Nightcaps are perhaps the drink we need right now. This traditional drink, which is a late-night beverage, has the same name as the clothing. It’s meant to warm you up and make it ready for bed.
And if we are likely to be spending more time at home, we can all indulge in ‘one for the road’, as there’s no actual road to hit. Helen McGinn chooses her favorite. . .
Whisky for winter jumpers
Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter, 70cl, £74.95, thewhiskyexchange.com
UK-based drinks expert Helen McGinn picks out a selection of the best nightcap beverages – including Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter (pictured)
A special winter edition of the famous Scotch created by Glenmorangie’s renegade head distiller Dr Bill Lumsden, this blend was inspired by winter jumpers and roaring fires. Yes, really.
The smells of smoke, spices, and orange transport you to a fireside. You will also find plenty of fruits, cinnamon, ginger, honey and the sweetness of Marsala, a Sicilian sweet wine, in this spirit.
This can be served on its own, with water or in an Old Fashioned. Mix a few drops of sugar with water to make a syrup, and then add a bit of bitters. Add a slice orange for garnish.5/5
Honey & spice
Drambuie Honeyed Scotch Whisky Liqueur, 50ml, £14, Asda
Helen said Drambuie Honeyed Scotch Whisky Liqueur (pictured) is gloriously sweet, warm and comforting
When neat whisky doesn’t appeal, this whisky-based liqueur might be the answer. Made from aged Scotch blended with honey, herbs and spices, it’s gloriously sweet, warm and comforting. You can either drink it as is or mix equal amounts of Scotch whisky with Drambuie to make Rusty Nails. Use straight from the bottle or in a glass with ice.4/5
Luxe amaretto
Disaronno Velvet Liqueur, 50cl, £15, Tesco
Helen said Disaronno Velvet Liqueur (pictured) comes in a lovely festive white bottle and looks and tastes luxurious
You will be amazed if you, like me at this point, enjoy a glass of Amaretto. It’s a cream liqueur version of the Italian almond-flavoured drink that comes in a lovely festive white bottle and looks and tastes luxurious. It can be enjoyed on its own or served with a slice of mince pie at the end.5/5
Boozy chocolate
Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Liqueur, 50cl, £18, Waitrose
Helen said Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel Chocolate Cream Liqueur (pictured) is best served on its own over ice or added to your bedtime hot chocolate
This is a combination of some my favorites: caramel, cream and chocolate all in one. The chocolate is velvetised — melded with vodka and lashings of cream — to make this rich, moreish drink. You can serve it over ice or in a glass with a little bit of hot chocolate. You’ll sleep like a baby.4/5
Rum reward
Marksologist Cacao & Aged Rum Old Fashioned 50cl, £18, M&S
Helen said Marksologist Cacao & Aged Rum Old Fashioned (pictured) is an aromatic drink, best served with a twist of orange peel to garnish
A neat twist on the Old Fashioned cocktail (see Glenmorangie, above left) — and you don’t even have to make it yourself with this pre-mixed bottle. For a heady and aromatic drink, it is made from Venezuelan rum instead of whisky. It’s mixed with cacao liquor and a pinch of bitters.
You can drink it on its own, or add ice. Add orange peel garnish. With five servings in a bottle, it’s good value.3/5
Pre-mixed treats
Bottle Aged Brooklyn, 10cl, £8, Mothership scotland.com
Helen said Bottle Aged Brooklyn (pictured) is a smoky, sweet drink with orange and cherry flavours
Another pre-mixed gem, this one comes from the cocktail connoisseurs behind one of Edinburgh’s best bars, Bramble. Their take on Brooklyn is a variant on Manhattan.
Made with bourbon, Amer Picon (an orange-flavoured, bittersweet aperitif), Noilly Prat and maraschino liqueur, it’s a smoky, sweet drink with orange and cherry flavours. Enjoy it neat or on ice. Sip while you’re sitting up.4/5
Beauty products made from brandy
Tariquet VSOP Carafe Armagnac Brandy 70cl, £37, Majestic
Helen said Tariquet VSOP Carafe Armagnac Brandy (pictured) has notes of vanilla, liquorice and spice
Brandy is a must for any nightcap, even if it comes from one of Armagnac’s top producers. Aged for at least seven years in Domaine Tariquet’s cellars, it is fresh and mellow, with notes of vanilla, liquorice and spice.
Serve on its own in a balloon glass or mix 80ml in a cocktail shaker over ice with 50ml each of crème de cacao and double cream. To serve, pour into 2 small glasses and garnish with fresh nutmeg. Delicious.4/5
You can drink alcohol-free
Three Spirit The Nightcap, 50cl, £24.99, Amazon
Three Spirit is a non-alcoholic beverage company that focuses on botanicals. It is free from artificial colours or flavours and contains very few calories.
These are made using botanicals like lemon balm, valerian roots, hops, and ashwagandha. It’s an acquired taste but if you like bittersweet concoctions and don’t want the booze, it’s worth trying.3/5
Helen said Three Spirit The Nightcap (pictured) is worth trying, if you like bittersweet concoctions and don’t want the booze