Today we are sharing the best after-dinner drink recipes. This nightcap is the perfect way to end the evening. We’re sharing a variety of dessert cocktails like our famous Espresso Martini, digestifs like the Rusty Nail, classic cocktails like The Last Word, and coffee-based options like Irish Coffee. This drink is perfect for a sip after a meal.
paper airplane cocktail
The Paper Plane Cocktail Recipe is a great bourbon drink to add to your home bar skills. The combination of bourbon, Aperol, amaro and lemon juice creates a bright orange cocktail with citrus notes, vegetal notes, warmth and the perfect balance of sweet and bitter.
French 75
The French 75 is a classic cocktail, and for good reason! Combining bubbly champagne, the lightness of fresh lemon, and the botanical juniper notes of gin, this drink has stood the test of time and is a fan favorite at cocktail hour everywhere.
aviation cocktail
This bright purple classic cocktail is made with gin, crème de violet, maraschino liqueur and freshly squeezed lemon juice. It has a refined flavor and is the closest thing to a fancy bar you can make at home.
last word cocktail
Learn how to make the classic Last Word cocktail using gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice.
White Russian
This drink is perfect for an after dinner drink. This three-ingredient (vodka, Kahlua, heavy cream) cocktail is easy to cook and make at home.
Classic Hot Toddy
I love a classic hot toddy. This recipe typically consists of only four ingredients: hot water, whiskey, fresh lemon juice, and honey.
El Presidente Cocktail
Learn how to mix the El Presidente cocktail using white rum, dry vermouth, orange curacao, and grenadine syrup.
Pink Lady
A classic cocktail, the Pink Lady is drier and more tart, as you might expect from its bold pink color. Shake the combination of dry gin, applejack brandy, lemon, and grenadine with egg whites to create a creamy foam that is both delicious and pretty to look at.
colorado bulldog
This coffee-flavored recipe starts with a base similar to the White Russian and calls for Kahlua and vodka. A layer of cola is then added to the recipe. It’s an unexpected and fun twist! Colorado Bulldog is the taste of White Russian with the flavor, sweetness, and carbonation of cola added. It’s really delicious!
French Martini
The French Martini is a luxurious cocktail that requires only three ingredients: vodka, pineapple juice, and raspberry liqueur. The fruity scent is sweet without being overpowering, and the pretty color looks gorgeous in any martini or coupe glass.
Boulevardier Cocktail
Let’s learn the classic recipe for the Boulevardier cocktail. Campari, bourbon (or rye whiskey), and sweet vermouth can be used to mix this stiff, flavorful cocktail.
Espresso Martini
Make this iconic espresso martini with just three ingredients: vodka, espresso, and Kahlua, plus the optional ingredient of simple syrup. Preparation time is only 5 minutes!
manhattan drink
The Classic Manhattan Cocktail has been the most famous drink recipe since its creation in New York’s Manhattan Club in the 1880s. Made with rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, Angostura bitters and cherries.
Lion’s Rock
This drink is a cousin of the Old Fashioned and is traditionally a blend of rye whiskey or brandy, bitters, sugar, and absinthe.
lychee martini
This fruity and floral martini is made with vodka, orange liqueur, lychee puree, and lychee fruit. It’s magical!
Pink Squirrel Cocktail
Learn how to make a pink squirrel cocktail using crème de noir, white crème de cacao, heavy cream, and fresh nutmeg.
chocolate martini
This easy recipe is rich and chocolatey, but you won’t get sick of it even with chocolate syrup and chocolate shavings swirled on top. Made with chocolate liqueur, Irish cream, and vodka.
Appletini
This is a dessert cocktail made by mixing vodka and sour apple schnapps.
dirty martini
There are few drinks more classic than a dirty martini. The simple combination of gin (or vodka!), dry vermouth, and olive brine packs a punch that has graced cocktail tables for decades. And of course, don’t forget the olive garnish!
Negroni Sbagliato
If you love the classic cocktail Negroni, be sure to try this light, sparkling version. This recipe replaces the gin with sparkling prosecco to create a flavorful cocktail.
Lemon Drop Martini
Lemon Drop Martini can be made with gin or vodka. We prefer to make our own simple syrup for this cocktail so we can control the sweetness, but store-bought works just as well. This recipe also includes a mocktail version!
negroni cocktail
Negroni is a classic aperitif and a cocktail best enjoyed before or after a big meal. This drink sounds fancy, but it’s really easy to make with gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth.
key lime martini
How about a Key Lime Martini? It’s everything you love about a classic martini, packed with the fresh citrus flavor of lime. Made with lime juice, vodka, coconut cream, and orange liqueur.
Gin Mule Cocktail
The Gin Mule is a delicious twist on the classic Moscow Mule. Vodka is replaced with gin, resulting in a refreshing, sweet and intense cocktail.
sidecar cocktail
This sidecar cocktail is incredibly refreshing and has just the right amount of sweetness. Plus, this is super easy to make. three Ingredients: Cognac, Orange Liqueur, Lemon Juice.
old fashioned cocktail
This drink is sweet, strong and perfectly simple. A true classic! Ingredients include bourbon, Angostura butter, sugar, water, orange twist, and cherries.
irish coffee
A classic caffeinated cocktail made with coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and whipped cream.
Vieux Curry Cocktail
The Vieux Carre recipe is a not-too-distant cousin of the Old Fashioned. If you like sweet whiskey drinks, you’ll love this recipe! Made with rye whiskey, cognac, sweet vermouth, Benedictine liqueur, bitters and cherries.
Aperol Spritz
If you’ve never had an Aperol Spritz, it’s a classic Italian cocktail that’s slightly bitter, bubbly, and perfect for spring. This is a drink that anyone can make with just three ingredients (prosecco, Aperol, sparkling water) and an orange wedge for garnish.
Snickerdoodle Martini
If you can’t resist a snickerdoodle cookie, imagine having a martini based on it. This Snickerdoodle Martini is a fun dessert martini made with vanilla vodka, whipped cream, amaretto, and cinnamon schnapps.
Cosmopolitan Recipe
Given that the cocktail was pink, I figured it would be a very sweet version of the Martini. That’s not true! This international recipe is actually a very balanced drink with a hint of sweetness from Cointreau (orange-flavored triple sec), vodka, lime juice, and a sweet and sour cranberry juice mixture.
Rusty Nail Cocktail
If you like scotch, try the Rusty Nail cocktail. This drink has been at the top of every bar menu and has recently become a hidden gem. This simple two-ingredient cocktail combines Scotch and the Scotch-based herbal liqueur Drambuie.
coffee martini
Learn how to make a classic coffee martini using brewed coffee, vodka, coffee liqueur, and Irish cream liqueur.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best drink to have after dinner?
Some classic digestifs include brandy, scotch, or herbal liqueurs sipped over ice or neat. Some of our favorite mixed drinks include Negroni, Hot Toddy, Irish Coffee, or Manhattan.
What do you call an after-dinner drink?
The after-dinner drink is called a digestif, which comes from the French word for “digestive.” This suggests that after-meal drinks may help with digestion, an old idea based on tradition rather than science.
More After Dinner Drink Ideas
If you don’t want to mix cocktails, popular bottles to share after dinner include champagne, brandy, scotch or amari. I personally like Fernet Branca as an after-dinner digestif.
