Sloe Gin Flip

This is the most festive-looking Flip I've ever made, and I had a feeling it would be. Sloe gin is a fruity gin made with sloe berry liqueur and gin. It is an old world delight native to Northern Europe and Britain where the berries--much like plums--can be found and added to spirits much like Eastern Europeans do with vodka or rakia.

The Flip is a classic colonial cocktail that is perfect for holiday drinking: it's like a more condensed and potent Eggnog because, unlike Eggnog, Flips aren't mostly milk. Flipping sloe gin is especially pretty with that pink color, but it is even more rewarding to drink. The nose of the cocktail is of nutmeg, and the mouthfeel is creamy like a dessert. But there's a fun fruity finish that comes through when you use sloe gin that you don't get from brandy or whiskey.

• 2 oz. sloe gin (Mr. Boston used)
• 1 oz. half-and-half
• 1 whole egg
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• freshly grated nutmeg

Combine all ingredients except nutmeg in a shaker with ice. Shake to chill and strain out the ice. Return the liquid to the shaker and shake again (dry shake) for body and pour into a small white wine glass. Sprinkle with nutmeg.