We Found All the Best Eggnog at the Grocery Store (Boozy Eggnog, Too)

The best eggnog (or the best egg nog, depending on your preferences—we prefer eggnog, one word) should be creamy, sweet, and spiced. Nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and allspice are all welcome to the party, but balance is key. Eggnog is a special holiday treat; we don’t drink it often, so we want it to blow us away. 

What is eggnog—and is it really made with eggs?

Yep, unless you’re buying an almond milk eggnog (or another non dairy eggnog variety), there are egg yolks in the mix. As Sporked contributor Jessica Block put in in our helpful eggnog explainer, “It’s essentially a custard made by whipping together egg yolks and sugar, adding hot milk infused with spices and flavorings (famously a lot of nutmeg), and then finishing it with heavy cream.” Of course, we’re talking about store bought eggnog here, so you’ll also find various stabilizers, emulsifiers, and sweeteners like corn syrup listed in the ingredients, too. 

How we found the eggnog for our taste tests

Every holiday season (four years in a row now!), we scour the dairy aisle to find new eggnog brands, limited edition eggnog flavors, and more options that we may have overlooked. We looked for  oat milk eggnog, lactose free eggnog, low fat eggnog, almond milk eggnog, classic, full-fat, full-dairy eggnog (duh), and this year we added boozy eggnog to our shopping list and found a good one.

What we looked for in the best eggnog 

Viscosity: Whether it’s made with almond milk or low fat cow’s milk, eggnog should be thick and creamy, and it should satisfy like a spicy, sugary, holiday shake. 

Balance: We love that eggnog contains a whole slew of spices, but they should be balanced. Too much nutmeg, and the nog is bitter. Too much cinnamon and it tastes like someone spit a wad of Big Red in the batch. Balance also came into play when we were tasting boozy eggnog. If a bunch of different liquors are in there—rum, brandy, whiskey—one shouldn’t overpower the others.

That special something: Not sure how else to put this. When you taste eggnog that tastes right—with that correct eggy flavor and just the right amount of nutmeg—you just know it. It’s a nostalgia bomb. That’s what we wanted to find; eggnog that tastes how a warm hug feels.

Here’s all the best eggnog you can buy. 

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Best Lactose Free Eggnog

Lactaid Lactose Free Eggnog

Walmart

Instacart

As we found in our best lactose free milk taste test, lactose free milk is often quite sweet on its own—so it’s a good base for eggnog. And this lactose free eggnog is still creamy, too. My only issue with it is that it’s not spiced enough for my liking. It tastes like liquid vanilla pudding or melted vanilla ice cream, which is not a bad thing. I just wish there were more spices in the mix to make it taste more like the holidays. —Justine Sterling  

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

6.5/10

Sporks

Best Vanilla Eggnog

Shamrock Farms Vanilla Spice Eggnog

Instacart

Shamrock Farms Vanilla Spice Eggnog is basically a vanilla milkshake disguised as eggnog. That might not appeal to everyone, but it’s undeniably delicious. It’s extra thick, rich, and creamy, with a sweet vanilla flavor that’s gently warmed by a mild blend of cozy spices. It’s more of a dessert than a classic, old-timey holiday drink; I could see kids (and vanilla latte devotees) really enjoying this eggnog flavor. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Almond Milk Eggnog

Almond Breeze Almond Nog

Instacart

Almond Breeze almond milk eggnog actually edged out a lot of the full-fat eggnogs I tried. The almond flavor provides some really excellent flavor. It’s made with cane sugar, rice starch, and almond milk, and it maintains that fatty, spiced nog flavor that we were looking for in the best dairy free eggnog. Managing editor Gwynedd Stuart was a big fan of it, citing it as “refreshing.” I concur. This is the best vegan eggnog if almond milk is your alternative milk of choice. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Flavored Eggnog

Kroger Rich & Creamy Cinnamon Eggnog

Ralphs

Kroger came out with a full line of eggnogs last year and they’re continuing the tradition this year with pumpkin flavored eggnog, vanilla eggnog, and low fat eggnog. But the cinnamon flavored eggnog is the only one that really stands out. If you’re interested in eggnog but don’t like nutmeg, then allow me to introduce you to this cinnamon-only eggnog, it may be the best tasting eggnog for your palate. Think of creamy, thick chocolate milk—now imagine the chocolate is gone and instead it’s cinnamon. That’s what this eggnog tastes like. It also reminds me of Häagen-Dazs cinnamon ice cream, which is probably my favorite Häagen-Dazs ice cream. If you feel similarly, head to your local Kroger or Kroger affiliate, ASAP. —Justine Sterling 

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Eggnog to Mix with Booze

Sprouts Organic Eggnog

Instacart

Now this is eggy eggnog. (How eggy is it?) It’s so eggy, that it droops and gloops out of the damn container like fancy Christmas sludge. Because of the thickness, I think this is the one of the best eggnog brands to mix with alcohol. The problem with mixing things like bourbon and rum with store bought eggnog is that the nog becomes too thin and thus loses its iconically thick texture. That won’t be a problem with Sprouts eggnog, which is almost made for booze. And the flavor of Sprouts’ eggnog is on point too. The nutmeg provides some warm, nutty notes. And it’s rich, buttery, and delicious. Buy it, then stir in some alcohol with confidence. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett/Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Extra Creamy Eggnog

Broguiere’s Eggnog

Amazon

Instacart

This eggnog made me say “good lord” out loud (to absolutely no one but myself). Broguiere’s eggnog is curiously rich, but I think the secret ingredient is egg yolk powder. That powder offers a lot of rich, fatty, condensed flavor, so the egg flavor in this nog is really off the charts. Broguiere’s puts their eggnog in a faux milk bottle complete with a smiling cow on the label, so it comes off as eggnog straight from the farm—but that’s misleading. Broguiere’s uses corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup in their ingredients. Combine that with egg yolk powder, and it doesn’t exactly scream homemade. It could also benefit from some aromatics. Still, the flavor is very, very good. Sweet, creamy, and lavish, Broguiere’s is the best eggnog for those who like a full egg yolk flavor. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Vegan Eggnog

Chobani Oatmilk Oat Nog

Walmart

Chobani makes the best non dairy eggnog we tried. You get the thickness of a classic eggnog—we’re talking super-duper creamy—and the flavor is spot on. It’s sweet and nutmeg-y. And you don’t really even taste the oatiness of the oat milk. You could definitely pass this off as standard oat milk, which makes it the best vegan eggnog to buy. —Justine Sterling

Credit: Merc / Walmart

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Classic Eggnog

Trader Joe’s Egg Nog

Trader Joe’s

If you’re a devoted Trader Joe’s shopper during the holiday season (which, I totally get it—the winter vibes are immaculate), don’t even look anywhere else for the best eggnog. This stuff is everything you want. It’s creamy without being too heavy. It’s frothy, but still smooth and rich. It brings the whole gamut of spices with every sip—and you can really taste the cinnamon here, too. I’ve noticed that even some of the best eggnogs could use a cinnamon stick or two. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Boozy Eggnog

Pennsylvania Dutch Eggnog

BevMo

We tried a bunch of boozy eggnog and a couple of eggnog liqueurs in our most recent eggnog taste test, and this was the overwhelming favorite. I’m a pretty robust drinker (not in a concerning way, but you know…we live in stressful times) and even I thought some of them were just too boozy. I still want to taste nog, ya know? Pennsylvania Dutch has the perfect balance. It still tastes like eggnog—it’s rich and creamy and has that nutmeggy backbone of flavor. The combo of rum, brandy, and whiskey blends with the flavor rather than just adding a hard alcoholic burn. This is the best boozy eggnog because it’s reliable, easy to find, and really good! —Gwynedd Stuart

Credit: Liv Averett / BevMo

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Classy Eggnog

Promised Land Dairy Old-Fashioned Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

To me, the best eggnog tastes a little boozy, even when it’s alcohol-free. Promised Land’s Old Fashioned Eggnog finishes on a neat, sophisticated note that actually reminds of bourbon in an Old Fashioned. (Maybe that’s just the power of suggestion in the name, but I swear I can taste it!) The kick of nutmeg adds a clean, punchy spice that balances the rich creaminess and elevates the overall taste. I’m addicted to this stuff, plain and simple. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best Low Fat Eggnog

Organic Valley Reduced Fat Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

I can’t believe this is low fat eggnog. Okay, maybe it’s not, like, fat-free, but it is 33% less fat than Organic Valley’s regular eggnog. And you’d never know it. It’s so, so thick and decadent. But even beyond that, it’s a very unique eggnog. It tastes like it was spiced with freshly grated nutmeg. You get this drying effect on the end of every sip, which keeps you coming back for more. And while it’s certainly sweetened, it’s not super sweet. You won’t mistake this for melted ice cream. If you want an eggnog that’s scaled back on fat but still a treat, this is the best eggnog brand for you. —Justine Sterling

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best A2/A2 Eggnog

Alexandre Organic A2/A2 Homegrown Eggnog

Instacart

Ralphs

Alexandre Homegrown Eggnog is the best tasting eggnog, in my personal opinion. While a lot of products just sort of mysteriously list “spices” in the ingredients, Alexandre lists cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, and turmeric. That’s a lot of warm, spiced flavor, and no other eggnog comes close to matching Alexandre’s wonderful blend of aromatics. In addition to the spices, Alexandre eggnog is also made with cane sugar, egg yolks, organic milk, and organic cream—that’s it. And because it’s made with A2/A2 milk, it’s decadent as hell but easier for most people to digest. —Danny Palumbo

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

Southern Comfort Traditional Egg Nog

Walmart

Instacart

Amazon

Southern Comfort eggnog is rich, creamy, and has just the right amount of sweetness. A lot of eggnog can be far too sugary, but Southern Comfort gets everything just right. It’s made with milk, cream, egg yolks, and also high fructose corn syrup. We don’t love that there’s high fructose corn syrup in it (like, why?), but the taste is absolutely undeniable. The best part about it is you really taste the egg yolks. It’s deliciously rich because of that bold, eggy flavor. Sweet, subtle, and luxurious, Southern Comfort is the best eggnog we’ve tried in our many taste tests. —Danny Palumbo & Gwynedd Stuart

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Other eggnog we tried

Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Eggnog, Alta Dena Eggnog, Simple Truth Eggnog, Califia Farms Eggnog, R.W. Knudsen Eggnog, Lucerne Eggnog, Hood Eggnog, Silk Eggnog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Pumpkin Egg Nog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Low Fat Egg Nog, Kroger Rich & Creamy Original Egg Nog, Good & Gather Oatmilk Holiday Nog, Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog, So Delicious Coconutmilk Holiday Nog, Favorite Day Egg Nog, Favorite Day Light Egg Nog, Good Karma Dairy Free Pumpkin Spice Nog, Trader Joe’s Oat Non Dairy Egg Nog, Trader Joe’s Almond Nog, Evan Williams Eggnog, Two Stars Eggnog, Kirkland Eggnog Liqueur, Screwball Eggnog