A nice glass of wine with dinner is tradition, especially during the holiday season. As nice as it is for us to indulge in a smooth glass during the Thanksgiving feast, festive cocktails are just as refreshing and should be given a spot at the dinner table. Whip up some tasty cocktails this year to really give your guests something to be grateful for.
25 Thanksgiving Cocktails
1. Cranberry Martini
Who doesn’t love scooping a little cranberry sauce with a juicy slab of turkey? Transfer the sweetness to your glass with this cranberry martini that’s on point for the season and is super simple to make. You can also add various garnishes to make it your own.
2. Maple Old-Fashioned
An old-fashioned is already a pretty classic drink, but when you splash in a touch of maple, this cocktail turns into a Thanksgiving-friendly drink people will love. Five minutes and four ingredients are all it takes to give your guests a spin on this traditional cocktail.
3. Apple Cider Mimosa
Apples? Check. Champagne? Check. Only two ingredients to make this dream mimosa happen? Check, check! Yup, you only need two simple ingredients to make a hearty serving of mimosas for all your guests. It’s also a great recipe to have on hand because they’re easy to make for seconds.
4. Thanksgiving Gin Cocktail
An aptly named brew, this cocktail combines apricot brandy with lemon to give you all the necessary flavors of Thanksgiving. It only takes a few minutes to make and with only five ingredients needed, how could your guests not come back for seconds?
5. Bourbon Pecan Pie Cocktail
I don’t know about anyone else, but I would love to have pie served to me in a glass. Look no further than this drink combining bourbon, pecan liqueur, and a few other choice ingredients You can even top the entire thing off with a few solo pecans to really hit the nail on the head.
6. Pomegranate Apple Pitcher
Just like a bowl of punch, pitchers of drinks go a long way and keep guests happy for an hour or two. You’ll need quite a few ingredients to make this pitcher, but it won’t be anything you can’t handle. A touch of pomegranate juice, apple cider, and apple brandy are just a few of the items you’ll need on your shelf.
7. Spiced Cherry Spritz
Stephen Kent Johnson, Rebecca Jurkevich, Kalen Kaminski / Bon Appetit
Maraschino cherries are the perfect topping to just about anything. Instead of plopping one on a scoop of ice cream of a slice of pie, stick it in your cherry cocktail. A portion of amaro mixed with cherry soda is just about all you need to give yourself the mouthful of fruit you’ve always wanted.
8. Cranberry And St. Germain Sparkler
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could make a cocktail that not only saves us money but yields enough to serve multiple guests? You’ll get it with this Thanksgiving sparkler that only needs four ingredients and will give you about 4-6 servings.
9. Apple Toddy
Where would we be without the apple toddy on a cold day? Recreate this classic drink in your very own home at Thanksgiving to give a burst of spiked apple cider that everyone will love. It also only takes a few minutes to make, so you won’t need to spend tons of time serving them to guests.
10. Thanksgiving Turkey
Okay, so you obviously won’t be stuffing turkey into a glass (or anything that tastes like it) so don’t let the name deceive you. You’ll, instead, be opting for orange juice, ginger ale, and a small amount of jigger bourbon whiskey. It only takes two minutes to make and can be served in a larger glass to give guests more of what they’re asking for.
11. Apple Pie Bourbon Shot
You’re probably not expecting anyone to yell “Shots!” at Thanksgiving dinner, but you can beat them to the punch this year with these yummy shots. Six ingredients and five minutes of your time will give you a cocktail mixed with nutmeg, apples, and bourbon.
12. Cranberry Whiskey Cocktail
Cranberries and whiskey? Um, yes please! Get yourself some Crown Royal, ginger ale, and cranberries to make a cocktail that’s simple and great-tasting. You can keep them coming, too, because they won’t take you very long to create. People will be asking for seconds, though… maybe thirds.
13. Earl Grey Bourbon Punch
When you don’t want to worry about making cocktail after cocktail, you can make a heaping bowl of punch mixed with earl grey, bourbon, honey, and some seasoning like rosemary and thyme. It’s like Thanksgiving in a bowl that you can keep going back to for more.
14. Mint Apple Crisp
Even though apple is pretty much a staple flavor for Thanksgiving, there’s no reason why you can’t add a few sprigs of mint to switch things up a bit. Some mint leaves, apples for garnish, and apple vodka will help you recreate this cocktail that’s just right for the season.
15. The Pomegranate Storm
This pitcher includes just about everything we could ask for in Thanksgiving drink. Molasses, ginger beer, and some blood orange liqueur make up the majority of what you’ll need. The final product will leave you with a sizable serving for you and guests.
16. Cranberry-Orange Vodka Slush
Chilled drinks might not be the first thing you want when you’re already coming in from the cold. However, a vodka slush might change a person’s mind, and how could it not? You’ll need to get yourself a few ingredients like frozen cranberry juice, vodka, and orange juice, but it’ll be worth it in the end.
17. Maple Bourbon Cocktail
Five is the magic number you’ll need with this little guy. Five ingredients and five minutes yields a cocktail made with maple syrup, orange juice, and a splash of bourbon. You can add a maraschino cherry or orange peel for garnish if you’re looking for a fruity addition.
18. Pumpkin Spice Martini
We all charge the doors of Starbucks when the pumpkin spice latte makes its way back to town. Now you can bring a pinch of spice into your home with this martini that combines Irish cream and pumpkin liqueur with a touch of vanilla vodka.
19. Apple Pie Sangria
Sangria might transport us back to the good ol’ days of summer, but you can add an autumnal spin that’s perfect for the holidays. Some pinot grigio, pears, apples, and cinnamon sticks are just a few of the ingredients that make this spicy sangria your new holiday favorite.
20. Spiced Cabernet
You don’t need much to turn your average box of Cabernet Sauvignon into a wonderful blend of spices for Thanksgiving. Cloves, cinnamon sticks, and orange will give you just about all you need for this delicious mix of sweet and spicy.
21. Pear-Apple Cocktail
Bring together your favorite fruits in one convenient glass with this cocktail that uses pineapple, pear, and apple. This terrific blend is chilled, flavourful, and yields about six servings. You’ll be able to keep guests happy while you’re off in the kitchen getting dinner ready.
22. Cranberry Cinnamon Whiskey Sour
So, this one takes a bit of work to make, but you’ll be able to yield 4-5 servings. You’ll also be able to indulge in a cocktail made with bourbon, fresh cranberries, and lime juice (just to name a few). A cinnamon stick for added flavor contributes just the right amount of spice.
23. American Pie Cocktail
Leave it to Guy Fieri to give us the cocktail we never knew we needed in our lives. Splashes of whiskey and cranberry juice basically perfectly emulate the taste of Thanksgiving pie. In just two minutes you can serve your guests a slice of pie before it’s even out of the oven.
24. Candy Apple On The Rocks
There’s no need to sweat if you can’t make authentic candy apples this year. This cocktail allows you to stuff the same flavor into a glass with just a bit of schnapps and cranberry juice. The final product will even give you two colors to admire as you sip.
25. Salted Caramel White Russian
No one ever turned down the classic White Russian. How could they with its Kahlua liqueur and vodka topped with heavy cream? Add a festive spin to this cocktail with some sea salt and a tablespoon of caramel. How could we resist?
These Thanksgiving cocktails are sure to get the party started this holiday season. Some can be made by the pitcher or bowl, but even if you need to make them individually, you’ll never need to spend much time making a second batch. An important thing to keep in mind is that you can always switch up the recipes to best live life to your tastes. We’re just here to provide the inspiration, the bartending skills are all you! Keep them the same, make them your own; either way, let the celebration begin!
