Connecticut’s $17 Arethusa Eggnog Goes Viral, Sells Out Statewide

Arethusa Farm Dairy’s eggnog has become Connecticut’s latest holiday obsession. The debate’s heating up—can a $15 quart really live up to the hype?

Social media’s fueling the frenzy, sending customers rushing to Litchfield County and beyond. This small-batch favorite keeps selling out across the state, with visitors coming from as far away as overseas.

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Arethusa Farm Dairy’s Eggnog: A Connecticut Holiday Phenomenon

Arethusa Farm Dairy, based in Litchfield, has made its eggnog quietly since 2010. This year, though, the buzz is off the charts.

The dairy’s already famous for its award-winning cheeses and the acclaimed restaurant Arethusa al tavolo. Suddenly, one seasonal product has landed at the center of a statewide conversation about price, quality, and, honestly, how much we’re willing to indulge for the holidays.

From New Haven to Hartford, and through Waterbury and Torrington, shoppers are scrambling for the last bottles. Shelves are emptying weeks before Christmas.

Inside the Operation: Thousands of Bottles, Hundreds of Thousands of Eggs

This season, Arethusa turned out about 65,000 quart-sized bottles of eggnog. They used milk from their own herd and nearly 400,000 eggs.

That’s a big number for a farm in Litchfield County, but it still feels small-batch. Fans seem to love that.

Workers say the drink’s incredibly rich and smooth—so smooth, it’s even won over folks who usually can’t stand eggnog. That’s what loyal customers point to when they justify the price.

Why Is Arethusa’s Eggnog So Expensive?

The price tag is what really set the internet on fire. At Arethusa’s own stores in New Haven and Bantam, a quart goes for $15.

Some retailers elsewhere, including spots where shoppers from Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford shop, have pushed the price up to $17. For something you can usually grab at the supermarket for way less, the sticker shock is real.

Especially online, people aren’t shy about sharing their opinions.

“A Luxury Good” in a Glass Bottle

General manager Tony Hidri doesn’t shy away from the luxury label. He calls it a “luxury good” and points to a few reasons for the price:

High-quality dairy from Arethusa’s own herd

Nearly 400,000 fresh eggs in this year’s batch

Glass bottles instead of cartons (definitely pricier)

Labor-intensive, small-batch methods

In a time when grocery prices in places like New London and Danbury keep climbing, Arethusa’s eggnog isn’t your everyday staple. It’s more of a once-a-season treat.

Lines Out the Door and Shelves Running Bare

No matter what people think about the price, demand’s wild. Store workers say the eggnog’s almost gone statewide by mid-December, with some locations moving hundreds of bottles a day.

Staff say more than 90% of customers walk in just for the eggnog—and leave bummed if it’s already sold out. From corner stores in West Hartford to specialty markets drawing day-trippers from New Britain, hunting for a bottle has turned holiday shopping into a scavenger hunt.

From Instagram to the International Crowd

Social media’s been the real driver. Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit posts calling Arethusa’s eggnog the “best ever” have brought in not just locals, but buyers from out of state and even overseas.

Some folks have actually added Litchfield and New Haven to their travel plans just to snag a few quarts. In a state where towns like Fairfield and Milford have all sorts of holiday traditions, it’s kind of wild that a dairy product has become a destination event.

Worth the Hype—or Just Clever Marketing?

Online, the reaction’s all over the place. Some people insist no eggnog should cost more than $10 a quart, especially during an expensive holiday season.

But fans are just as loud, swearing it’s the best eggnog they’ve ever had. They say the rich flavor and velvety texture make it worth every penny.

It’s a bigger question, really. When does food go from everyday necessity to special-occasion luxury? And how much are we willing to shell out for the best version of something we only drink once a year?

A New Connecticut Holiday Ritual

Is it indulgent? Maybe. Excessive? Some would say so. But Arethusa Farm Dairy’s eggnog has definitely found a spot in Connecticut’s holiday traditions.

For plenty of families across the state, snagging a bottle has become almost as crucial as trimming the tree or baking cookies.

The glass bottles seem to vanish from shelves faster every year. This Litchfield farm has managed to turn a simple seasonal drink into a modern ritual.

Honestly, it’s not just about what’s in the bottle. The whole story—and even the hunt for it—has become part of the fun.

Here is the source article for this story: A $17 Connecticut eggnog went viral online — and sold out across the state

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