Top nog Our daring duo finds two Christmas treats that are delicious, one that’s just OK, one not so good and one we don’t recommend… at all By: Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti Posted: 4:11 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023

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This article was published 28/11/2023 (1035 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With December on the horizon and (some) snow on the ground, it’s time for another seasonal beverage taste test.

Readers might recall the Pumpkin Spice Latte journey arts and life staffers Eva Wasney and Jen Zoratti embarked on in October for the drink’s 20th anniversary. This time around, store-bought nog — both egg-full and egg-free versions — is the focus.

While the Christmastime beverage is made with many of the same spices as its autumnal counterpart, texture plays a bigger role in eggnog enjoyment. Keep reading to find out which brands offer the full-fat experience and which ones taste more like seasonal depression.

Dairyland Eggnog Original

$5.79 for 2 litres

Eva Wasney: OK, so we’re going to start with a classic eggnog, switch to the non-egg ones and then come back for a palate cleanser.

Jen Zoratti: I think Dairyland has the best of the colours.

EW: I would agree. It’s not like a fake yellow; it looks pretty natural and it smells nutmeg-y.

JZ: Yep. That’s just your standard eggnog — all of these need rum in them and a sprinkle of nutmeg — that is what you want. It’s creamy, not too overpowering.

EW: Yeah, and eggnog is traditionally very sweet so I’m not turned off by the sweetness here; it feels well-integrated with the rest of the spice flavours. And it is nice and rich, the mouthfeel is on point, it’s not too thick or too thin. Dairyland, you’re doing a good job.

JZ: This is a classic for a reason.

Califia Farms Holiday Nog

$7.29 for 1.4 litres

JZ: The colour of this almond-milk nog is a little green to me, which I don’t love. It smells like nail-polish remover, like acetone. Kind of like how your nail salon smells during the holidays.

EW: Like an eggnog-scented candle over the smell of nail polish. Oh boy, yeah, it’s very acrid. That’s really weird.

JZ: There’s a lot of fun things in here like vegetable concentrate with carrots and pumpkin and ginger.

EW: That’s probably how they’re trying to mimic the colour of eggnog. OK, let’s take a swig. Oh, no, what in actual heck is that? That doesn’t taste like eggnog at all.

JZ: Oh my god.

EW: It’s very thin and it almost has a bubble-gum aftertaste. With a classic eggnog, it coats your mouth and there’s a nice creamy experience that lingers. This does not have any of that. The flavour lingers, but the actual drink has none of the creaminess. I don’t think this would be better with rum in it.

JZ: Ooof, nail salon and bubble gum. Good thing we have 1.4 litres.

EW: It’s huge; this is the only size I could find. And it’s the most expensive of the nogs. Thank goodness this is a limited edition.

JZ: And eggnog is a splurge, it’s not something you’re drinking by the glass. It’s a sipper. Compared to the Dairyland, which has 21 grams of sugar per half a cup, there’s only nine grams of sugar here and I think it needs all 21 grams. This doesn’t feel decadent; it feels sad.

EW: Which is so unfortunate, because I feel like faux milks have come a long way.

Earth’s Own Oat Nog

$4.79 for 946 ml

JZ: Moving along to the oat, I want to compare the two.

EW: The consistency and the colour are all wrong. It was quite liquidy as we were pouring it.

JZ: It smells OK. It smells like oatmeal, as I find all oat milk does, and I’m getting a little bit of oatmeal cookie with a hint of nutmeg. I do appreciate that the colour seems to come from turmeric.

EW: OK, that is surprisingly better than I expected. That is good.

JZ: It’s quite good. I’m astonished.

EW: I was totally turned off by the colour of it, but this has the nutmeg and lots of nice warm spices. And it’s creamy.

JZ: This would make a nice latte. A sleeper hit so far.

Beatrice Eggnog Classic

$3.27 for 1 litre

EW: This is by far the yellowest one — it matches the colour on the carton.

JZ: Hmm, it’s not as good as the Dairyland one.

EW: This one’s a little thinner and the spices aren’t as prevalent. I can’t put my finger on what’s missing, but it kind of just tastes like a cup of thin vanilla pudding. It’s not as holiday spice-y.

JZ: I don’t think there’s nutmeg in this. I don’t know, I could be spreading misinformation. It just says spices, whereas the Dairyland one has nutmeg listed as its own ingredient.

EW: That’s disappointing, because nutmeg is one of the dominant flavours of eggnog.

JZ: I think the Beatrice would be better for a mixed drink, because it won’t overpower anything you’re adding to it, whether it’s rum or Baileys.

President’s Choice Candy Cane Eggnog

$3.79 for 1 litre

EW: And finally, we have a novelty one. This is a candy-cane-flavoured eggnog from President’s Choice, which also makes something called “World’s Best Eggnog.”

I couldn’t find it on my nog shopping spree, but that’s a bold statement so I’m curious how this will stack up. I don’t know if eggnog needs an additional festive flavour.

JZ: I agree. It smells pretty good, though. Like a vanilla peppermint candle.

EW: It’s nice and creamy. Definite candy-cane aftertaste. It’s very minty — I almost feel like my breath is fresher after drinking that. It’s a refreshing drink, which is never what I’m expecting from a creamy beverage.

JZ: I wouldn’t call it eggnog, but if you like mint, this is for you. It’s not toothpaste, though; it’s like those creamy mint drops that you put on gingerbread houses.

EW: Final verdict?

JZ: For me, Dairyland is the winner and second is the Oat Nog, I’m shocked to say. Then Beatrice, then President’s Choice.

EW: You’re speaking my language, except Beatrice and candy cane are a third-place tie for me.

JZ: Almond Holiday Nog is not even on here: this is a list of five and Holiday Nog is 11, it’s in the basement. Serve it to your enemies.

EW: Straight down the drain.

eva.wasney@winnipegfreepress.com

X: @evawasney

jen.zoratti@winnipegfreepress.com