Hollywood, MD – I am unashamed to admit I find the idea of eggnog repulsive. It’s the “funnel cake of Yuletide” as far as I’m concerned. I’d rather eat fruitcake!
So are there alternatives to eggnog? Well, a glass of tap water is one drink that comes to mind. However, if you want something more flavorful, maybe even intoxicating, there are other options.
A web site called Vinepair.com has documented three drinks for “people who hate eggnog.” They are the hot toddy, Irish coffee and hot buttered rum.
The foodie magazine Fine Dining Lovers has twice as many options. They list Christmas punch with rum, coffee smoothie with brandy, Swedish glogg, mulled wine, winter punch and Japanese jasmine sake as their top alternatives to eggnog. A glogg, by the way, is wine that the Swedes serve with dried fruit and nuts. It is served with a spoon since the fruit and nuts are meant to be consumed.
Now if you insist on eggnog but want something different, you should check out Lexi Petronis’ 2013 story in Glamour—Three Healthy Alternatives to Eggnog. The choices are Smari spiked eggnog (Smari is Icelandic yogurt which in this case is a cream substitute, blended with bourbon and rum), almondy Umami eggnog (Umami isn’t a food, it’s a taste…hmmm), which includes “vanilla-infused amaretto liqueur, honey syrup and unsweetened almond milk; and eggnog latte, which includes two shots of espresso or a half cup of strong coffee.
Finally, even the Mayo Clinic has weighed in on the eggnog conundrum. Registered diet nurse Romi Londre (pictured, left) suggests cutting back on sugar or cutting it out entirely, and adding nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla or citrus instead. Londre reminds pregnant women they should not consume eggnog “since they are at increased risk of bacterial food poisoning, which is more likely to occur in raw foods.” Hey, those of us who aren’t pregnant should view that as a red flag, too!
Bottoms up!! Enjoy your holiday beverage but remember if you consume alcohol, ride home with a designated driver behind the wheel.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com