Hehe of course the alcohol boils off.

One step closer to the source: https://www.tastinghistory.com/recipes/gruel and a video.

The original recipe seems a bit posh - or, as the book cover says, for the "Nobleman, gentleman and tradesman".

But the combo of brandy, butter, (cane) sugar and nutmeg sounds really nice.

BTW I wonder if oatmeal originally refered to rolled oats or coarse flour.