I am a lifelong eggnog fan. Whether it’s homemade or store-bought, I make a point to consume plenty of it every Christmas season. Upon seeing that Chobani released a new Oat Nog, my curiosity was piqued. Oat milk is my preferred nondairy milk substitute, so it sounded like a promising concept. As Chobani’s Oat Nog is vegan, there’s no egg in the product either.
I poured the Oat Nog into my festive vessel of choice and was dismayed by the consistency. It was much thinner than expected. I’ve had some oat milk varieties in the past that were decently thick and creamy, so I assumed the Oat Nog would be closer to that. Instead, it’s as watery as typical oat milk. Chobani manufactures an extra creamy version of its oat milk, so I don’t know why it couldn’t have aimed for a thickness closer to that.
I gave the Oat Nog a deep whiff and was stunned. It smelled exactly like eggnog. I started to feel optimistic again.
I took a sip of the Oat Nog and my taste buds rejoiced. It tasted remarkably close to the real thing. All of the standard, dominant eggnog flavor notes seemed to be there. I’m not sure what type of black magic trickery Chobani pulled off here, but it works quite well.
There is a faint undercurrent of oat milk flavor, but it’s mild. It’s perfectly sweet without being domineering. As time elapsed, I noticed that there was a bit of an aftertaste in my mouth. It was an inoffensive flavor, but it’s one that I frequently notice when having oat milk. It seems like a fair trade-off.
I decided to try more of the Oat Nog, but added the all-important nutmeg this time. It brought further cohesion and authenticity to the drink. Unfortunately, no amount of nutmeg can combat the thin consistency of this beverage.
Chobani Oat Nog won’t replace traditional eggnog for me, but I can see myself substituting it on occasion. If you enjoy eggnog, but are avoiding dairy, this is a perfect solution. Likewise, if you find conventional eggnog to be too heavy, this should accommodate nicely. It effortlessly stands on its own, and I’m pleased that it was my first taste of anything nog-related this holiday season.
Purchased Price: $3.49
Size: 32 fl. oz. bottle
Purchased at: Fry’s
Rating: 9 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1/2 cup) 90 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 55 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 9 grams of sugars and less than 1 gram of protein.