What Does Eggnog Taste Like?

What do you first think of when you hear about Christmas? Wine, cake, Santa…? Well, for me, it’s eggnog. I have only had eggnog a couple of times. But some people live their whole lives without knowing what this amazing drink actually tastes like. So if you’re here to know what eggnog tastes like, you’re at the right place.

Eggnog has a sweet taste with a creamy texture. It’s so creamy that one can easily compare it to melted ice cream. Its delicious flavor and creamy texture are often enchanted by some spices like cardamom and cinnamon.   

Well, do you think eggnog is not your thing? If so, let me tell you something more about eggnog. Eggnog is not only perfect for someone with a sweet tooth but also for people who love experimenting. Wondering how? Keep on reading to know the answer.

In this article, we will cover everything one needs to know about eggnog. We will see how it tastes, uses, health benefits, and more. 

What Is Eggnog?

Eggnog is essentially a unique drink. It’s so versatile that its flavor is unmatchable. If you ever get a chance to have eggnog, never say no. Even if you are not a person who particularly enjoys sweet things, eggnog is definitely worth trying! So what exactly is eggnog?

Eggnog is a sweet beverage made from milk, egg whites, heavy cream, and a few spices. It has a creamy feel that might make you think of custard. Although it contains egg white, the final recipe does not taste like it.

Even though eggnog is a non-alcoholic beverage, it tastes best when served with alcohol. Hence, eggnog often acts as a base for certain breezers and cocktails.

The invention of eggnog is still a matter of dispute. However, eggnog has its origin in Europe. But today, it has become a classic holiday drink not just in Europe but also in America, France, and Thailand. 

The etymology of the term eggnog is not known. But eggnog is also known as milk punch. Back in the days when milk, egg, and alcohol were a luxury, eggnog was a drink among wealthy people. 

What Does Eggnog Taste Like?

We tend to be reluctant to try new things, especially food. However, you might drink eggnog without hesitation the next time someone offers it to you. Why? Because I’ll describe eggnog’s flavor in detail in this part. After reading this, you can decide whether eggnog is your thing or not. 

Eggnog has a mild sweet taste when it comes to flavor and has a creamy texture. Its taste is often compared to melted ice creams and custards. The amount of sweetness can be varied according to how it is made. Overall, eggnog is a sweet and creamy drink.

Eggnog also has a delicious aroma. The smell of milk and spices will definitely remind you of a cake shop. The sweetness of eggnog is highlighted by a spicy touch of spices like cinnamon and cardamom.

If you think eggnog is too sweet, you can always mix it up with your favorite alcohol to balance out its sweetness. But if you are someone who is going to have eggnog for the first time, you may want to read our next session to know which eggnog you should try first!

10 Different Types of Eggnog and Their Different Tastes

Eggnog in itself is delicious, but imagine having a choice in them. Yes, you read it right! There are a variety of eggnogs you can try. But if you feel like having all of them after reading this session, don’t blame me.

Eggnog is a holiday drink. Having eggnog at Christmas is a childhood memory many people cherish. Since eggnog is an age-old drink, it tastes different in different countries. 

This session brings you some of the most famous forms of eggnogs from all around the world. So get yourself ready to meet some of my top eggnog picks from around the world.

There are ten different types of eggnogs. These are 

1. Coquito
2. Ron Ponche
3. Rompope
4. Auld Man’s Milk
5. Ponche Krema
6. Sabajon
7. Advocaat
8. Jamaican eggnog
9. Eierlikor
10. Bombardino

1. Coquito

This eggnog variety belongs to Puerto Rico. It has a fruity flavor with a subtle hint of sweetness. Coquito is often served with rum and other alcohol to balance out its flavor.

Coquito has coconut as its base ingredient. It uses coconut milk and coconut cream along with other ingredients like whipped creams, condensed milk, and various spices.

2. Ron Ponche

Ron Ponche is another Latin American version of eggnog. This beverage absolutely mimics normal eggnog in its taste and texture. Just like eggnog, Ron Ponche is a Christmas beverage.

Regardless of all the similarities, there are a couple of differences between Ron Ponche and eggnog. In eggnogs, rum is a choice, whereas, in Ron Ponche, rum is necessary.

Besides rum, Ron Ponche uses egg, evaporated milk, and cinnamon as its other ingredients. In the olden days, people used to use a distilled version of sugarcane juice instead of rum.

However, now rum has taken over its place. The key to perfect Ron Ponche is constant stirring. One has to stir it until it obtains that perfect yogurt-like consistency.

3. Rompope

Rompope is a Mexican version of eggnog. It has a nutty flavor and thick texture. The flavor of cinnamon is very significant in this version of eggnog.

Rompope uses egg yolk in the place of egg white as used in normal eggnogs. Due to this reason, Rompope will have a slight yellow hue as its color. Other than this, Rompope also uses almonds. These give Rompope a touch of nutty flavor.

4. Auld Man’s Milk 

Auld Man’s milk is a Scottish variety of eggnog. It contains eggs, milk, sugar, and spices as its main ingredient. Even though the consistency is similar, Auld Man’s milk has a noticeable nutmeg flavor.

Auld Man’s milk is connected to Hogmanay; a pre-new year celebration celebrated in Scotland. Auld Man’s milk is generally served with rum, although you are free to match it with any alcoholic beverage.

5. Ponche Krema

Ponche Krema is a Curacao variety of egg nogs. The base flavor and texture of Ponche Krema and eggnog are similar. However, Ponche Krema has a significant pistachio flavor, one of Ponche Krema’s main ingredients.

Ponche Krema has egg, milk, sugar, and cinnamon as its main ingredient other than pistachios. It is often served cold along with rum or brandy.

6. Sabajon

The Colombian equivalent of eggnog is called Sabajon. The basic components of Sabjon are identical to those of eggnog. However, what distinguishes it from other eggnogs is aguardiente.

Aguardiente is an alcoholic beverage brewed with sugarcane juice and flavored with cinnamon. For Colombian people, Sabajon is not only for Christmas. They include this drink even for Novena of Aguinaldos.

7. Advocaat

Advocaat is the Netherlands’ version of eggnogs. Advocaat has a sweet taste and creamy texture. However, advocaat has a strong alcohol content compared to other eggnog variants.

Advocaat has sugar, egg yolk, vanilla, and brandy (or rum) as its main ingredient. Therefore, advocaate is the perfect eggnog variant you can try if you are a dairy intolerant person.

You can make an advocaat at home or buy some from the store. Often advocaat is served with some cocoa and whipped cream. However, if you ever visit Poland do not miss their advocaat version which is served with a special vodka.

8. Jamaican eggnog.

Jamaican eggnog, as its name suggests, is a Jamaican variant of eggnog. In texture, Jamaican eggnog is comparable to normal eggnog. However, when it comes to taste, it has a coffee undertone.

If you are someone who loves coffee, Jamaican eggnog is a perfect drink for you. Jamaican drink has egg yolk, sugar cream, and cinnamon as its primary ingredients.

 However, Tia Maria, a coffee-flavored Jamaican rum added to Jamaican eggnog, is responsible for its coffee flavor. Second, only to sorrel, Jamaican eggnog is one of the favorite drinks of Jamaican people.

9. Eierlikor

Eierlikor is a German beverage that is similar to eggnog. Eierlikor in English means’ egg liquor’. It has egg yolk, sugar, and rum as its main ingredient. Eierlikor is a strong variant of eggnog in taste.

Eierlikor is often used as a drink of its own. However, it also serves as a base for many other drinks, an excellent one, might I add. Moreover, this variant of eggnog is also used in cake making.

10. Bombardino

Bombardino is an Italian beverage that is similar to eggnog. It has only two ingredients, eggnog and brandy. Hence it has a strong liquor taste with a mild sweetness.

Bombardino was created in Lombardia. Bombardino means bomb.It is often served as a hot drink with a scoop of whipping cream at its top and is perfect for the chilly weather.

Best Alcohols To Pair With Eggnog

Do you want to know which alcohol compliments eggnog the best? Each and every person is perplexed by this. That’s why I did an extensive study and identified some of the best alcoholic beverages that go great with eggnogs.

1. Amaro – Amaro is an Italian liquor with a bitter-sweet taste. It is made from a bunch of herbal ingredients like anise, ginger, mint, and cinnamon. It has a strong taste and pairs well with eggnogs.
2. Apple Jack – Apple Jack, as its name suggests, is made from apples. It is a popular fruit brandy with a hint of apple flavor. This one is a traditional combination for eggnog.
3. Bourbon- Bourbon is a type of American whiskey made from corn. Choose bourbon if you want a strong hit of alcohol in your eggnog. Its smoky flavor and strong alcoholic punch make it the perfect way to brighten up your eggnog.
4. Brandy- Brandy has a subtle sweet taste with a hint of bitterness. Therefore, while using brandy with eggnog, always use a small amount. However, mix it up if you want to take a good shot!
5. Cognac – Cognac is a brandy variety popular in France. It has a fruity flavor and pairs well with eggnogs. If you are new to alcohol and want to try eggnog with liquor, Cognac is the best option.
6. Frangelico – Frangelico is an Italian liquor with a caramel color and herbal flavor. If you are looking for a nutty, herbal flavor to pair with your eggnog Frangelico is an amazing option. However, Frangelioc as liquor is not strong, so if you want to have a strong kick from alcohol, mix some rum with it.
7. Scotch – Scotch has a very strong flavor. However, when mixed with eggnog, it creates a wonderful flavor.
8. Sherry – Sherry has a nutty flavor and is often used as a cooking wine. Sherry, with its sweet, nutty flavor, pairs well with eggnog.
9. Spiced Rum – Spiced rum has a flavor of spices like ginger, cinnamon, clove, and vanilla. If you are someone who loves a hint of spiciness in your eggnogs, try spiced rum. However, rum in sweetness might be too much for someone, but if you are into rum, then you cannot mix this combination.

How To Make Eggnog At Home

Now that you have read so much about eggnog, you must be craving some eggnogs. Therefore this section is dedicated just for you. Most of the ingredients required to make eggnogs are from our pantry.

So why should we wait till Christmas to take a sip of eggnogs? Put on your chef coat and get ready to make some eggnogs.

Ingredients Needed

1. Eggs (both yolk and white)
2. Cream
3. Milk
4. Sugar
5. Nutmeg Powder

Steps To Follow

1. Mix egg yolk and sugar in a small bowl
2. In another saucepan, heat milk, cream, and nutmeg. Bring it to a boil and simmer it for some time.
3. Add the hot mix of milk, cream, and nutmeg to the egg mix
4. Cook the entire mix for two to three minutes until it becomes thick
5. Once cooled, refrigerate it. 

You can either have it as it or have it with some whipped cream. Topping eggnog with cappuccino powder and heavy cream is my favorite way to have it. Or you can always mix it with some alcohol. 

Is Eggnog An Acquired Taste? 

Since we’ve talked so much about eggnog and how to drink it with alcohol, you might want to try it. You might assume you’ll certainly like eggnog after reading about its wonderful qualities.

I’m sorry to say this, but it isn’t at all the case. While some people adore eggnog, others absolutely detest its flavor. However, the majority of those who grew up drinking it adore it. Thus, we may say that eggnog requires some getting used to.

However, if you’ve already decided to sample some eggnog, go ahead and do it. Who knows? Perhaps you’ll also develop a fondness for eggnog or become addicted to it.

How To Store Eggnog The Right Way?

Eggnog is a very delicious condiment, no doubt about that, but eggnog is also one of those dishes that have to be preserved very carefully. So what are the things we should keep in mind while storing eggnogs?

1. Eggnogs should be carefully refrigerated after every use as they contain raw egg and milk.
2. Always use eggnog after checking its expiry date. Usually, canned eggnog expires between 4 – 5 months from the day of manufacturing. For homemade eggnog, it’s 5 to 6 days (if refrigerated properly).
3. The best way to store eggnog is to keep it in the interior sections of the refrigerator, away from the light.
4. If your eggnog develops any discoloration, bad odor, or lumpy texture, chances are high that your eggnog is spoiled.

What Is The Best Way To Serve Eggnog?

Eggnog is a very versatile dish and can be drunk in multiple ways. But how to optimize its taste? If you plan to make eggnog for a party anytime soon, make sure to read this session.

Eggnogs can be served in both cold and hot forms. It largely depends upon your taste and also the weather outside. A hot cup of eggnog is irresistible if it’s snowing outside.

If you are serving eggnog to children, you can serve it with some chocolate syrup over it as a topping to make it more interesting. Or you can add some crushed chocolate to make it tastier.

One of the best ways to serve eggnog is by mixing it with alcohol. Whether to serve it hot or cold will largely depend on your mood. But warmed eggnog served with a dash of rum is a cult favorite!

What Are The Uses Of Eggnog?

Now that we have covered every piece of information about eggnog and let us look into some of its other uses. With its distinctive sweet flavor and creamy texture, eggnog is something we can incorporate into multiple recipes.

With its sweet and creamy texture, eggnog can be used as a base for a latte. Just mix some coffee powder into the eggnog and whisk it until it’s frothy. Your perfect cup of eggnog latte is ready.

Eggnog can also be used as a topping in bread as well as pancakes. If you are bored of pouring honey or maple syrup over your pancake, pour some eggnogs over it. I’m quite sure that it won’t disappoint you.

Moreover, eggnogs can also be used as frosting. If you are someone who loves sweet, leftover eggnogs will never be an issue for you. You can’t go wrong with eggnogs in most cases; therefore, try mixing and matching with eggnog and your favorite dish whenever you can.

Nutritional Content Of Eggnog

Made with egg, milk, cream, and sugar, eggnog is one of the most delicious beverages one could ever have. It is so delicious that we often lose count of the glasses we drink. But how good is eggnog for our health?

Since eggnog has sugar, egg, and milk, it is a high-calorie food. Therefore overconsumption of eggnog is not healthy. Moreover, eggnog contains raw egg and milk. Hence, if not cooked and used properly, there is a high chance of food poisoning.

Nutrients	Amount (0.5 Cups)
Calories	200
Fat	9 g
Cholesterol	65 mg
Sodium	75 mg
Potassium	250 mg
Carbohydrates	25 g
Protein	6 g
Iron	2 g

Conclusion

Eggnog is a sweet, creamy drink often enjoyed as a vacation drink. It has milk, cream, and sugar as its primary ingredients. This drink is enjoyed by people all across the world. Whether you have a mood for sweets or an idea to throw a cocktail party, eggnog is the one you can always rely on!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)