Entertaining

The 7 Best Cocktails to Sip Before Bed

Milk Punch may have grown popular in New Orleans as a brunch drink after long nights, but we see no reason to wait for morning to drink something soothing after many rounds of Sazeracs and Hurricanes. The drink is a creamy cure-all for any raging evening activities, lowering your adrenaline with its milky comfort.

Working ahead on your Tom and Jerry batter means it’ll be ready in your freezer when you need to make something quick before heading to bed. With just two tablespoons of batter required for each drink, you’ll solve a lot of restless nights with just one afternoon of prep. The drink is total comfort, whether it takes you back to cozy Christmases past or just reminds you how much you love mixing Cognac and rum with warm milk, eggs and sugar.

Hot Toddys are known as perfect nightcaps, but we found an even more perfect version of the classic cocktail. Not only does this version use Old Tom gin for a sweeter than usual base, but it also adds some fruity nuance with crème de cassis, which is interesting enough to distract you from your swirling bedtime thoughts, but not crazy enough to keep you awake. Becherovka also adds a dash of herbal flavor, just medicinal enough to help reset your system for the new day to come.

This shooter is the perfect little sip of banana, combining banana liqueur with rich dark rum, silky Rumchata and a garnish of caramel sauce. It’s the perfect send-off for those who don’t need a full cocktail but still want a final sweet note before bed.

It couldn’t have been easy getting to bed in a frigid 19th century home before the advent of electric heating, so we’re guessing Jerry Thomas had his Cognac and port-based Flips to soothe his mind weary from cocktail inventing. Rich, raisiny tawny port is the best choice for a pre-bed Flip, coating your entire system in soothing vibes.

Despite what commercials during ‘90s Saturday morning cartoons may have convinced you of, sugary cereals are more appropriate for dessert than breakfast, as our beloved Cinnamon Toast Crunch definitely proves. This boozed up version tastes exactly like nostalgia in a glass, and it’ll sweep you off to sweet dreams of childhood bliss.

Melatonin-rich cherries infuse this fruity take on a Chocolate Martini with plenty of sleep-inducing power. With a calmingly pink look and a full cherry right on the rim for a perfect final bite, this decadent cocktail will whisper sweet nothings in your ears until you’re fast asleep.