12 Delicious Cocktails for Every Type of Thanksgiving Celebration
Deciding what to imbibe on Thanksgiving is just as important as the food menu, especially if you’re planning to serve more than wine. If you want to mix up a cocktail this year, there is no shortage of great recipes that pair well with the meal--whether you’re serving it as a welcome drink, with dinner or as dessert. These 12 recipes cover a variety of spirits, flavor profiles and ABVs so you can choose your own adventure and mix the drink that will complement your feast in the best way possible.
Lillet Cranberry Sparkler
Thanksgiving’s rich, roasted mains and buttery, spiced sides call for something light and refreshing. Not only does Lillet’s Cranberry Sparkler fit the flavor bill, but it’s also lower in ABV so you can enjoy more than one without feeling sluggish. “The tart vibrance of fresh cranberry is a classic pairing with roast dinners, especially the classic Thanksgiving turkey,” Lauren Trickett, bartender and Lillet brand ambassador, says. “Using Lillet Blanc as the base for this cocktail creates the perfect canvas to layer in flavors, and topping it off with bubbles is a fabulous way to celebrate the festive season.”
3 oz. Lillet Blanc
.5 oz. fresh lemon juice
1-2 tablespoons cranberry sauce
3 oz. brut Champagne
Orange peel, for garnish
Combine the Lillet, lemon juice and cranberry sauce in a shaker tin with ice. Shake and strain into a wine glass filled with fresh ice. Top with champagne and garnish with an orange peel.
Fall Orchard
If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving welcome cocktail, this libation pairs nicely with appetizers. “This cocktail brings out the aromas of Zacapa's spice notes, allspice and nutmeg,” Lynnette Marrero, NYC mixologist and founder of Speed Rack, says. “The pear and maple syrup complement the oloroso sherry notes, and lime adds brightness.”
2 oz. Zacapa No.23
.25 oz. allspice dram
1 oz. pear nectar
.5 oz. maple syrup
.75 oz. lime juice
Pear slices, for garnish
Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice, and shake until chilled. Strain into a coupe and garnish.
Don Cafe
Rather than serving plain old coffee with Thanksgiving dessert, we much prefer this rum-spiked version. “It’s a warm cocktail made with Don Papa, Grady’s coffee, a touch of Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur for sweetness and an added kick, and finally a couple drops of hazelnut,” Peter Ruppert, Don Papa’s Los Angeles brand ambassador, says. “It’s a careful balance of everything you need to get your day going, rounded out with the charming complexity of Don Papa’s 7-year-old rum.
1.5 oz. Don Papa 7 Year Rum
3 oz. Grady’s Cold Brew Coffee, hot
3 oz. water
.5 oz. Mr. Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur
3 drops hazelnut extract
Stroopwafel, for garnish
Add all liquid ingredients to a heat-proof mixing vessel. Stir and strain into a mug, and garnish with the stroopwafel.
Apple & Gin Autumn
Gin lovers will adore this fruity, citrusy libation that is festive enough to welcome the holiday season. "Sourced from the Mediterranean, the botanicals [in Gin Mare] mingle perfectly with the apple cider's natural sweetness, creating a beautiful cocktail," Richard McKay, general manager of Lustre Pearl South in Austin, Texas, says.
2 oz. Gin Mare Gin
2 oz. apple cider
.5 oz. lime juice
.5 oz honey syrup
1 dash cinnamon bitters
Apple slices, for garnish
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Add all liquid ingredients to a glass filled with ice and stir. Garnish with the apple slices and cinnamon stick.
Elderflower Martini
Martinis make for an excellent Thanksgiving cocktail, but they can be strong for guests who aren’t used to drinking them. This lighter version splits the gin or vodka base with Heimat New York Elderflower liqueur to make it even more sippable. “The refreshing floral and citrusy notes complement the herbaceous flavor of gin and add a touch of aromatics to the Martini,” Marili Hellmund, mixologist and recipe developer, says.
1 oz. Heimat New York Elderflower Liqueur
1 oz. gin or vodka
.5 oz. dry vermouth
.5 oz. fresh lime juice
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all ingredients. Shake slowly until cold. Strain into a chilled Martini glass and serve.
Maple Old Fashioned
Sometimes classic is best, which is why an Old Fashioned is perfect for serving on Thanksgiving—especially if you sub the simple syrup with seasonally appropriate maple. "WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye is crafted with a mash bill of 100 percent rye, giving it full flavor to stand up in our signature cocktail, the Maple Old Fashioned,” Emily Harrison, WhistlePig Whiskey distiller, says. “Add in our very own Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup, barreled fresh on our 500-acre farm in Vermont, and the result is a perfectly balanced cocktail of strength, sweetness and spice.”
1.5 oz. WhistlePig PiggyBack 100% Rye
.25 oz. WhistlePig Barrel Aged Maple Syrup
3 dashes Bitters
Fresh orange peel, for garnish
Add all ingredients to an Old Fashioned glass with ice. Stir until maple syrup is properly diluted. Garnish with a fresh orange peel.
Maple Margarita
The Margarita is another classic cocktail that tastes great with maple syrup subbed in as the sweetener, and it’s also a true crowd pleaser. "If you’re looking for a specialty cocktail to mix up for family and friends this Thanksgiving, this is the perfect smoky twist on a savory Margarita," Stephen Halpin, Manager of Mixology at PATRÓN, says. It would work especially well paired with a bird or sides that get a kick from spice.
1.5 oz. PATRÓN Silver
.75 oz. PATRÓN Citrónge Orange
.25 oz. Ilegal Mezcal Joven
1 oz. maple syrup
1 oz. lime juice
Salt, for rim
Combine liquid ingredients in a shaker tin with ice and shake to chill. Strain into a salt-rimmed coupe glass and serve.
The Honeypot
Created by bartender Erik Delanoy
This cocktail can do no wrong, whether you serve it before the meal, during or as a palate cleanser before the pecan pie."The deliciously honeyed wood spices and citrus from The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old deepen the flavor profile and add a warmth that balances the brightness of the lemon,” Nico Szymanski, The Macallan Market Lead, says. “The cocktail’s overall palate pairs well with sweet potatoes, pumpkin, candied carrots and other traditional Thanksgiving dishes.”
2 oz. The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old
.75 oz. fresh lemon juice
.5 oz. Murray’s Chestnut Honey
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Lemon twist, for garnish
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake until chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice and garnish with a lemon twist.
Hot Rum Punch
There’s no telling what the weather will be like come Thanksgiving Day. But if there’s an extra chill in the air, a hot beverage will warm guests right up. “Hot Rum Punch is perfect for any gathering,” Dominic Alling, Mount Gay Rum National Brand Ambassador, says. “The toasted nuttiness of the Eclipse pairs perfectly with the fall flavors of nutmeg and cinnamon, and the dried fruit notes from the cognac add an extra layer that will keep your guests asking for seconds.”
Recipe measurements batched to serve 5
2.5 cups Mount Gay Eclipse
12 oz. demerara sugar
4 lemons
4 limes
1 cup Remy Martin 1738 Cognac
Nutmeg and cinnamon, to taste
Peel the lemons into thin strips. Muddle the sugar and the lemon peels and let sit for at least an hour. Add 12 ounces of boiling water to melt the sugar, and remove the lemon peels. Juice the lemons and limes, then add the juice to the sugar mixture. Pour into your punch bowl and add Mount Gay Eclipse and Remy Martin. Add 1 quart hot water to heat and dilute.
Manhattan Love Story
"The Manhattan Love Story is a lovely cocktail to pair with Thanksgiving,” Lindy Wyss, TYKU sake specialist, says. “With any food pairing, you want to be sure the cocktail doesn't overpower the dish. Because TYKU Junmai has a slight natural sweetness, it adds another layer to the cocktail without adding artificial flavoring or sweeteners. It allows the real star of the show (the turkey!) to shine, while also boosting the flavor." Whether you serve this cocktail as a welcome drink or with dinner, it will impress even the most discerning palates at your celebration.
1.5 oz. TYKU Junmai Sake
1 oz. whiskey
.5 oz. Domaine De Canton
2 dashes Angostura Bitters
Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass, and pour in the TYKU Junmai sake, whiskey, and Domaine De Canton. Dash with bitters and serve.
Earl of Scot
Even guests who don’t drink scotch on the regular will enjoy this extra potable cocktail. “The smooth and highly mixable Pure Scot Whisky is served in this long and refreshing drink that perfectly suits the Thanksgiving celebration,” Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge, mixologist and co-founder of Candra Drinks, says. “The sweet and citrus flavors of the marmalade complement the foods of Thanksgiving, whether it be the cranberry sauce or glazed ham.”
2 oz. Pure Scot Whisky
2 oz. Earl Grey or black tea of choice
1 oz. orange marmalade
1 oz. lemon juice
3 orange wheels, for garnish
Add whisky, tea, and lemon juice to a mixing glass. Add the marmalade and stir to dissolve. Add ice and stir until cold. Strain into a highball or marmalade jar filled with fresh ice. Garnish with orange wheels.
Lo-Fi Extra Dry
If you want to keep things light and low ABV on Thanksgiving Day, turn to the cocktail workhorse vermouth. “There’s a lot of heavy food going around during the holiday season, so sometimes you just need a simple, easy drink to balance it all out,” Victoria Canty, Lo-Fi Aperitifs brand ambassador, says. “The dry vermouth has some super fun botanicals like fennel and coriander that play nicely with the apple from the cider.”
2 oz. Lo-Fi Dry Vermouth
Dry apple cider, to top
Lemon wheel or apple slice, for garnish
Build in a Collins glass with ice and lightly stir to combine. Garnish with a lemon wheel or apple slice.