Nightcap
OccasionA nightcap is the last drink of the night, a small pour taken just before bed, such as a Hot Toddy or a neat brandy.
What nightcap means
The word first meant a cap worn in bed, from the late 14th century. The sense of a drink taken before bed is recorded from 1818. Today it simply means the last glass of the evening, whatever you pour.
It sounds right that a nightcap helps you sleep. Alcohol does help you fall asleep faster, but it disrupts sleep in the second half of the night and cuts REM sleep. Treat a nightcap as a drink to enjoy, not as a sleep aid.
Warm and rich drinks suit the job best. A hot toddy, a Brandy Alexander, a Rusty Nail or an Old Fashioned all work. You can also pour cognac, port or an amaro neat.
How to serve a nightcap
Keep it small and slow, as the last drink before you go to bed.
- 1.Pour one small drink, such as a neat pour of whiskey, to sip slowly.
- 2.Stop at one drink, and let the glass last the rest of the evening.
- 3.Serve a glass of water alongside, and skip coffee cocktails, which keep you awake.
Nightcap compared
- DigestifA digestif is served right after a meal to close it. A nightcap is the last drink before bed, whenever that is.
- AperitifAn aperitif opens the evening before dinner, and a nightcap ends it.
- Hair of the dogHair of the dog is a drink the morning after, while a nightcap is the night before.
Examples
- Hot Toddy
- Brandy Alexander
- Rusty Nail
- Old Fashioned
- Cognac, neat
- Port
- Amaro
Related terms
Ingredients
Put it to use in your next drink
Garçon explains every step as you make the drink.