s, also bore the name, possibly as a

play on words Word play or wordplay (also: play-on-words) is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phone ...

with the drink or the literary works that inspired it. The Tom and Jerry serves as the main device in the story " I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" by Yogi Yorgesson, in which Yogi drinks a dozen rounds of the beverage and is thus

hung over A hangover is the experience of various unpleasant physiological and psychological effects usually following the consumption of alcohol, such as wine, beer, and liquor. Hangovers can last for several hours or for more than 24 hours. Typical sy ...

for the following day's Christmas dinner.

References

External links

* {{Cocktails American alcoholic drinks Christmas food Cocktails with brandy Cocktails with rum English alcoholic drinks Hot drinks Milk-based drinks Mixed drinks Cocktails with eggs

Name

In popular culture

See also

References

External links