Green’s Dictionary of Slang

strong drink in general.

1576		U. Fulwell Art of Flattery 6th dialogue 27: Well Pierce, [...] I trow we shal finde some shift or other to quenche the scorching heat of our parched throates, with the best nippitate in this towne, which is commonly called hufcap.
1583		P. Stubbes Anatomie of Abuses 95: When this Nippitatum, this huf cap (as they call it), and this nectar of lyfe, is set abroache, well is he that can get the soonest to it.
1593		G. Harvey Pierce’s Supererogation 165: The nippitaty of the nappiest grape .
1597		E.S. Discovery of Knights of Poste B: A graund knight of antiquity as well knowne for his profession , as mother Bunches ale to nipitaty.
1600		Look About You xxi: He was here to-day, sir, And emptied two bottles of nippitate sack.
1600		Weakest goeth to the Wall line 222: The poore may haue a pot of Ale for a penney, fresh Ale, firme Ale, nappie Ale, nippitate Ale.
c.1607		Beaumont & Fletcher Knight of the Burning Pestle IV i: My father oft will tell me of a drinke In England found, and Nipitato cal’d. Which driveth all the sorrow from your hearts.
1620		J. Melton Astrologaster 32: Most of the Varlets belonging to the Citie Colledges (I meane both the prodigous Compters) haue fierie red faces, that they cannot put a Cup of Nippitato to their Snowts, but with the extreme heat that doth glow from them, they make it cry hisse againe.
1630		Tinker of Turvey Epistle: He loues that Ale-house best, which washes his Cheekes with the strongest Nippitaty.
1654		Chapman Alphonsus III i: ’Twill make a cup of wine taste nippitate .
1693		Urquhart (trans.) Gargantua and Pantagruel Prognost. ix: ’Tis all one to me, so we have but good Bub and Nippitati enough.
1891		in Fennell Stanford Dict. 571: Nippitatum .