Get geeky with these cocktail recipes inspired by fictional worlds.
Hello there! I’m Kendall, the craft cocktail connoisseur and geeky drinks enthusiast behind Novel Nightcaps.
After several years of taste-testing my way through my library of cocktail books—exploring everything from timeless classics to modern riffs and seasonal creations—I found my niche in geeky drinks: the ones inspired by fandoms, literature, pop culture, and fantasy that invite a bit of magic into the glass. Now, whether I’m dreaming up a new concoction based on an author’s fictional world or unearthing a past bartender’s oddball experiment, my favorite part of bartending is diving into ingredient pairings with unique origin stories that make them fun to revisit again and again.
Here within my recipe archive, you’ll find hundreds of cocktails I’ve tried (and some originals I’ve developed myself), complete with histories, techniques, and tasting notes—all written for fellow imbibers who appreciate well-crafted drinks and the story behind them too.
Cheers,
If geeky drinks aren’t your thing, check out a few of the highest-rated vintage, modern, and seasonal cocktail recipes I’ve tried.
A tiki cocktail made with mezcal, dark rum, lime juice, orange curaçao, orgeat syrup, lime, and mint
A spring cocktail made with mezcal, rhubarb liqueur, lemon juice, rich simple syrup, celery bitters, rhubarb, and soda water
A modern cocktail made with coffee, dark rum, dark crème de cacao, simple syrup, whipped cream, and cocoa powder
A Halloween cocktail made with tequila blanco, lime juice, simple syrup, red wine, and lime
A modern cocktail made with bourbon, simple syrup, lemon, mint, cherry bitters, mint, and cherry
A spring cocktail made with sparkling wine, lemon juice, Lillet Blanc, elderflower liqueur, honey syrup, and lemon
Welcome the warmth of spring with these fresh and flavorful cocktails.
Learn how to make homemade simple syrups, shrubs, and spreads to use in cocktails.
