Embrace the winter spirit with these cozy cold-weather recipes.
Salut! I’m Kendall, the cocktail historian and geeky drinks enthusiast behind Novel Nightcaps.
Over the years, I’ve been taste-testing my way through an ever-growing library of cocktail books—exploring everything from timeless classics to modern riffs and seasonal creations. Somewhere along the way, I found my niche in geeky drinks: the ones inspired by fandoms, literature, and pop culture that invite a bit of whimsy into the glass. Whether I’m recreating a fictional favorite or unearthing an old bartender’s oddball experiment, I enjoy diving into the history, ingredients, and stories that make these recipes worth revisiting.
Here on my website, you’ll find hundreds of cocktails I’ve tried (and some originals of my own), complete with notes, methods, and honest reviews—all aimed at making the craft cocktail world a little more fun and approachable for everyone.
Cheers,
Check out a few of my highest-rated cocktail recipes.
The Lonesome Catacombs is a gin-based cocktail recipe that was created by Alex Sukopp, former bartender of Sips From Scripts. It was inspired by the
The Salted Sage Paloma is a tequila-based cocktail recipe that was created by Slow Mixology. This variation was adapted from the Little Cantina Instagram account.
The After Midnight is a sparkling wine and gin-based cocktail recipe that was created by Jassy Davis. This variation was adapted from her book Winter
A sparkling wine-based cocktail recipe created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy
A rum-based cocktail recipe that created in 2023 by Kendall Williams of Novel Nightcaps in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
A Star Wars cocktail inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi that channels the Jedi Master’s elegance and depth by layering rich Cognac with warm chai and baking
Get geeky with these cocktail recipes inspired by fictional worlds.
Learn how to make homemade simple syrups, shrubs, and spreads to use in cocktails.
Find out what I thought of different cocktail recipe books as I tasted my way through them.
