Nothing says the holidays quite like eggnog. The creamy, old-fashioned drink has been a staple for generations. Take one sip of the mix of seasonal spices and kick of booze, and it’s easy to see why.

Getting your hands on this festive drink isn’t always as easy as heading to the grocery store. Most fans of this Christmastime beverage agree that homemade eggnog is far superior to store-bought varieties — but even if you want to make eggnog at home, it can be tough to know where to start.

Most eggnog consists of the same basic ingredients: eggs, milk or cream, sugar, and cozy spices like nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon. Making that rich, frothy base with baking spices is easy. It’s adding a little spike of booze for some extra holiday cheer that can leave you staring blankly at your bar cart, wondering which bottle to choose.

Whiskey, rum, brandy, and Cognac are among the popular spirits to add, but there are plenty of other options as well. When Liz Kelley, lead bartender at New Orleans’ Cure, crafted the bar’s slate of holiday drinks, she opted to include eggnog made with bourbon and chicory liqueur because the barrel-aged bourbon has enough roundness and depth to stand up to the richness of the cream and egg base, while the chicory liqueur offers an unexpected buzz.

Eggnog is all about balance. So while many recipes tap a velvety Cognac or spicy aged rum, Kelley says the best versions of this holiday drink don’t rely on just one bottle. “Eggnog is a great opportunity to add complexity with a blend of spirits,” says Kelley. “Try Cognac with an aged Jamaican rum, or bourbon paired with amaro. If you know your crowd, there’s a lot of room to have fun with holiday drinks.”

If you’re planning to supply a cup of cheer this holiday season, here are eight expert-approved bottles to use in your next batch of eggnog. Each one is sure to make spirits bright.

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04 | Reposado Tequila

While spirits like Cognac, rum, and whiskey are most commonly used in eggnog, you can look deeper into the bar cart for some interesting additions. Cam recommends reaching for a reposado tequila because it offers warm notes that complement eggnog just as well as any other barrel-aged spirit. “Reposado tequila brings a little vanilla, a little caramel, and gentle oak that elevates the whole flavor profile, and it also rounds [out] the profile,” says Cam. “Reposado gives a true character that is comforting.” Try swapping in your favorite bottle or look to these bartender-recommended reposado tequilas for inspiration.

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