Start with Eggnog

By Kimberly Kweder

Love that eggnog but looking to do a little more with it?  We stopped by Galway Bay in Annapolis to talk about their popular ‘nog and how to use it in cocktails at home. 

Bringing the holiday cheer in a bottle, Galway Bay Irish Eggnog is made and distilled in Ireland, and it typically flies off the shelves during the holidays. Galway Bay bartender David Dilda, 29, of Pasadena, said that it was a very popular purchase during the downtown Midnight Madness events.

Dilda offered some ideas on using the eggnog as the base for a variety of drinks, garnished with some cinnamon on top.

Make Irish Whiskey Nog by combining 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey with the eggnog. The Nutty Nog is 0.75 ounces of Frangelico (a hazelnut liquor), 0.75 ounces of Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka, and 2.5 ounces of Galway Bay Irish Eggnog, shaken and served on the rocks. It also mixes well with hot coffee. 

“I think it’s all the different choices you can have [here at Galway] and the way that the people just love these drinks,” said Dilda. “We sell this eggnog by the case, and we have four to five pallets, and hundreds and hundreds of bottles, people just go crazy,” he said. 

Dilda said they normally run out of the eggnog a few days after Christmas. He said people come in and buy it as gifts or for creating holiday cocktails. “I’ve never seen another restaurant do eggnog like this. How much people like it and the different things you can do. At Midnight Madness we were outside in front of the store giving out samples for free, just to bring people in and it drives sales big time. We were doing so much eggnog!” he added.

Galway Bay Irish Eggnog is sold at Killarney House, Galway Bay, Brian Boru, and Pirate’s Cove for $23.99 (750 ml) or $137 for half-case (6 bottles).