Featured Winter Recipes

Embrace the winter spirit with these cozy cold-weather recipes.

Behind The Bar

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,

Favorite Recipes

Check out a few of my highest-rated cocktail recipes.

Bellini Cocktail Recipe

Bellini

A sparkling wine-based cocktail recipe created in 1948 by Giuseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy

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Brown Derby Cocktail Recipe

Brown Derby

The Brown Derby is a whiskey-based cocktail recipe that was created at the Vendome Club in Hollywood, California. This variation was adapted from The Essential

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Makalapa Cocktail Recipe

Makalapa

A rum-based tiki cocktail recipe that was created by Lynnette Marrero at Llama Inn in New York City, New York

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