Traditional eggnog is one of the quintessential drinks of the holiday season. Some people like to dress up their egg nog with a little freshly grated nutmeg, but what if you’re looking for boozy eggnog that might get you on Santa’s naughty list? The best alcohol for eggnog depends on your personal preferences, but there are a few tried and true favorites.
Key Takeaways
- Brandy, rum, whiskey, and cognac are top choices for leveling up your eggnog with boozy goodness.
- When adding alcohol to eggnog, a little goes a long way – you don’t need an entire bottle unless you’re making a huge batch.
- Homemade eggnog is almost always better than the storebought varieties
- However, if you do go with storebought, you can purchase eggnog that already has the booze added.
Best Alcohol to Level Up Your Egg Nog Recipe
Brandy -This is the traditional option, and let’s be honest – brandy makes just about any holiday drink better.
When you mix eggnog and brandy, it’s perfection. The flavor is sweet and rich, which is exactly what you’re looking for in a boozy nog. We also like brandy because you can usually get a decent bottle at any local grocery store with a small liquor department.
Dark Rum or Spiced Rum – Rums are next on our list for boozy eggnog. You can use either dark rum or spiced rum, but we like the spiced variety, like Captain Morgan. It tends to go really nicely with the baking spices found in all of those delicious holiday treats.
You also don’t need to go top shelf with rum, either. A more expensive rum will add more depth, but the egg nog is going to mask some of the flavor. We’re sorry, but we’re just not huge fans of white rum in our eggnog.
Cognac – Cognac has a really nice flavor profile to blend with egg nog. The mixture is perfect together, and the warmth of the vanilla and nutmeg is so delicious.
Bourbon – Bourbon is one of the most versatile dark spirits, and it offers a nice balance of richness and warmth that compliments the spices in eggnog.
Boozy Eggnog Cocktails
You can go out and get store-bought eggnog at most grocery stores, but after taking a look at these recipes, you’ll find that the best eggnog comes from your own kitchen this holiday season, and it’s not even that difficult to make.
Just don’t forget to make the very important trip to the liquor store when you make your own eggnog at home!
Easy Spiked Eggnog (With ALL the Booze)
By Linger
A glass or mug of this will surely keep you warm on a wintery night. This eggnog recipe is a bit more involved than some of the others, but in our opinion, the extra time and effort are worth it.
The recipe suggests you either buy pasteurized eggs or pasteurized them yourself (directions can be found in the recipe). The next step is to separate the egg whites from the egg yolks. You’ll use the yolks, but you can reserve the egg whites for another recipe or egg white omelets.
From this point, you add all of the ingredients together and stir. Now, for the detail that really makes this recipe stand out – it calls for a trifecta of bourbon whiskey, dark rum, and either cognac or brandy. If you’re opinionated on the idea that there is just one right spirit for eggnog, then certainly modify this recipe for your tastes. The only rule here is that you enjoy it!
We like to serve this with freshly whipped cream. We like how the fluffy, soft peaks look in the glass when dusted with a little nutmeg on top.
Homemade Spiked Eggnog With Brandy
If you’re looking for a no-fuss, boozy eggnog recipe, this is it. You need eggs, half & half, heavy cream, sugar (you could also use maple syrup), vanilla extract, and brandy – we can’t forget the booze!
With this, you basically just throw it all together, mix it up, and you’re done. When making eggnog, some people prefer to heat it just to make sure the raw eggs are safe. This is a matter of personal preference, but if you don’t go this route, make sure you’re using pasteurized eggs for your eggnog recipes.
Garnish with grated nutmeg and cinnamon, then enjoy a little taste test around the Christmas tree.
Extra Creamy Eggnog
This recipe pointed out a fact that we knew but had forgotten about – eggnog is also referred to as egg punch or egg milk. In our minds, we see those variations as not being as thick and creamy, but this variation of eggnog is anything but.
This has become our go-to eggnog & rum recipe, although they don’t mention a specific liquor or spirit that should be used. They do make mention of preferring Drambuie but also make note that it adds more sweet flavors to the drink than the other boozy options. Sip this one out of a pretty cocktail glass and enjoy.
FAQs
What is the best alcohol to put in eggnog?
Common spirits that are added to eggnog include brandy, rum, bourbon, and cognac, but you can add anything you like. Although we haven’t personally tried it, we’ve heard of people adding wine, sherry, peppermint schnapps, or even reposado tequila to their holiday egg nog. The bottom line – you do you!
What kind of rum is best for eggnog?
A spiced or dark rum will keep things sweet and is usually the preferred option for the drink. Some prefer to add white rum to the beverage, but if you go this route, we suggest you slowly add the rum and taste-test it along the way. White rum isn’t as rich or sweet as others, so it can easily add an unwanted burn and sharpness to the eggnog if you add too much.
What is good to mix with eggnog?
There are lots of ways to change the flavor of eggnog based on what you add to it. As far as booze goes, whiskey, rum, and brandy all add a depth of warm flavor, but some people like to get a little untraditional and add something a bit different. It also isn’t just liquor that can affect the taste. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and other warm spices can add nice flavors as well.
What is the best whiskey for eggnog?
A whiskey that is warm and has a bit of sweetness is perfect for eggnog. Look for whiskey that has hints of caramel or sugar and spice to compliment the drink.
