I Just Found a Better Version of Costco’s Most Popular Holiday Product

Picture this: you're curled up by the fire (or Yule log stream on the TV) with a cozy blanket, a plate of holiday cookies worthy of the man in red himself, and a good book. Sounds pretty perfect to me, but one thing's missing—a mug full of something warm, spiced, and hopefully spiked. Because everyone knows the holidays are a marathon not a sprint, and what better way to get through them than with a little liquid reinforcement?

There are so many boozy bevvies to pick from at the holidays—from coquito to hot buttered rum to mulled wine—but one is perhaps most synonymous with the season. Eggnog feels like a prerequisite for the holidays at this point, and I, like many people, would typically turn to one store for a bottle of the spirited stuff: Costco. That's because Costco's Kirkland Signature Eggnog is seriously delicious—and seriously spiked (so much so that it's banned from stores in some states).

Costco's eggnog is so popular that it typically sells out before the holiday season has even officially kicked off. Lucky for you, I found a better alternative that not only tastes better, but also requires zero membership cards to buy.

Why I Love Misunderstood Oat Nog

While I'm a fan of traditional eggnog, I'm also lactose intolerant, and during the holidays I have to be choosy about when and how I'm using up my daily dairy expenditure. There are so many rich and delicious foods on the menu that I'd rather sip on something that won't contribute to a bellyache. When I discovered Misunderstood Oat Nog, I found my match made in seasonal sipping heaven.

Without the name giving it away, you'd never know this boozy eggnog didn't contain dairy—you don't taste the oat milk base at all. What you do taste is all the creamy vanilla and nutmeg notes you'd expect in eggnog, with an unexpected kick of ginger. That's because Misunderstood Oat Nog is not spiked with the typical rum or brandy; Instead, it features the brand's signature ginger-spiced whiskey.

And while I came for the dairy-free base, I stayed for the ginger flavor. It gives this nog a layer of dimension that can't be beat. The oat milk base makes it a little bit lighter than other spiked eggnogs on the market, meaning I can take more than a few sips and still have room for dessert. But don't worry—it still packs a tipsy punch at 14 percent ABV (compared to Kirkland Signature's 14.75 percent ABV).

Misunderstood also sells its Ginger Spiced Whiskey (which makes the best hot toddy you'll ever have), as well as a line of oat-based creamy liqueurs that give Bailey's a run for its money. All of Misunderstood's products are available to order on Misunderstood's website, and well as in stores like Total Wine, Stew Leonard's, and Trader Joe's in select states. I can say from personal experience that the whiskey makes a great gift for the dads in your life, but you'll probably want to keep the Oat Nog all for yourself.

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