For all of the years I’ve been with my husband, he’d talk about a drink, a tradition really, at his Army unit. It’s called Moose Milk. The first question I asked, and I’m sure is the question on your mind right now, was “how do you milk a moose”? But I never tried it until this year (the moose milk not milking a moose….those beasts are dangerous) when he made it at home for the first time, and wow it’s good, but wow it’s strong.
But what is Moose Milk? I did some looking around with Chris to find out where it came from. It wasnβt something the Sergeants of his Regiment pulled out of thin air, it actually has history and meaning. Although it’s hard to trace the actual origins and βcorrectβ recipe, the lore goes something like this: Some claim it was the Royal Canadian Navy who created it, others claim it was the Royal Canadian Air Force, but everyone agrees it is a Canadian Military creation. The Navy may claim the “Moose is Loose” at every port and was once a toast prior to the party that occurs at port. The Air Force may claim that during WWII a Commanding Officer ordered a Flight Sergeant to craft a beverage for the female guests at functions that werenβt beer or whiskey. There was no version of the story from the Army, Chris says it’s probably because they were too busy working, fighting and patrolling to worry about the lack of a holiday drink; but that didnβt stop the Army from drinking it (his words not mine).
Then again, some claim that its origins could come from the French Colonial Days from a holiday punch called Sang de Caribou. Or a Scottish cream and whiskey drink called Brose or Athol Brose. Either way, it is a tradition adopted by and adapted by units across Canada and served to our allies when deployed.
The recipe itself varies widely depending on who you ask, every unit has their own version it would seem. But it comes down to four basic ingredients: hard liquor, cream, eggs, and spice. The portions also vary from unit to unit. The story goes that whiskey was the original liquor used but for some units whose whiskey supply ran low, rum was substituted. Some recipes call for the whipping of heavy cream while more conventional methods add iced cream. SomeΒ call for the addition of egg yokes only, beaten and added to the mix while some add eggnog. Spices usually are cinnamon, or nutmeg, or both. Some recipes add more to the mix, such as maple syrup, sugar, or coffee.
But enough talk hereβs the recipe from his unit for you to enjoy, simple enough for the Infantry to make. Multiply the ingredients for the size of party you have. But watch out if you are lactose sensitive or lactose intolerant, there’s enough lactose here to put you in a severe lactose coma….or strengthen your relationship with the porcelainΒ god…
A NOTE TO MILITARY PERSONNEL
I know that the recipe below has much less alcohol then the one you’re used to. So if you are looking for a recipe to make at Levy or the next Mess Dinner, double the amount of Rum from 2L to 4L…
2 L of Vanilla Iced Cream
4 L of Egg Nog
2 L of Rum (dark, white, spiced or a mixture)
1 Tbsp of Nutmeg
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in a serving bowl and serve!
Nothing in the recipe is exact, and it should be made to your taste.
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A Canadian Military Tradition: Moose Milk
Description
Moose Milk and a longtime Canadian Military Tradition
Ingredients
2 L of Vanilla Iced Cream
4 L of Egg Nog
2 L of Rum (dark, white, spiced or a mixture)
1 Tbsp of Nutmeg
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients in a serving bowl and serve!
Nothing in the recipe is exact, and it should be made to your taste.
Notes
A NOTE TO MILITARY PERSONNEL
I know that the recipe below has much less alcohol then the one you’re used to. So if you are looking for a recipe to make at Levy or the nest Mess Dinner, double the amount of Rum from 2L to 4L…
ENJOY!!
RELATED:Β Cranberry & Orange Mulled Wine
I have had it many times during my 27 years in the navy then army and then with the RCAF. My favourite one was the navy recipe!!! Delicious while drinking it, but, lethal the next day… depending on how much you drank! Thank you for the memories you brought back Bex BRAVO ZULU ! π
Wow. Thank you for your service, Brian. I’m glad I could bring back some memories for you. π
Happy Holidays. Pro Patria.
I’ve been retired for 15 years now. I remember some amazing times with my ship mates and moosemilk. I’m looking FWD to making this and sharing it with my non military neighbors…. thanks
Great recipe!
Yum!!
Way less booze than service moose milk lol itβs one bottle bottle of each ahahahah did you know there is three kind of military moose milk? Each branch has its own…
army
40 oz Dark rum, Kahlua and Vodka,
1 Gallon of Ice cream and Egg nog
Air Force
1Litre Rum, Kahlua and vodka,
3 Litre of ice cream and 1% milk
Navy
40 oz Dark Rum, Kahlua and Vodka,
4 Litre of Ice cream and Homo Milk
Never had bad Moose Milk….anywhere…..ever. Yours is a good easy recipe to follow. Bravo Zulu
Every time we put in to a Canook port or if a RCAN vessel put in to GUZZ (HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, UK) on a Sunday. We would nip aboard the nearest Canook grey messanger of death using the password known only to RCAN, RAN & RN personell for a dollop of moose milk. Once navy, always NAVY!
As an American, my first taste of Moose Milk was aboard HMCS Gatineau during a CROSSPOL visit where I served aboard for a few months back in the early 90’s. My Nova Scotian sailor friends loved watching me down their addictive, semi-frozen concoction as I gambled away my paycheck more often than not. I’ve never again experienced a drunk where I felt sober sitting there playing cards but where my legs more often than not didn’t work but great times and many laughs at me were had by all and, though expensive at times, was worth every Looney.
Hey Gregg,
I was on HMCS Gatineau from 92 – 94, maybe you were inboard during that time! I was also there for the Nato deployment and we had some Americans with us! Gotta love the old moose milk days, never did have s bad batch! Glad you had a great experience onboard!!
Thanks very much. i enjoyed the post and will make a batch of this this christmas. As a former engineer i want to say Chimo.
First time I had it was in the 90s. We had a Canadian Officer on exchange with us, and he produced a very large tub of it. Being with an Irish Regiment in the British Army, he used Black Bushmills Whiskey, plus some other undisclosed spirits. We drank for hours, enjoyed it all until trying to walk home. That was when we learned to drink less at his future parties. Great stuff and very similar to Atholl Brose. As itβs Burns night I will have a glass or two of the latter whilst remembering my first taste of the Moose Milk.
My dad was Canadian Army WW2 always made Moose Milk at Christmas. Being good children my sister and I did quality insurance on the batch every year. Never knew it had military roots. Thanks for the info
Hello Bex,
Loved the article. Brought back many memories of visits to Halifax, Nova Scotia whilst serving on HMS Phoebe. The Canadians were great hosts and would always try to βwrite offβ Jolly Jack tar during a Sun morning Moose Milk session. Tradition was for the youngest person to lick out the βfannyβ ( large pot ) when it was drained, by being held over it by his feet, ( no girls on board in the 80βs) by the party members. As you can imagine it got a bit messy. Happy Days.