The Best And Worst Eggnog: Our Taste Test Results

Kristen Aiken
Updated

Eggnog -- most people either love it or hate it. If you're an eggnog lover, December strolls down the dairy aisle can be tempting -- those quarts filled with the creamy stuff are just so much easier to buy thanmaking your own nog from scratch. Just add a little booze to the store-bought variety, and you're in heaven.

That is, unless, you buy the wrong brand.

That's where we come in. We've tasted 17 types of eggnog for you, from commercial brands that are available nation-wide to highly-touted local brands that we just had to try -- we even tried some soy and lactose-free versions, with pretty surprising results (warning: avoid soy-milk eggnog!). Ranging in price from about $2 to $9 per quart, the difference between these nogs was remarkable. Some tasted of classic vanilla and cinnamon, while others tasted like banana and, yes, bubblegum.

So which brands should you try? And which should you steer clear of? Read our taste test results below!

As always, our taste test is in no way sponsored or influenced by any of the brands featured here.

#17: Earth Balance Organic Soy Nog

<strong>80 calories, 1.5 grams of fat</strong><br> <b>Comments:</b> "Soy!" "Sham!" "How did they go so wrong? If I didn't know this was supposed to be eggnog I would have no idea what I was drinking." "Is this banana skim milk?" "Awful." <b><a href="http://www.earthbalancenatural.com/product/original-soymilk/" target="_blank">earthbalancenatural.com</a></b>

#16: Silk Nog

<strong>90 calories, 2 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Putrid." "This is NOT egg nog." "Watery and tannic." "Unpleasant chalky texture." "Is this soy? It's very thin." <b><a href="http://silksoymilk.com/" target="_blank">silksoymilk.com</a></b>

#15: Bolthouse Farms Holiday Nog -- Low Fat

<strong>80 calories, 1.5 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "There's a strong cinnamon scent, but the flavor doesn't match up." "Almost no flavor, but a slight hint of butterscotch." "Just tastes like melted cotton candy." "Yolky texture, little flavor." "Off-putting buttery-ness, too much spice." <b><a href="http://bolthouse.com/" target="_blank">bolthouse.com</a></b>

#14: Horizon Organic Low-Fat Eggnog

<strong>140 calories, 3 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Bananas!" "This tastes like Runts." "Banana flavor. Not a very typical eggnog." "Tastes like medicine." "Banana penicillin." "Tastes like bubblegum -- why?" "Banana? Like drinking lotion." <b><a href="http://www.horizondairy.com/" target="_blank">horizondairy.com</a></b>

#13: Trader Joe's Light Egg Nog

<strong>110 calories, 1 gram of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Thin and chemical." "Chalky." "Spoiled taste." "Cough-syrupy, coying sweetness." "Ammonia flavor." "A little too glossy." <b><a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/" target="_blank">traderjoes.com</a></b>

#12: Farmland Dairies Premium Egg Nog

<strong>170 calories, 8 grams of fat</strong> <b>Comments:</b> "Fake." "Watery." "Not sure what that awful flavor reminds me of. Sort of pasty or raw dough-like." "Too many artificial spices." <a href="http://www.farmlanddairies.com/" target="_blank"><strong>farmlanddairies.com</strong></a></b>

#11: So Delicious Dairy Free Nog With Coconut Milk

<strong>90 calories, 3 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "As eggnog, this doesn't work. But it really is a deliciously thick coconut drink." "Holy coconut!" "Coconut egg nog -- no thank you." "Dominated by coconut." "Tastes like cream ... just cream." <b><a href="http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/share/" target="_blank">sodeliciousdairyfree.com</a></b>

#10: Tuscan Dairy Farms Holiday Egg Nog

<strong>180 calories, 8 grams of fat</strong> <b>Comments:</b> "Medicinal and thin." "Average" "Minty!" "Good vanilla taste." "Tastes like alcohol, but there's no alcohol in it." <a href="http://tuscandairyfarms.com/" target="_blank"><strong>tuscandairyfarms.com</strong></a></b>

#9: America's Choice Premium Egg Nog

<b>170 calories, 8 grams of fat</b><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Tastes a bit like rice." "Reminds me of cereal milk." "Average." "Good rich flavor and texture, almost like homemade." "Tastes like fake milk." "More like a milkshake -- it's missing the classic flavor." <b><a href="http://apfreshonline.com/pages_aboutUs_OB.asp" target="_blank">apfreshonline.com</a></b>

#8: Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog

<strong>220 calories, 9 grams of fat</strong> <b>Comments:</b> "Reminds me of the spices in banana bread." "Yum! Though it tastes more like I'm drinking melted ice cream than eggnog." "Too sweet and thick." "Would be good for making French toast." "Tastes like the inside of a cream puff." <b><A href="http://www.southerncomfort.com/age.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDefault.aspx" target="_blank">southerncomfort.com</a></b>

#7: Organic Valley Eggnog

<strong>180 calories, 10 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Very spicy, almost black peppery." "Intense nutmeg flavor." "Big in nutmeg flavor. I kind of like it but it's not for everyone." "Tastes like Indian spices." "Good level of sweetness and vanilla kick." "Nutmeg-y -- a little too much so." "Heavy nutmeg, but not bad." <b><a href="http://www.organicvalley.coop/" target="_blank">organicvalley.coop</a></b>

#6: Southern Comfort Traditional Egg Nog

<strong>200 calories, 9 grams of fat</strong> <b>Comments:</b> "Thick and very nutmeg-y. It could stand up to a lot of liquor." "Heavily spicedy." "Tastes like pudding -- a little thick." "Real egginess." "Undistinguished but fine." "Really thick, doesn't nail the flavor." <b><A href="http://www.southerncomfort.com/age.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDefault.aspx" target="_blank">southerncomfort.com</a></b>

#5: Turkey Hill Grade A Eggnog

<strong>190 calories, 9 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Rich flavor, though somewhat watery." "Very sweet, in a good way." "Classic, boozy flavor." "A little too sweet but classic taste." "Some nice spice, but still too sweet." "Way too sweet." "Way too much vanilla." <b><a href="http://turkeyhill.com/" target="_blank">turkeyhill.com</a></b>

#4: Hood Cinnamon Eggnog

<strong>180 calories, 9 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Perfectly comforting. Reminds me a bit of cinnamon-flavored oatmeal." "Very aromatic with cinnamon." "Cinnamon overload." "Like a cinnamon stick." "Nice cinnamon." "Sweet -- tastes like melted ice cream." "Interesting spices, not bad. Not classic, though." <b><a href="http://www.hood.com/Products/prodListColl.aspx?id=854" target="_blank">hood.com</a></b>

#3: Lactaid Eggnog (A Shocker!)

<strong>170 calories, 9 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Straightforward, restrained nog." "Tastes close to real eggnog. Smooth and vanilla-y." "Creamy but lacking in a real flavor." "This would be good for adding alcohol to." "Well-balanced, but not that egg-noggy. Sort of like a vanilla milkshake." "Tastes like flan." <b><a href="http://www.lactaid.com/" target="_blank">lactaid.com</a></b>

#2: Trader Joe's Premium Egg Nog

<strong>180 calories, 9 grams of fat</strong><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Almost tastes like real egg nog, but it's missing some of the creaminess." "Good classic taste with fruit undertones." "Tastes a little bit like banana. Thin but still creamy." "Some off-flavors, like banana and mint." "Custardy." "Unctuous!" <b><a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/" target="_blank">traderjoes.com</a></b>

#1: Ronnybrook Farm Dairy

<em>Unfortunately, this is only available in the New York State area. To learn more about Ronnybrook Farm Dairy, <a href="http://www.ronnybrook.com/farm.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. For eggnogs you're more likely to find in your area, keep going through the slideshow!</em><Br> <b>Comments:</b> "Spot-on." "Thick, almost pudding-like and the perfect vessel for adding alcohol." "Very thick with a satisfying flavor." "Classic eggnog flavor, very heavy feel to it." "Bland, but would be great with some alcohol." "Thick, and not very spiced."

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.