The first definition of “nightcap” is a literal one: A nightcap is a sleeping cap worn to bed. Long before central heating, bedchambers could be chilly at night and head coverings provided some protection. There’s also a long tradition of wearing nightcaps to protect hairstyles from damage. The Oxford English Dictionary notes the nighttime headwear has been common since at least the late 14th century, when “nightcappes” were first referenced in print. In the 19th century, the term moved from the wardrobe to the bar cart as “nightcap” took on a new meaning as an alcoholic drink enjoyed in the evening, often before bed.
Soporific beverages were considered a final cap on a full night of activities, hence the term “nightcap.” While brandy, scotch, or another dark liquor might be today’s go-to nightcap, an 1818 publication called The Cook’s Oracle prescribed ale: “A pint of table beer (or Ale, if you make it for a ‘Night-Cap’).” Whether the booze helped induce drowsiness was debatable, but people turned to these libations nonetheless.
However, the term’s beverage usage seems to have been multipurpose in the 19th century. Oxford Night Caps, an 1827 collection of recipes, contains stories and instructions on how to make a variety of wine- and liquor-based punches, ales, and other boozy beverages. Many include advice to serve with dinner or for which holidays they are appropriate, so these nightcaps don’t seem limited to bedtime.
Roughly a century later, “nightcap” developed a nonalcoholic connotation. In 1930, an Ovaltine advertising campaign claimed its milky mixture was “the world’s best ‘night-cap’ to ensure sound, natural sleep.” Sleepytime Tea hit the market in 1972 and remains a household name today, and social media trends for other nightcap concoctions abound. A recent trend called the “Sleepy Girl Mocktail” involves making a nightcap with tart cherry juice, magnesium glycinate powder (both ingredients purported to help induce sleep), and prebiotic soda such as Olipop.
With nightcap trends coming and going (both as headwear and beverages), it doesn’t matter if you wear it on your head or drink it in a glass, or if it has alcohol or not — there’s a liberal usage for the term “nightcap.”
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