When it comes to winter warming, few can challenge the charms of the eggnog. Sweetly distracting and endearingly traditional, it’s a great Christmas drink whether you’re looking to perk up in the morning or launch into an activity-filled festive night.

Unfortunately, good eggnogs have always proven difficult to find. Don’t even start me on the boxed grocery variety - they’re thick, syrupy and next to impossible to imbibe without flinching uncomfortably. I’d sooner grab the worst-tasting beer on tap before (mis)treating myself to one of those, regardless of what alcohol I cut it with.

There are some eggnog mixes I have tried over the years, though, that have at least ranged from proving slightly tolerable to being better than another bottle of beer. Some recipes that come to mind include:

Eggnog Kahlua

4 ounces of eggnog and one ounce Kahlua, mixed in a highball glass with nutmegs sprinkled on top.

White Christmas

4 ounces of eggnog, half an ounce of chocolate liqueur and one ounce of Southern comfort, served in a specialty snifter glass with chocolate flakes.

JagerNog

A word of warning: Among my peers, I’m the only one who seems to enjoy this simple mix of homemade eggnog and Jagermeister in equal parts with cinnamon sprinkles. You might like it too but you likely won’t.

The Perfect Egg Nog

After searching for some amount of time, I along with a couple of friends, do think we’ve found the best eggnog recipe. I can’t believe this has been online (to much acclaim) for a couple of years either as I’ve only been pointed to it recently. Jeffrey Morgenthaler’s eggnog trumps pretty much every variation of the tasty classic I’ve treated my taste buds to, apart from being incredibly easy to make.

The recipe consists of two large eggs, 3 ounces of sugar (adjust to your own taste - I only use about 1/3 of this), half a teaspoon of nutmeg, two ounces of brandy (any decent kind should do), two ounces of Sailor Jerry’s (spiced rum), six ounces of whole milk and four ounces of heavy cream. To make the drink, simply beat the eggs via a blender for one minute (medium speed). Without turning the machine off, add the sugar and let it mix for another minute, after which you can add all the remaining ingredients. Serve chilled.

While hyperbole is never my thing, this eggnog is just as perfect as a holiday drink can get. Try it and every nasty eggnog you’ve ever drank with your eyes closed will fade into obscure remembrance.