Top off a perfect evening with the sweetly bitter and bubbly Nightcap cocktail.
We’ve all asked or been on the receiving end of that loaded and often sultry question: Would you care to come in for a nightcap? Sometimes our dates are just being polite and genuinely offering a little tipple to send you on your way, hopefully with another outing planned for the near future. Other times, though, you end up going to work wearing what you wore out the night before. Years back, I did a lot of manual labor, so when I showed up for my shift dressed to the nines and hopped behind the wheel of my forklift, my co-workers knew.
Today’s cocktail is called the Nightcap, but it’s really not the drink you want to be sipping on as you wind down for the night. Outside of the more romantic connotations a nightcap might have, they usually suggest a relaxing and sometimes warm libation to help ease you into calling it a day. Mixtures like a Hot Toddy and Hot Buttered Rum, or classic cocktails like the Manhattan and Old Fashioned, are usually associated with finishing up your busy schedule next to a roaring fire whilst sipping on one of these beverages, sinking into a plush robe or blanket.
The Nightcap recipe here is a version of what was originally invented and served in Bermuda around 2019 by bartender Daniel Moik, who was inspired by the Rum and Tonic and espresso cocktails. With the combination of rum, coffee, syrup and carbonation found in the Nightcap, this particular drink is better suited at the top of the evening, rather than the end of one. The citrusy notes, coupled with the bitter, tropical and sweet tinges from the ingredients found here, offer more energetic vibes than your average sleepy-time sipper.
What is the best alcohol to use in a Nightcap Cocktail?
Our recipe suggests using a light rum to mix your Nightcap with. Often referred to as silver or white rum, the unaged and clear-colored spirit will meld nicely with the cold-brew coffee you’ll be using, as well as the sweetness from the simple syrup and zippy citrus notes from the orange bitters, as well. All of these flavors are softened slightly when they’re topped with a fizzy club soda, resulting in a bright, balanced and slightly fruity treat.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces light rum
- 2 ounces cold-brew coffee
- 1/4 ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Soda water to top
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Add the rum, cold-brew, simple syrup, and bitters to a shaker with ice and shake well.
- Strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes.
- Top with soda water and garnish with an orange peel before serving.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Pour your Nightcap into a tall, chilled highball or collins glass filled with ice, then garnish the top of it with a thin orange peel.
Can you use tonic water in this recipe?
Yes. Some recipes for this cocktail are made with maple instead of simple syrup, and are topped off with the quinine-infused tonic water instead of club soda.
Similar drinks to the Nightcap Cocktail
While not the exact kind of drink it takes its name from, the Nightcap cocktail does seem to exist in a category all its own. If you’re looking at your rum and wondering what other bubbly and unique concoctions you might be able to craft with it, check out some of these recipes found right here at Twist & Toast.
- Bermuda Rum Swizzle – Frothy, tropical, and fun, this elixir brings the islands to your front door.
- Rum Punch – Unwind and get ready to have a good time with this fruity and refreshing favorite.
- Caribeño – Rum and coconut water is an entertaining way to cool down on a hot day.
- Rum Sour – This classic cocktail is a tart, sweet, and near-perfect sipper.
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