When I was a kid, I loved eggnog – I still do. The viscous, velvety texture is not a favorite with everyone, but it still gets enough mileage on the market to warrant a place in the dairy case each year when Christmas rolls around.

I actually prefer it without alcohol. If I do indulge in a touch of the hooch, I think bourbon is a good addition. A quick internet search reveals that brandy or rum are also good options.

Another internet search affirms that the origins of eggnog flowed out of the Middle Ages when curdling hot milk with ale, wine or barley wine was supplemented with spices, eggs and fruits like figs.

So, alcohol has been part of the mix from the beginning and today we have many more options for the grog we add to our favorite Holiday toddy.

Which got me thinking about alcohol production and the number of distilleries I have seen begin production in the last few years.

Kentucky and eastern Tennessee are known for their whiskey production - I won’t get into what is the best or who produces my favorite American whiskey/bourbon – but there are a few artisans in the Midsouth that I have taken note of. Many of them use local grains to produce their products.

One notable startup is Delta Dirt Distillery in Helena, Ark. It is a family owned and operated distillery that grows their own produce and grain on land they have farmed since the late 1800s. Their sweet potatoes are used for their Sweet Blend Vodka. They also produce gin and have a tasting room in downtown Helena.

Related:Shop local for Christmas

See a full story on Delta Dirt Distillery in the December 20 issue of Delta Farm Press.

Old Dominick Distillery is a Memphis-based operation with deep roots in the Memphis community. The Canales ran a wholesale food business out of Memphis for years before developing a whiskey – Old Dominick brand - that they sold until Prohibition shut that side of their operation down. In 2013 Alex and Chris Canale found a bottle of Old Dominck Toddy from the late 1800s and decided to create a new distillery in downtown Memphis. Today they make about a dozen different spirits and host tours of the distillery.

In Jackson, Miss., Cathead Distillery, was the first legal distillery in Mississippi. They sell vodka, gin, bourbon and specialty liqueurs. In 2020 they were James Beard semi-finalists for Outstanding Spirits Producer and host events and tours in their downtown facility.

Further south in the Delta, two Louisiana style distilleries are producing products that are reflective of the area’s culture. Bayou Terrebonne Distillers in Houma, La., makes Louisiana-style corn whiskey and rum with roots in moonshining. Oxbow Rum Distillery, Pointe Coupee Parish, La., uses local sugarcane to create fresh, small-batch sipping rums.

Related:Buy local foods, support local farmers

Keep these local businesses in mind as you do your Christmas shopping, or search for ingredients for your Holiday nogs.