It’s more than just a tasty way to finish a great night.
When the humble nightcap was originally dreamed up, folk medicine was the order of the day, and alcohol was considered a sleep enabler. Fast-forward to today, and doctors won’t be recommending alcohol as a sleep aid as it tends to affect sleep quality. If you’re looking for a good night’s rest, whip yourself up a non-alc nightcap instead like the Bonnet, which combines warm milk with honey and nutmeg.
These days, we more readily use the term to describe a late-night drink, something enjoyed after dinner over D&Ms with friends before you turn in for the evening. We often think of brown sirits as best fitting into nightcap territory – think whisky, Cognac, or aged rum.
But like your pre-sleep routine or a preferred side of the bed, nightcaps are an intensely personal choice. The Queen was rumoured to enjoy two glasses of Champagne before retiring to bed, which breaks all the rules in the book. Namely, a nightcap should never be served chilled or on the rocks as it’s instead meant to encourage a feeling of warmth. But you do you – a nightcap can be whatever you want it to be.
Traditionally, the Hot Toddy was considered one of the original and best nightcaps. Take the warming influence of your favourite bourbon and add hot water, honey, lemon juice and cloves to make a drink that was believed to help transport people to la-la land.
Many popular nightcaps reference dark liquors like Cognac – the Brandy Alexander is a longtime fave, where the warming hit of Cognac meets crème de cacao, fresh cream and grated nutmeg. Yum! Other classic drinks like the Manhattan, Brandy Crusta or Dominicana are staples of the nightcap.
Although some say it’s sacrilege to ruin a perfectly good wine, on cold winter nights there’s something genuinely appealing about a steaming glass of Mulled Wine. With almost as many recipes to choose from as there are bottles of wine, our fail-safe recipe is a great place to start. Brew it up when you’re serving a crowd (it’s a delicious drink around the table post-dessert), and we guarantee you’ll convert more than a few friends to the way of the nightcap. Red wine, brandy, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cardamon, orange, lemon, honey and tea make for a particularly warming option.
