By Sofia Montoya-Deck and Aden Sievert
Published Dec. 4, 2023
Are you still debating what eggnog to buy this winter? Look no further; the Blue & Grey staff has the answer.
Ahead of the holiday season, the Blue & Grey staff held an eggnog tasting competition, in which we tried several eggnogs to find the best one around.
Eggnog is typically made with milk, cream, sugar, raw eggs and seasonings such as cinnamon or nutmeg. For those of drinking age, eggnog can also be mixed with alcohol—typically rum, whiskey or brandy.
The Blue & Grey tried six eggnogs—four from stores and two made from family recipes offered by staff writers Janiel Suren and Sofia Montoya-Deck.
The store-bought eggnogs included Southern Comfort, Hood, Highs and Turkey Hill.
Staff members tried each of the drinks before ranking them one through six, one being the best and six being the worst.
After adding up all of the rankings, the staff decided Suren’s eggnog was the best. However, this drink came with a twist; it wasn’t traditional eggnog. In fact, Suren’s drink contained no eggs at all. It was actually a traditional Puerto Rican holiday drink called coquito, meaning “little coconut” in Spanish.
Coquito is made with a coconut milk base, vanilla, cream and spices, and is often paired with rum. This drink had a strong cinnamon flavor and is a great substitution for those with an egg allergy or who are wary of salmonella. In total, the ingredients for Suren’s drink came out to $14.
The eggnog that won second place was the store-bought Southern Comfort, which lost to Suren’s drink by a mere two points. Southern Comfort’s eggnog was very sweet and thick, with a rich vanilla taste. It also wasn’t too eggy, which added to its appeal. Southern Comfort costs $3.99 for one quart.
“Southern comfort smells like walking into a craft store around Christmastime,” Luke Sisco said of the brand he ranked at No. 1.
Third place went to Montoya-Deck’s eggnog. Her family recipe had more of a dominate nutmeg taste and wasn’t as thick as the other choices. Montoya-Deck’s ingredients came out to $13.
“I liked that it was light,” Chris Nalley said.
The eggnog that won fourth place was the Hood brand. This eggnog severely lacked spices and tasted like plain milk. Its mucus-like yellow color was also a big con for the staff. The Hood brand costs $3 for one quart.
“It’s like neon,” Ellie Cooper said. “The color speaks louder than the flavor.”
High’s eggnog took home fifth place with a similarly disappointing taste. Many of the staff members agreed that it was watery and had a chemical taste. High’s eggnog costs $7.49 for one quart.
Nalley put it bluntly, stating, “That sucked.”
The worst eggnog of the tasting, however, goes to Turkey Hill. This eggnog left the staff extremely dissatisfied. Despite high hopes for the highly favored dairy brand, it considerably failed to meet expectations. Many staff members criticized the drink’s smell and aftertaste. Turkey Hill’s eggnog costs $4.99 for a two-quart jug.
“It’s good on the pallet but once it goes down it leaves an awful taste,” Suren said.
As you head to the store to cure your eggnog cravings this holiday season, remember that name-brand popularity isn’t always as reliable as we might think. Sometimes homemade recipes are the best way to go, so grab some eggs, milk, cream and a blender and start experimenting. But if store-bought ‘nog is your thing, be sure to keep the name Southern Comfort in mind.
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