Head to head
Eggnog and Irish Coffee side by side: what changes in the recipe, the balance, the strength and the calories.
The difference, by the numbers
Both have sugar and cream. Only the Eggnog has whole egg, Cognac, aged rum and milk; only the Irish Coffee has Irish whiskey and coffee. In parts, an Eggnog is 2 sugar, 1 brandy, 1 rum, 3 milk and 2 cream; an Irish Coffee is 1 whiskey, 2½ coffee and 1 cream. By volume, the Eggnog is 55% mixer and juice, 23% syrup and sugar and 22% spirit; the Irish Coffee is 75% mixer and juice, 22% spirit and 3% syrup and sugar. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.
The Irish Coffee is the stronger drink in the glass (9.0% ABV against 8.5%), but the Eggnog is the bigger drink, so it holds more alcohol (1.35 standard drinks against 1.13). The Eggnog has more calories (about 612 against 302) and more sugar (44.0 g against 5.4 g). Both are built; the Eggnog is served in a coupe, the Irish Coffee in an Irish coffee glass.
Creamy & After-Dinner · Brandy
The ratio · 2 : 1 : 1 : 3 : 2
Highlighted: not in the Irish Coffee.
Creamy & After-Dinner · Whiskey
The ratio · 1 : 2½ : 1
Highlighted: not in the Eggnog.
Each drink sits nearer the corners it has more of: spirit, vermouth and bitter, citrus, mixer, syrup or liqueur. The gray dots are the other classics. Explore the full ratio map.
Eggnog vs.
Irish Coffee vs.