From the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is filled with thousands of hard-working dairy farms. What a joy it is to have this abundance of local milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy delights right at our fingertips!

Luckily, due to the hard work of farmers and conservation groups, we can enjoy these delicious products while simultaneously supporting clean lands and waters. Across the watershed, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is working with local farmers, corporate milk producers, and state and federal agencies to give dairy farmers the support they need to install pollution-reducing practices. The goal of this work is to make the entire dairy industry more sustainable, with a focus on clean water.

A variety of cocktail ingredients

Everything you need for this festive cocktail can be found locally, with a little searching.

To celebrate this work, our team crafted an eggnog-based cocktail that uses local ingredients for you to try! We call it “The Chesapeake Clean Water Eggnog.” We used eggnog from Maola, which sources its milk from a co-op of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania farmers. For the bourbon, we picked a spirit from Thistle Finch in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. But the beauty of this drink is that it can be made with a variety of brand names—as long as they’re local! If you’re just jumping into being a cocktail artist, don’t worry. This recipe is so simple. And as they say, “less is more.”

 

The Chesapeake Clean Water Eggnog

Ingredients

  • 5 oz Maola Eggnog (You can substitute other eggnog with cream produced at a local farm)
  • 1 oz Burley bourbon whiskey (you can substitute any other locally-produced bourbon, whiskey, or rum)
  • A pinch of ground cinnamon
  • A pinch of ground nutmeg
  • Whipped cream (optional, for garnish)
  • Cinnamon stick or star anise (optional, for garnish)
A hand pouring eggnog into a decanter

We opted for eggnog from Maola because they source their milk from Chesapeake farmers.

a bottle pouring whiskey into a jigger

We used one ounce of bourbon for this drink, but feel free to adjust your bourbon or other liquor to your own taste.

 

Instructions

  • Prepare the Base: In a mixing glass (or cocktail shaker for a richer texture), combine eggnog with bourbon. Stir in a pinch of nutmeg to taste for an extra hint of flavor if desired.
  • Shake or Stir: Fill the shaker with ice or stir gently in your glass to blend the flavors while keeping the creamy texture.
a spoon stirring spices into a glass of eggnog

If you don’t have a shaker on hand, gently stir any spices like nutmeg into your cocktail.

  • Pour: Strain into a chilled rocks glass or mug if using a shaker.
  • Garnish: Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top. For a festive touch, add a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon, cinnamon stick or star anise, if desired.

a glass full of eggnog, topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick

Now you’re celebrating the holidays in style, while also supporting clean water in the Chesapeake!

Did you give this cocktail a try? Let us know by posting a picture on Facebook or Instagram and tagging the Alliance with @AllianceForTheBay. Happy holidays!