25 After-Dinner Drinks That Make The Perfect Nightcap (2024)

Before the negroni and the spritz took center stage, the espresso martini was the drink of the moment. Popular with coffee lovers and tired pre-gamers alike, this classic co*cktail was born in the 1980s but saw a resurgence in popularity in the last few years (and we totally see why).

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Turn your kitchen into a speakeasy with this sharp, sour, and slightly sweet co*cktail. Best part? It only requires 4 ingredients—gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice in equal parts.

Get the Last Word co*cktail recipe.

Somewhere between a co*cktail and a dessert, this Italian-influenced, tiramisu-inspired white Russian is hard to resist. Looking for a festive upgrade? A dash of orange bitters, a pinch of ground cinnamon, or some fresh nutmeg shavings add another dimension to this decadent drink.

Get the Tiramisu White Russian recipe.

There are few co*cktails more storied (or simple!) than the Manhattan. First stirred up in 1894 by a bartender at New York City's Waldorf Astoria, the defining characteristic is that it uses Scotch whiskey. Change up your bitters with a few dashes of walnut, lavender, or black cherry for a fun twist.

Get the Classic Manhattan recipe.

Something about the bittersweet, botanical flavors of the negroni makes us feel like we're on vacation. This classic Italian co*cktail amps up the notes of juniper in gin with sweet vermouth and herbaceous Campari.

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This wintery version of a whiskey sour features punchy ginger flavor and tangy cranberry juice. Though it requires minimal ingredients, it’s full of strong, bright flavors that perfectly complement rich holiday hors d'oeuvres like baked brie and bacon-wrapped dates.

Get the Ginger-Cranberry Whiskey Sour recipe.

For co*cktail lovers who like a whiskey sour but want something a bit nuttier, this is the perfect drink. An amaretto sour is also the ideal co*cktail for anyone who loves tiramisu, since the classic Italian dessert often includes amaretto.

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Oaky and sweet, with a hint of citrus on the finish, this classic co*cktail is truly a bourbon lover's drink. You only need a few ingredients to make it too—sugar, bitters, and a large ice cube—so you’ve really got to make them count (i.e., go for the good stuff!).

Get the Old-Fashioned recipe.

This spiked hot chocolate recipe boasts a combination of cocoa powder and melted chocolate to achieve the ultimate balance of sweetness and rich chocolate flavor. Make it extra-special and extra-spiked by topping it with Kahlúa marshmallows, inspired by this homemade marshmallow recipe (but store-bought ones work too!).

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A hot toddy is one of our favorite drinks to sip on when we're feeling under the weather or as a nightcap. Best part is? You almost definitely have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Want to change things up? Try switching it up with apple cider and caramel this fall.

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The white Russian is already the king of creamy after-dinner co*cktails, but adding a splash of peppermint schnapps makes it perfect for a seasonal celebration. Finish with a pinch of salt and a few peppermint candies, and meet your new favorite holiday nightcap.

Get the Peppermint White Russians recipe.

We crave cranberry co*cktails all season long, and this is our go-to co*cktail this holiday season. It's warm and spicy from the whiskey and ginger beer, and refreshing and tart from the cranberry and citrus.

Get the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour recipe.

This recipe turns your favorite wintery treat of a frozen hot chocolate into a martini. A little vodka and Baileys will make it your new favorite after dinner dessert co*cktail.

Get the Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini recipe.

Similar to a negroni or an Aperol spritz, an Americano is a simple co*cktail featuring Campari, club soda, and the best sweet vermouth you can find. Created in the 1860s, today it's often topped with an orange slice for a bittersweet, super-refreshing summertime beverage.

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The Brandy Alexander is the perfect drink to round out a dinner party without having to make a complicated dessert. Think of it as a boozy, ultra-fancy chocolate milkshake!

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The Black Russian was created in Brussels in the 1940s by a Belgian hotel bartender for the American ambassador to Luxembourg. Its name comes from the Russian spirit—vodka—and the color the coffee liqueur gives the drink. In the '60s, people began adding cream, turning it into a white Russian. TMYK!

Get the Black Russian recipe.

New Orleans made the Sazerac famous and is a classic co*cktail for Mardi Gras. We added a little maraschino juice to this whiskey and cognac co*cktail for a little fruity sweetness. It's bittersweet!

Get the Cherry Sazerac recipe.

Just three simple ingredients in this classic co*cktail. Quality vodka and vermouth are key here—since they make up the drink, the cheap stuff just won't do. (You can save that for our peanut butter cup martinis 😂)

Get the Classic Vodka Martini recipe.

Hot buttered rum is essentially the OG butterbeer. They both are golden, richly sweet and might give you a silly mustache when you drink it. Add in rum, butter, sugar, ice cream, and healthy dose of cinnamon, and you've got heartwarming wintertime magic in a glass.

Get the Hot Buttered Rum recipe.