Milk Eggnog

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

1. Sugar + creamtop 9% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together43,450 recipes

   Shared aroma: 2,3-butanedione (butter, sweet).

2. Cream + nutmegtop 13% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together7,920 recipes

   Shared aroma: acetic acid (sour, vinegar).

3. Milk + nutmegtop 15% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together14,685 recipes

   Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).

4. Brandy + nutmegtop 15% of all pairs
   Smell alikelow
   Cooked together4,311 recipes

   Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).

5. Brandy + milktop 15% of all pairs
   Smell alikemoderate
   Cooked together3,738 recipes

   Shared aroma: gamma-nonanolactone (coconut, sweet).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Eggs

Egg yolk or whole egg thickens the drink and gives it a rich, smooth body.

Milk

Provides the liquid base and most of the drink's creamy volume.

Cream

Adds fat for a richer, smoother mouthfeel.

Brandy, sherry, cognac, or whiskey

Adds alcohol flavor and helps keep the drink from tasting flat and heavy.

Sugar

Adds sweetness that balances the alcohol and richness.

Swap the nutmeg

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (egg, sugar, brandy, milk, cream):

1. Nutmegthe original
2. Cinnamonfits about as well
3. Gingerfits less well
4. Clovefits less well

Fit is the average pairing score against egg, sugar, brandy, milk, cream. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.