12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (2024)

Your grandmother's eggnog might not cut it anymore.

By Sam Dangremond
12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (1)

The holiday season could just as easily be called the co*cktail season. Between hot buttered rums and classic champagne co*cktails, there's no shortage of tipples to enjoy throughout the season. But when it comes to a quintessential holiday sip, it's hard to do better than eggnog. There's something about the sweet, creamy confection that just makes the holiday season feel extra special, and a homemade version simply takes things to another level of decadence.

Whether you're a nog lover or looking to convert, these spiked eggnog co*cktails will please the crowd at any holiday soirée.

1

O.F.T.D. Rum Flip Eggnog

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (2)

Ingredients
1.5 oz Plantation O.F.T.D. Overproof Rum
.5 oz demerara syrup
.25 oz cold brew coffee
Whole egg

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in co*cktail shaker. Vigorously shake without ice for 10 seconds. Add cubed ice and shake for 10 more seconds. Double-strain into co*cktail coupe. Grate nutmeg and cinnamon overtop.

More: Festive Christmas co*cktails to Try

Courtesy of Lost Lake, Chicago

2

Miracle on Spring Street Eggnog

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (3)

Ingredients
.5 oz Ancho Reyes Verde
1 oz Amontillado Sherry
.5 oz simple syrup
2 oz whole milk
1 oz heavy cream
Egg whites from 1 egg
Pinch of cinnamon
Shaved nutmeg
Pinch of green matcha powder

Instructions
Dry shake and then shake with ice, strain, and pour into a festive holiday mug. Top with shaved green matcha powder-accented with star anise.

Courtesy of Outlier, Seattle

3

Captain Burrows Eggnog With Rye Whiskey

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (4)

Serves 8

Ingredients
4 eggs
16 oz milk
8 oz heavy cream
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp nutmeg
4 oz maple syrup
3 oz Stroudwater Rye whiskey
1.5 oz Maine Craft Distilling Ration Rum
1 oz crème de cacao
1 oz PX Sherry

Instructions
Separate eggs; whisk egg whites with 1 tbsp sugar until stiff peaks. Separate bowl: combine (whisk) egg yolks with all other ingredients. Fold in egg whites. Serve with fresh grated nutmeg.

From Blyth & Burrows, Portland, Maine

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4

North Pole Nog With Spiced Rum

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (5)

Ingredients
6 oz small-batch eggnog
1 oz spiced rum
2 oz bourbon
1 tbsp ground cinnamon for garnish
Cinnamon stick (optional)

Instructions
Combine eggnog, spiced rum, and bourbon and stir until well mixed. Top with ground cinnamon and cinnamon stick.

Courtesy of Andrea Correale, CEO and founder of Elegant Affairs

5

Uncle Dave’s Nog With Bourbon

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (6)

Ingredients
1.5 oz Maker’s Mark Bourbon
1.5 oz almond milk
.5 oz aged rum
.75 oz maple syrup
.25 oz pimento dram
.25 oz walnut liqueur
3 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a shaker tin and shake with ice. Strain into a glass and grate fresh cinnamon and nutmeg over the mixture.

By Pam Wiznitzer, president of the United States Bartenders' Guild

6

Margo Flips Eggnog With Scotch Whisky

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (7)

Ingredients
2 oz Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
1 oz chocolate stout
1 whole egg
4 dashes Peychaud's bitters
.5 oz brown sugar cayenne syrup*

Instructions
Add whisky, chocolate stout, whole egg, Peychaud's Bitters, and brown sugar cayenne syrup to co*cktail shaker. Shake until egg is broken down and drink is frothy. Strain into footed rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with nutmeg.

*Brown sugar cayenne syrup: combine 2 cups light brown sugar, 1 cup water, and 2 tsp cayenne pepper in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil. Let cool and keep in refrigerator.

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7

Coquito

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (8)

Ingredients

16 oz Bacardi Oro (Gold)
2 bottles Reàl Coconut Cream
1 can condensed milk
2 cans evaporated milk
2 oz vanilla extract
1 tbsp cinnamon powder

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a blender. Chill for a few hours and serve cold, no ice. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

By Rums of Puerto Rico.

8

Waiting Up For Santa Eggnog With Jamaican Rum

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (9)

Ingredients
1.5 oz Jamaican Rum
.5 oz Nocello Walnut Liqueur
.5 oz espresso
.5 oz simple syrup
1 oz heavy cream
1 whole egg

Instructions
Shake all ingredients without ice for 30 seconds. Add ice, shake again, and strain into co*cktail glass or brandy balloon. Garnish with cinnamon dust.

From Burke & Wills, New York City

9

Love & Salt Eggnog

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (10)

(Serves 25-30)

Ingredients
16 eggs (separated)
4 quarts light cream
1 pint heavy cream
2 quarts Lairds Applejack
1.75 lb granulated sugar

Instructions
Beat egg yolks until light. Begin to incorporate the sugar slowly, mixing well after each addition. After the sugar is fully incorporated, gradually add in the Applejack, followed by the light cream. Mix everything well. In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks have formed. In another bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently and gradually fold the beaten egg whites into yolk mixture, and then the whipped heavy cream. Let the mixture stand a minimum of 24 hours in a sealed glass container in the fridge. The eggnog is best after a few weeks.

From Love & Salt, Manhattan Beach, California

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10

Flatiron Flip Eggnog With Bourbon

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Ingredients
1.25 oz Old Forester bourbon
.75 oz Art in the Age (ginger) Snap liqueur
.75 oz honey
.75 oz cream
1 egg yolk
Grated chocolate, pecan, and nutmeg for garnish

Instructions
Combine all ingredients except garnish in shaker with 2 to 3 ice cubes. Discard ice cubes and dry shake. Strain into coupe glass. To garnish, grate chocolate, pecan and nutmeg.

Courtesy of Italienne, New York City

11

Spiced Eggnog Float With Bourbon

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (12)

Ingredients
1.5 oz Bailey's
1 oz Woodford Reserve Bourbon
1 oz eggnog
1 egg white
Nutmeg and cinnamon to garnish
Grenadine (optional)
Crushed ice

Instructions
Combine all ingredients and shake vigorously with crushed ice. Pour into large wine glass. Drizzle with raspberry coulis or grenadine. Garnish with grated nutmeg and cinnamon and miniature rose buds.

From Aunt Jake's, New York City

12

Eggnog à la Branca With Spiced Rum

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (13)

(Serves 2)

Ingredients
2 whole eggs
3 oz sugar
.5 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
6 oz whole milk
4 oz heavy cream
2 oz spiced rum
1.5 oz pisco
.75 oz Fernet Branca

Instructions
Beat eggs on low in a home blender for about thirty seconds then begin adding, slowly, the sugar. Once sugar is all in, add the rest of the ingredients and blend. Chill before serving. Garnish with freshly ground nutmeg.

From Three Degrees, Portland, Oregon

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13

Rumchata Eggnog

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (14)

This nog gets a sweetly spiced twist from a dose of Rumchata.

Get the recipe at Delish.

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (15)

Sam Dangremond

Contributing Digital Editor

Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, co*cktails, travel, and the social scene.

12 Upgraded Eggnog Recipes That Are Sure to Impress (2024)

FAQs

How do you upgrade eggnog? ›

Drizzle a little chocolate sauce into the shaker with the eggnog for a chocolate eggnog. Add a splash of vanilla or almond extract, or turn your eggnog into an iced eggnog latte by pouring a shot of espresso into the shaker. Either way, you'll feel the spirit of the holidays!

What is the best thing to spike egg nog? ›

While brandy is the most traditional alcohol to pair with eggnog, according to traditional recipes, you can also use a mixture of dark rum and Cognac. If you like your eggnog with more of a kick you can also add bourbon, but we recommend sticking to rum and Cognac to preserve the 'nog's flavors.

How to spice up eggnog? ›

Bonus Additions for Store-Bought Eggnog
  1. nutmeg.
  2. cloves.
  3. cinnamon.
  4. pumpkin pie spice.
  5. apple pie spice.
  6. pure vanilla extract.
  7. almond extract.
  8. coffee.
Apr 3, 2022

What brandy is best for eggnog? ›

For the brandy eggnog, Korbel VS was the brand of choice, and it produced a perfectly balanced drink. This eggnog had a nice sweetness in every sip, which paired admirably with the creamy egg base.

How to elevate egg nog? ›

If you prefer your 'nog a little more savory, try the Maple Bourbon Eggnog, which—if you absolutely must—you can garnish with crispy bacon bits. Swapping some of the milk with buttermilk adds an awesome tanginess to your eggnog which goes well with a bit of grated lemon zest for Lemon-Buttermilk Eggnog.

How do you thicken eggnog? ›

To thicken the mixture, add a cornstarch slurry. Thoroughly combine 3 tablespoons cornstarch with 1/4 cup cool water. Add this mixture at the end of cooking the egg yolks, sugar, and rum in the bowl over the simmering water bath. Whisk until thickened then proceed with chilling.

What type of rum is best for eggnog? ›

If you'd like to add rum to your mugful, opt for a golden or dark rum. These kinds of rum have more depth of flavor than white rum. You can also add spiced rum if you want to add a kick to your drink, but know that spiced rum may overwhelm the flavor of your homemade eggnog.

What makes eggnog taste good? ›

Strand says the specific taste of eggnog is wrapped up with memories of Christmas, thanks to flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla bean, which embody the winter season. It's so rich that it makes for a nice holiday party treat, too!

What is the noggin eggnog? ›

Alternatively, nog may stem from noggin, a Middle English term for a small, carved wooden mug used to serve alcohol. Posset, a curdled beverage of milk and either wine or ale, was a popular beverage in Britain that may have been a precursor to eggnog. Some monks would add eggs and figs to posset.

What pairs well with eggnog flavor? ›

Because it's so rich, creamy and sweet, eggnog pairs nicely with foods that have divergent flavors - savory, salty, spicy, earthy. These Ham & Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms have just the right mix of flavors. They're seasoned with thyme, garlic and bay leaf, grated with fresh Parmesan and crowned with slices of our ham.

What is a good whiskey for eggnog? ›

Spiced eggnog with a whiskey twist

To make Wigle's spiked eggnog, we recommend using a good quality whiskey like Yule Tidings but other whiskeys will be equally delicious. Wigle PA Bourbon eggnog is also highly recommended! Want something with a little more spice? Try adding our Wigle Cinnamon Whiskey instead!

Is rum or bourbon better for eggnog? ›

Bourbon: Eggnog With a Kick

If you're looking for a spiked drink that packs a punch, bourbon's the way to go.

What is in Evan Williams egg nog? ›

Evan Williams Egg Nog

Our Original Southern Egg Nog is made with smooth Kentucky Bourbon and real dairy cream.

What can I use instead of brandy in eggnog? ›

Common choices of alcohol to add to eggnog include brandy, rum, bourbon or whisky.

What to add to store bought egg nog? ›

Eggnog Bar
  1. Eggnog.
  2. Spirits: rum, bourbon, whiskey, and/or brandy.
  3. Whipped cream.
  4. Syrup: caramel and/or chocolate.
  5. Spices: nutmeg, cinnamon (sticks and ground), and/or pumpkin spice.
  6. Crushed gingersnap cookies or red-hot candies, or cinnamon sugar for rimming glasses (optional)
Dec 6, 2023

Does eggnog get better with age? ›

The unanimous verdict: Alongside a fresh batch, which tasted comparatively boozy and harsh, our aged nog went down more smoothly. To age your favorite eggnog recipe, be sure to use 1 1/2 ounces of 80 proof liquor for every egg, and leave out the dairy until serving.

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