Occasions
Best Drinks for After Dinner
Cocktails, mocktails and coffee cocktails and drink ideas for after dinner.
140 drinks108 cocktails8 mocktails72 flavor profiles20 food pairings
Best starting points
| Drink | Flavor | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espresso Martini | 149 | 37.8 | SweetSugar | After Dinner drink |
| 2 | Coffee Sour | 290 | 8.3 | SugarLemon | After Dinner drink |
| 3 | Manhattan | 223 | 38.1 | SpiceBitter | After Dinner drink |
| 4 | Old Fashioned | 133 | 38.4 | SpiceSugar | After Dinner drink |
| 5 | Tequila Manhattan | 186 | 33.5 | SpiceBitter | After Dinner drink |
| 6 | Alexander Cocktail No. 2 | 225 | 20.8 | VanillaCream | After Dinner drink |
| 7 | Grasshopper | 189 | 15.0 | SweetCream | After Dinner drink |
| 8 | Vodka Grasshopper | 226 | 21.9 | SweetCream | After Dinner drink |
| 9 | Manhattan Cocktail (dry) | 290 | 26.0 | BotanicalCitrus | After Dinner drink |
| 10 | Vodka Fizz | 240 | 14.2 | LimeCitrus | After Dinner drink |
| 11 | Jamaican Coffee | 193 | 6.4 | CoffeeCream | After Dinner drink |
| 12 | Alexander Cocktail No. 1 | 222 | 22.1 | CreamBotanical | After Dinner drink |
| 13 | Coffee Cocktail | 224 | 15.1 | SweetSugar | After Dinner drink |
| 14 | Coffee Flip | 337 | 10.1 | SweetRich | After Dinner drink |
| 15 | White Russian | 317 | 23.8 | CreamCoffee | After Dinner drink |
Refine these drinks
Cocktails
- Espresso MartiniAfter Dinner drinkSweetSugarCoffee
- Coffee SourAfter Dinner drinkSugarLemonSweet
- ManhattanAfter Dinner drinkSpiceBitterCaramel
- Old FashionedAfter Dinner drinkSpiceSugarSweet
- Tequila ManhattanAfter Dinner drinkSpiceBitterAgave
- Alexander Cocktail No. 2After Dinner drinkVanillaCreamChocolate
- GrasshopperAfter Dinner drinkSweetCreamChocolate
- Vodka GrasshopperAfter Dinner drinkSweetCreamChocolate
- Manhattan Cocktail (dry)After Dinner drinkBotanicalCitrusDry
- Vodka FizzAfter Dinner drinkLimeCitrusTart
Beer styles
Wine styles
- SauternesWine styleRich golden dessert wine, a classic after-dinner choice.
- TokajiWine styleHoneyed Hungarian dessert wine suited to post-dinner serving.
- Dessert WineWine styleBroad dessert wine category well suited to after-dinner drinks.
- MoscatoWine styleLight, sweet and gently sparkling, an easy after-dinner option.
Build with
- CognacSpiritClassic digestif spirit, widely served after dinner.
- BourbonSpiritRich oaked whiskey, a popular after-dinner sipper.
- ScotchSpiritClassic post-dinner dram.
- Coffee LiqueurLiqueurUsed in Espresso Martinis and other after-dinner cocktails.
- AmarettoLiqueurAlmond liqueur commonly served as a digestif.
- PortFortified wineRuby or tawny port, a well-established after-dinner fortified wine.
Preferences
Food & flavor
- CoffeeFlavorCoffee cocktails are a staple of after-dinner occasions.
- ChocolateFlavorChocolate flavours work naturally with post-dinner drinks.
- CaramelFlavorRich caramel notes complement after-dinner serves.
- CreamFlavorCreamy cocktails such as Irish Coffee are popular after dinner.
- ChocolateFood pairingChocolate desserts pair naturally with after-dinner cocktails.
- DessertFood pairingThe dessert course is the core food context for this occasion.
Coffee cocktails
Beer styles for After Dinner
Wine styles for After Dinner
- SauternesWine styleRich golden dessert wine, a classic after-dinner choice.
- TokajiWine styleHoneyed Hungarian dessert wine suited to post-dinner serving.
- Dessert WineWine styleBroad dessert wine category well suited to after-dinner drinks.
- MoscatoWine styleLight, sweet and gently sparkling, an easy after-dinner option.
Build After Dinner drinks with
- CognacSpiritClassic digestif spirit, widely served after dinner.
- BourbonSpiritRich oaked whiskey, a popular after-dinner sipper.
- ScotchSpiritClassic post-dinner dram.
- Coffee LiqueurLiqueurUsed in Espresso Martinis and other after-dinner cocktails.
- AmarettoLiqueurAlmond liqueur commonly served as a digestif.
- PortFortified wineRuby or tawny port, a well-established after-dinner fortified wine.
Preference paths for After Dinner
Food and flavor matches
- CoffeeFlavorCoffee cocktails are a staple of after-dinner occasions.
- ChocolateFlavorChocolate flavours work naturally with post-dinner drinks.
- CaramelFlavorRich caramel notes complement after-dinner serves.
- CreamFlavorCreamy cocktails such as Irish Coffee are popular after dinner.
- ChocolateFood pairingChocolate desserts pair naturally with after-dinner cocktails.
- DessertFood pairingThe dessert course is the core food context for this occasion.
What drinks suit after dinner?
Drinks suited to the end of a meal, including coffee cocktails, cream drinks, dessert-style serves, digestif-style liqueurs and richer slow-sipping recipes.
After Dinner drinks — common questions
- How many drinks suit after dinner?
- There are 140 drinks in the WhatDrink database suited to after dinner — including 108 cocktails and 8 mocktails. Browse and filter by drink type above.
- What are the best cocktails for after dinner?
- Top cocktail choices for after dinner include Espresso Martini, Coffee Sour, Manhattan. The full ranked list above shows options ordered by how well they match the occasion.
- How are drinks ranked for after dinner?
- Drinks are ranked for after dinner based on flavor profile, strength, drink type and typical serving context. Alcohol-free options are clearly labelled.
Last updated
Occasion suggestions are approximate and based on recipe flavour profile, ingredients and typical serving context. Actual suitability can vary by personal preference and preparation.