Eggnog, the festive drink that evolved from a medieval cold remedy to a holiday favorite, is back to jingle your taste buds. The creamy concoction is typically a blend of egg yolks, fluffy whipped egg whites, rich milk, velvety cream, a hint of vanilla, and a sprinkle of sugar with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg on top for a little extra holiday magic.
The boozy part, which can be optional, can be rum, brandy, whiskey, or bourbon.
The Poka Lola Eggnog. (Provided by Poka Lola Social Club)
When spiked with a splash of alcohol, you can call it a milk punch or an eggnog cocktail.
And the Denver spots serving it this season get creative with their mixology. Some even give their cocktails playful names like Jingle Balls Nog, Deez Nogs, and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree.
Related: New at Family Jones Spirit House: Duck fat-washed whiskey and pickled carrot martinis
For example, the staff at Room for Milly uses vanilla bean ice cream and half-and-half for its eggnog base and blends it with its in-house spiced rum, Smith & Cross Jamaican rum and Cointreau, said Hunter Lindley, general manager. Using ice cream creates a smoother texture and makes it feel more like a shake, he said.
Since the cocktail bar started serving the eggnog cocktail two weeks ago, it has used 10 gallons of ice cream.
Room for Milly, 1615 Platte St., serves the cocktail on a plate with cookies. “It gives it more of a milk and cookies for Santa vibe,” Lindley said.
So far, he has not quizzed customers about whether they’re on the naughty or nice list, but he might start as the 25th approaches.
Several holiday pop-up bars serve eggnog cocktails, and some area restaurants and bars have also added the boozy holiday treat to their menus.
American Elm’s secret recipe eggnog. (Provided by American Elm)
American Elm
The neighborhood eatery and bar at 4132 West 38th Ave. serves its secret recipe eggnog in its restaurant and takes preorders on its American Elm Store website through Dec. 20 for pickup Dec. 22 and 23.
Avantiki at Avanti Food & Beverage
The tiki-themed holiday pop-up at 3200 Pecos St. in Denver serves Deez Nogs, which blends egg yolks, sugar, heavy whipping cream, milk, nutmeg, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and spiced rum.
Death and Co.
Boozy eggnog has been a tradition at the Death Co. bars for years.
The company also shares its eggnog recipe, which uses heavy cream, whole milk, eggs, sugar, bourbon, rum, and Madeira, online for anyone with the patience and refrigerator space to try it.
Denver Union Station
The Miracle pop-up cocktail lounge and Cooper Lounge at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., both serve eggnog cocktails.
The lower-level Miracle offers the Jingle Balls Nog, which combines cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, egg, vanilla, and nutmeg.
You can imbibe in style and enjoy the Christmas Past, which blends Holmes Cay Heritage Rum, eggs, cream, sugar, orange, and clove, upstairs at the Cooper Lounge.
The Family Jones Spirit House
The newly reopened LoHi bar and distillery at 3245 Osage St. is decked out for the holidays and serving its Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree cocktail. This cocktail blends creamy eggnog with Automatic Jones Rock & Rye and fresh cinnamon and is served with a sugar-flocked rosemary tree and vanilla bean snow.
Lucina and Xiquita
Chef Diego Coconati celebrates his Puerto Rican heritage with a Coquita made with milk, cream of coconut, rum, nutmeg, and vanilla. The holiday concoction is served at Lucina, 2245 Kearney St. #101, and Xiquita, 500 E. 19th Ave.
The SANTA! I Know Him! eggnog cocktail at Mercantile. (Provided by Mercantile)
Mercantile
Mercantile at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., showcases the craftsmanship of local farmers and producers, and its seasonal eggnog is no exception. The simple yet classic boozy eggnog cocktail named SANTA! I Know Him! is made with Appleton Signature Rum and premium eggnog from Bellvue-based Morning Fresh Dairy Farm, topped with cinnamon.
Odell’s Bagel
Odell’s Bagel, which primarily bakes natural fermented and hand-rolled bagels, sells a bottled eggnog cocktail made fresh in-house daily. Patrons can enjoy it at the store at 3200 Irving St. in Denver or take it home.
The bottled cocktail, designed for two, combines rum, bourbon, French cognac, pasture-raised eggs, and local cream.
Poka Lola Social Club
The winter wonderland pop-up Poka La La La at 1850 Wazee St. is offering two eggnogs. The Poka Lola Abominable Snowman blends Diplomatico Reserva Rum, the house winter spice blend, cream, and a whole egg. It also has the non-alcoholic Poka Lola Do You Wanna Build A Snowman that combines the house winter spice blend, cream, and a whole egg.
Sara Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.