I’m Kendall, the author behind Novel Nightcaps and your guide on this literary-inspired mixology journey.
Storytelling has always fascinated me, and when I discovered craft cocktail-making in 2020, I realized making drinks felt like writing narratives in liquid form. So, I picked up my camera and started tasting my way through my ever-growing recipe book collection, sharing photos I took of each cocktail to Instagram along the way.
Within a few months, what began as a hobby had grown into a full-fledged creative pursuit. Since then, I’ve tried hundreds of recipes, delighting in the history and inspiration behind each one. I’ve also experimented with my own concoctions, learned how to make homemade syrups and spreads, uncovered unexpected flavor pairings, and honed techniques that have turned simple mixtures into memorable experiences with family, friends, and lots of other enthusiasts from the mixology community I’ve met online.
Although my bar and social media profiles have been quiet while I’ve been dealing with health issues since early 2024, Novel Nightcaps is still my literary cocktail library, and I hope to get back to sharing new recipes with you soon. Until then, you’ll find everything from timeless classics to original creations, syrup experiments, cocktail book musings, and tips for anyone ready to explore the art of drinking at home here on my website. So, pull up a chair, pour yourself a glass, and let’s discover the story in every sip together!
Each week, I invite you to step into the pages of Novel Nightcaps and discover a new cocktail story. Many come from the recipes found in my collection of cocktail books, while others are original tales I’ve dreamed up myself. Along with the background on each, I share the methods, ingredients, and tools that spark creativity, as well as glimpses of bars, distilleries, and wineries I’ve explored—little chapters that inspire your own home bartending adventures.
When I do craft original recipes, I aim to create cocktails that are approachable yet memorable. No obscure ingredients that collect dust after a single use—just thoughtfully composed drinks made with items you can find at your local store. I like to imagine each recipe as a character in its own story: simple enough to make at home, but striking enough to stand out at your favorite bar.
Photography is another way I tell these stories. Each cocktail is captured like a “headshot,” photographed from the same front angle for consistency, but styled differently depending on what inspires me most—the history of the drink, a standout ingredient, its name, or just the mood it evokes. The goal is to make every image as inviting as a chapter you can’t put down, tempting you to pick up your shaker and become part of the story too.
To help you decide whether or not you want to try a cocktail recipe I share, I’ve included star ratings and tasting notes with every post that denote how well I liked the taste of the recipe and whether I’d make it again.
Five Stars: I loved the cocktail and will be adding it to my rotation at my home bar.
Four Stars: I really liked the cocktail and am very likely to make it again.
Three Stars: I liked the cocktail and might make it again.
Two Stars: I respected the cocktail but probably will not make it again.
One Star: I didn’t like the cocktail and will not make it again.
