What’s up with thick egg nog?

[Powdog]

I mean, really. When I was a kid my Dad would make egg nog on Thanksgiving and Christmas, something his family had done. Milk, cream, eggs, vanilla and nutmeg. It wasn’t much thicker than milk, it was creamy and delicious.

In an effort to avoid consuming raw eggs I’ve decided to buy commercial egg nog this year. I’ve tried three different brands and it’s all the same. Thick stuff that’s the consistency of mucous. I looked at the ingredients and everyone is using thickeners like guar gum, rice starch and gellan gum. It’s like drinking the contents of a spittoon. At what point did the model for egg nog cross over to this stuff? Does anyone really LIKE this stuff?

 

[uriah1]

I think ours was always thick. Growing up my mom always cut it with milk since we had a lot of kids.

 

[naneek]

I mean, really. When I was a kid my Dad would make egg nog on Thanksgiving and Christmas, something his family had done. Milk, cream, eggs, vanilla and nutmeg. It wasn’t much thicker than milk, it was creamy and delicious.

In an effort to avoid consuming raw eggs I’ve decided to buy commercial egg nog this year. I’ve tried three different brands and it’s all the same. Thick stuff that’s the consistency of mucous. I looked at the ingredients and everyone is using thickeners like guar gum, rice starch and gellan gum. It’s like drinking the contents of a spittoon. At what point did the model for egg nog cross over to this stuff? Does anyone really LIKE this stuff?

The additional starches and thickeners make the store-bought eggnog very good for making pudding from scratch, or bread pudding. It also makes good ice cream.

 

[drf64]

Appleton Estate will thin it out perfectly. For more kick use Smith and Cross

 

[String Tree]

I mean, really. When I was a kid my Dad would make egg nog on Thanksgiving and Christmas, something his family had done. Milk, cream, eggs, vanilla and nutmeg. It wasn’t much thicker than milk, it was creamy and delicious.

In an effort to avoid consuming raw eggs I’ve decided to buy commercial egg nog this year. I’ve tried three different brands and it’s all the same. Thick stuff that’s the consistency of mucous. I looked at the ingredients and everyone is using thickeners like guar gum, rice starch and gellan gum. It’s like drinking the contents of a spittoon. At what point did the model for egg nog cross over to this stuff? Does anyone really LIKE this stuff?

Add Jack Daniels to thin it out.

 

[Chuckster]

I'm absolutely obsessed with this stuff. I wait all year for it.

 

[staxman]

A generous poor of rum is a great way to thin out that too thick egg nog and also put you in the holiday mood—win/win!

 

[Vegetable Man]

Appleton Estate will thin it out perfectly. For more kick use Smith and Cross

A generous poor of rum is a great way to thin out that too thick egg nog and also put you in the holiday mood—win/win!

Agreed.

Add rum or bourbon to taste.

 

[drf64]

Agreed.

Add rum or bourbon to taste.

Bourbon: can’t go wrong with Old Grandad 114.

 

[Powdog]

A generous poor of rum is a great way to thin out that too thick egg nog and also put you in the holiday mood—win/win!

I tried a shot of rye and it was still too thick. Had another with two shots, then I posted this rant. I was gonna try three shots but I’m having a hard time standing up.

 

[Vegetable Man]

Bourbon: can’t go wrong with Old Grandad 114.

Good choice. Always been a fan of Old Grandad.

Russell's Reserve and Rare Breed also get in the rotation here.

 

[vcs700s]

Thick with a little cinnamon on top.

That’s how we had it when I was younger.

 

[drf64]

I tried a shot of rye and it was still too thick. Had another with two shots, then I posted this rant. I was gonna try three shots but I’m having a hard time standing up.

A man’s gotta know his limitations

 

[Vegetable Man]

I tried a shot of rye and it was still too thick. Had another with two shots, then I posted this rant. I was gonna try three shots but I’m having a hard time standing up.

Now I'm curious...which brands of egg nog have you tried? Are these short or tall glasses? We need to get to the bottom of this one. The holidays depend on it.

 

[stxrus]

We haven’t had egg nog in years. We make Coquito and use dark Cruzan rum in our mix. It’s fairly thick and refrigerated. It sits out for 15 minutes or so it can be shaken to mix and then poured

 

[Lucius Paisley]

If that's what your priest says it is, it's probably safer to take his word for it.

 

[Powdog]

Well, the first one I tried was the Southern Comfort. Then the Crystal, which is a local dairy in Sacramento. I even tried the Almondbreeze almond milk nog, which should technically be Horchata. All have thickening ingredients that have no place being in a holiday treat.

I’m kinda being silly about my level of intoxication. To be fair the rye I’m pouring is Frey Ranch bottled in bond, which is 100 proof.

 

[dkmw]

I was gonna say, if you put enough liquor it it’ll thin right out.
Whats the point of eggnog without liquor?

 

[staxman]

Seriously though, I like thick egg nog, because I never drink it straight. We always either mix it with alcohol or make a coffee drink flavored with nog—I am in the Seattle area

 

[Powdog]

My egg nog journey began when I was a kid, in a household where both parents were Methodist teatotalers. Never had booze in my eggnog til I met my girlfriend (now wife). And I now agree that it’s best with spirits. Just not gobs of guar gum.

WTH is guar gum anyway, and who ever thought of adding it to eggnog? Reminds me of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and the non-nutritive cereal varnish.

Crap. That 100 proof rye is catching up.