We asked Good Food’s Bar of the Year for a summer-friendly alternative to eggnog

Name: We asked Good Food’s Bar of the Year for a summer-friendly alternative to eggnog
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 1 drink
Ingredients: 25ml Jameson Whiskey; 25ml Johnnie Walker Black Label; 30ml orgeat (see below); 4 ice cubes; 20ml lemon juice; grated nutmeg or cinnamon; grapefruit peel

Forget the heavy eggnog. For an Australian Christmas, trade the fireside milk punch for this refreshing “eggnot” from Silver’s Motel. Festive, but far lighter.

Michael Chiem

December 23, 2025

2 / 5Michael Chiem preparing his festive drinks for Good Food. Dion Georgopoulos

3 / 5Michael Chiem making a Cameron’s Kick, which is on menu at Silver’s Motel. Dion Georgopoulos

4 / 5Add a final flourish of nutmeg or cinnamon to your festive cocktail. Dion Georgopoulos

5 / 5Silver’s Motel co-owners Tynan Sidhu and Chiem. Edwina Pickles

Is there a drink less suited to a sweltering Australian Christmas than eggnog? Unlikely. This rich, creamy “egg milk punch” was designed for fireside sipping, not the humidity of a Southern Hemisphere summer. For a smarter alternative, we turned to Michael Chiem, co-owner of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Bar of the Year, Silver’s Motel. His suggestion? The Cameron’s Kick, which replaces the eggs with orgeat, a sweet liquid based on almonds. Currently served at Silver’s, “minus the spice garnish”, it’s a refreshing take on a traditional favourite.

Time:30 mins - 1 hourMakes:1 drink

This isn’t eggnog, but it’s an excellent alternative. It is a similar rich, festive drink that is perhaps a bit more palatable than the traditional eggnog you see in cold Christmas countries.

Ingredients

Cameron’s Kick

25ml Jameson Whiskey
25ml Johnnie Walker Black Label
30ml orgeat (see below)
4 ice cubes
20ml lemon juice
grated nutmeg or cinnamon
grapefruit peel

For the orgeat (MAKES ABOUT 1 LITRE)

250g raw almonds
2 pitted medjool dates (or similar)
caster sugar (see step 4 for amount)
2.5ml orange blossom water

Method

TO Make the orgeat

Step 1
Soak the almonds in water for 2 hours, then strain and rinse until the water runs clear.
Step 2
Put the soaked almonds and pitted dates in a blender with 500ml of water and blend on high for 30 seconds.
Step 3
Strain the mixture through a nut-milk bag (you can buy these in some grocery stores) or cheesecloth. Keep the liquid and discard the almond and date pulp.
Step 4
Weigh the liquid and add an equal amount of caster sugar. Add the orange blossom water and stir to dissolve the sugar. The orgeat will keep in the fridge for 4 days.

make the cocktail

Step 1
Combine the alcohol, orgeat and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker with the ice. Shake it hard and then strain into a chilled coupette glass.
Step 2
Garnish with grated nutmeg or cinnamon. Squeeze or pinch the grapefruit peel over the top of the drink, skin-side down, to extract its fragrant essential oils. Discard the peel. Serve immediately.