Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy all the cranberry sauce, turkey, and stuffing you've spent the year dreaming of, the foods you think of fondly as the weather starts to turn, and the nights get that friendly chill. But Thanksgiving is also the ideal time to whip up some herbaceous cocktails to sip with appetizers or something a bit sweeter for when you want dessert, but your pants are unforgiving. Think of these Thanksgiving cocktails as an important staple, and supporting star, to any Thanksgiving mood or food.
Thanksgiving Parade Cocktails
As you settle in and catch parts of the parade, kick off your Thanksgiving with a fizzy cocktail to capture the spirit of the parade and the day of food before you.
Campari Citrus Spritzer
The bitter and refreshing flavor of a Campari cocktail, an apéritif perfect for priming your Thanksgiving palate, is a safe bet for day drinking because of its low ABV.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Campari
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Lemon wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, Campari, and lemon juice.
- Stir to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig.
Citrus Prosecco Punch
If you're feeling generous, you can make this in a pitcher by multiplying the ingredients for however many punches you're looking to share while you snuggle on the couch watching the parade. Or you can quietly stir yours.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce orange juice
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce elderflower liqueur
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Citrus slices to garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add juices and elderflower liqueur.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with citrus slices.
Bloody Turkey
There's no turkey, but there is bacon in this Bloody Mary riff brimming with fresh herb flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bacon-infused vodka
- 6 ounces Bloody Mary mix
- 3-4 fresh basil leaves
- 1-2 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 sprig rosemary
- Ice
- Lemon wedge and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bacon vodka, Bloody Mary mix, basil leaves, thyme sprigs, and rosemary.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with lemon wedge and thyme sprig.
Apple Cider Sangria
This apple cider sangria leans toward the lighter side, with apple cider as the main ingredient, making it the perfect Thanksgiving brunch drink. There's no need to worry about leaving the house with two different shoes on.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces apple cider
- 2 ounces riesling or pinot grigio
- 2 ounces freshly-squeezed orange juice
- ½ ounce cinnamon liqueur
- Ice
- Cubed apple, star anise, and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple cider, white wine, orange juice, and cinnamon liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into wine glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with apple cubes, star anise, and cinnamon stick.
Apple Cider Mimosa
No holiday is complete without a mimosa, but no parade is complete without discussing your favorite floats, balloons, or musical artist without an apple cider mimosa in hand.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce apple cider
- 1 ounce apple juice
- Prosecco to top off
- Thyme sprig and apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a Champagne flute.
- In chilled glass, add apple cider and apple juice.
- Top off with prosecco.
Cobbler
A cocktail over a century old, the sherry cobbler is a relatively under-the-radar drink that'll set the tone for your day and be a great toast with the parade, all without losing track of time.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces amontillado sherry
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 2 orange slices
- Crushed ice
- Mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, sherry, simple syrup, and orange slices.
- Shake well to chill and muddle oranges.
- Strain into highball glass filled with crushed ice.
- Garnish with mint sprig.
Thanksgiving Football Cocktails for Players and Spectators
When you're enjoying football on Thanksgiving -- whether you're watching the amateurs tackle it out in the backyard, checking out the professionals rushing on the television, or you're the one calling the plays -- sip a Thanksgiving cocktail perfectly suited for the game. Just like football and Thanksgiving belong together, an alcoholic Thanksgiving drink belongs in your hand.
Herbed Bourbon
A splash of bourbon, apple pie liqueur, and rosemary simple syrup makes for a cocktail that'll have you loving both teams.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce apple pie liqueur
- ½ ounce rosemary simple syrup
- Ice
- Rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add bourbon, apple pie liqueur, and rosemary simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with rosemary sprig.
Pig Skin Beertail
There's no reason you can't mix a little liquor with your beer on Thanksgiving, especially when it'll give your pumpkin beer that little extra something.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces cinnamon whiskey
- 6 ounces pumpkin or Oktoberfest style beer
Instructions
- In a chilled pint glass or beer mug, add beer.
- Add cinnamon whiskey.
- Touchdown!
Sweet Potato Old-Fashioned
You'll need to do a little bit of planning to deliver this sweet potato old-fashioned, but it's the perfect way to warm up the palate for what's in the oven while you're watching the game unfold.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces sweet potato-infused whiskey
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 2-3 dashes orange bitters
- 1-2 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
- Orange ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, sweet potato whiskey, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange ribbon.
Warm Bourbon Cider
Wrap your hands around something warm as you cheer on the fools playing football in the snow. But you might be the fool, standing outside in the cold. Take a break, head inside, and make more of these to warm up the rest of the crew.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces apple cider
- 1 whole cinnamon stick
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- 2 ounces bourbon
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over low heat, add apple cider, cinnamon stick, and cloves.
- Heat until warmed through, or approximately three to five minutes.
- Strain out spices.
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add cider and bourbon.
- Stir to mix.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Rum Hot Toddy
Even rum drinkers deserve a warm drink, especially on Thanksgiving. Gather 'round the tv with this warm cocktail that won't up anyone's heart rate as they cheer on their team.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces spiced rum
- ¾ ounce honey
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1-3 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Hot water to top off
- Lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Warm a mug by filling with hot water.
- After mug is warm to touch, pour out the water.
- In mug, add rum, honey, lemon juice, and bitters.
- Top off with top water.
- Stir carefully to combine.
- Garnish with lemon wheel.
Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Bring your team together with a round of apple cider mules. The taste will erase any pain of the team being impossibly behind in the fourth quarter. Let's toast to the rest of the season and the good food cookin' in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce apple pie moonshine
- 2 ounces apple cider
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Apple slice, cinnamon stick, and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass or copper mug, add ice, vodka, apple pie moonshine, apple cider, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with apple slice, cinnamon stick, and rosemary sprig.
Apple Whiskey Smash
If you're not the planning type, you can muddle extra slices of freshly sliced apples or add a splash of apple juice to your mix. Consider this a consolation prize if your team doesn't do great or a drink of the champions if things go your way.
Ingredients
- 2-3 lemon wedges
- 3-4 apple slices
- 2 ounces apple-infused whiskey
- ¾ ounce simple syrup
- 1-2 dashes cinnamon bitters
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick and apple slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle lemon wedges and apple slices with simple syrup.
- Add ice, apple whiskey, and cinnamon bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick and apple slice.
Thanksgiving Cocktails for Appetizers and Second Appetizers
Settle in on the couch or around the kitchen table with a plate of Thanksgiving snacks and the perfect cocktail that won't fill you up, from Thanksgiving whiskey cocktails to cosmopolitans that will leave you craving more.
Afternoon Aperol Spritz
Aperol is an apéritif, perfect for sipping while having some light snacks, smartly leaving room for the main course. This recipe adds an extra splash of citrus to give a little balance to those savory, salty bites.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces Aperol
- 2 ounces sparkling wine
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Club soda to top off
- Orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a wine glass, add ice, Aperol, sparkling wine, and orange liqueur.
- Top off with club soda.
- Garnish with orange slices.
Negroni
The classic Negroni is a timeless pre-dinner cocktail. This recipe makes two, making it great to pass the spare to your favorite cousin as you make your way to the couch. In exchange for a few of their snacks, obviously.
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces Campari
- 2½ ounces gin
- 2½ ounces sweet vermouth
- Ice
- Four orange peels for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, Campari, gin, and sweet vermouth.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glasses over king cubes.
- Express one orange peel over the drink by twisting the peel between your fingers, then run outside of peel along rim. Repeat with second glass.
- Garnish with second orange peel. Repeat with second glass.
Berry Smash
Sip something a bit sweeter while dipping your chips into the buffet of dips. This smash will cleanse your palate as you sample each offering.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ½ ounce elderflower
- 6 blackberries
- 2-3 mint leaves
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle berries with splash of lime juice.
- Add ice, vodka, lemon juice, elderflower, and mint leaves.
- Shake to chill.
- Pour into rocks glass without straining.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Plane Ride
A riff on the paper plane cocktail, this cocktail is a reminder that your harrowing journey to the Thanksgiving table is at least half-over. Let this Thanksgiving bourbon cocktail take you away.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Aperol
- 1¼ ounce bourbon
- 1½ ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- 1 ounce prosecco
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Aperol, bourbon, lemon juice, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with orange slice.
Cranberry Cosmopolitan
A classic cosmopolitan cocktail but punched up with a bit of extra cranberry taste - perfect for getting excited for the cranberry sauce later.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces cranberry vodka
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce tart cherry juice
- Ice
- Lime wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cranberry vodka, and juices.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lime wedge.
Not Your Grandma's Whiskey Sour
A whiskey sour is the perfect cocktail for when you want something a bit more savory while the turkey timer continues to tick on. The limoncello gives this a bright new spin.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ½ ounce limoncello
- 1 egg white
- Ice
- Bitters and dehydrated orange for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add bourbon, lemon juice, limoncello, and egg white.
- Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
- Add ice to shaker.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with dehydrated orange and drops of bitters, creating a design by running a toothpick through the drops.
Mezcal Negroni
Whether you're smoking, frying, or roasting your turkey, the mezcal negroni is a great way to get your fill of an aperitif cocktail, all while gearing up for the main course.
Ingredients
- 1 ounce mezcal
- 1 ounce Campari
- 1 ounce sweet vermouth
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Orange ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth, and orange liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange ribbon.
Thanksgiving Cocktails for Dinner
You have a plate of stuffing, green beans, turkey, and cranberry sauce, plus all of the dressings and sides your heart can dream of. Don't forget the all-important Thanksgiving cocktail to enjoy alongside your dinner.
The Sister's Sparkling Cider
Easily made in larger batches, this recipe is for one, so it's up to you if you want to share with the family. Go ahead and leave the ingredients next to the dinner plates if you don't want to be voluntold to make more.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 1¾ ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce cinnamon schnapps
- Ice
- Prosecco or seltzer
- Apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple cider, bourbon, and cinnamon schnapps.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Top off with prosecco or seltzer.
- Garnish with apple slice and cinnamon stick.
Thankful for Martinis
Sometimes, you're most thankful for something to sip while the family chatters away over Thanksgiving dinner. This martini uses a splash of citrus to add just a whisper of sweetness.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces gin
- ½ ounce dry vermouth
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Orange peel coin for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, dry vermouth, and orange liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Lion's Tail
This bourbon-forward cocktail is great for showing your family there's more to bourbon than old-fashioneds and Manhattans. At the very least, it'll inspire a new conversation at the Thanksgiving table.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ½ ounce allspice dram
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 1 dash orange bitters
- 1 dash Angostura bitters
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, allspice dram, lime juice, simple syrup, and bitters.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Cranberry Margarita
Spruce up your classic margarita for the Thanksgiving season with a little bit of tart cranberry juice. The bright red pop of color is the perfect color scheme to add to the decorations, too.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 3 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- ¾ ounce agave
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, silver tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, agave, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cranberries and rosemary sprig.
50/50 Martini
With a 50/50 martini, you can continue to indulge in the crisp and refreshing sip of a martini without getting sleepier and sleepier with each sip, especially with all that turkey.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin or vodka
- 1½ ounces dry vermouth
- 1-2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Lemon ribbon for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, gin, dry vermouth, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon ribbon.
Thanksgiving Cocktails for Tight Pants
Can't loosen your belt any further? Don't stress about how you'll jam a slice of pie into your life without bursting at the seams. Turn to a Thanksgiving cocktail, or pair it with pie.
Raspberry Sidecar
Sure to please any member of the family, no one's touched that bottle of cognac since Thanksgiving years ago. This sweeter version of the classic is a great conclusion to any Thanksgiving day.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 1½ ounces cognac
- ¾ ounce orange liqueur
- ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Raspberry for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, cognac, orange liqueur, raspberry liqueur, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with raspberry.
Autumn Breeze
With Thanksgiving amid the changing seasons, it's lucky when you can leave a window open as the family wanders between getting more coffee or another slice of pie.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge and sugar for rim
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- 1 ounce grapefruit juice
- ¼ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lime wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, and orange liqueur.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with lime wheel.
Apple Cinnamon Old-Fashioned
Nothing brings people together like a classic cocktail, or at least it's an introduction to your aunt's new partner.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce apple cider
- ¾ ounce cinnamon simple syrup
- 4 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- In a mixing glass, add ice, bourbon, apple cider, cinnamon simple syrup, and bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Toronto
A bitter riff on the Manhattan, take the moment to unwind as you listen to the same stories.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces rye whiskey
- ¼ ounce fernet
- ¼ ounce simple syrup
- 2 dashes orange bitters
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add rye whiskey, fernet, simple syrup, and orange bitters.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Mama B's Espresso Martini
The espresso martini needs no improvement, but it's fun to play with the flavors to make a new martini. Be thankful for the dessert that's soon to follow the first sip.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
- ¾ ounce espresso
- ½ ounce crème de cacao
- Ice
- Whole coffee beans for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, coffee liqueur, espresso, and crème de cacao.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with three whole coffee beans.
Pumpkin Pie, Kids!
If your grandma is rallying the troops to enjoy more pie and you don't have the space, try this cocktail instead.
Ingredients
- Crushed graham crackers and honey for rim
- 2 ounces whipped cream vodka
- 1½ ounce pumpkin pie cream liqueur
- ¾ ounce vanilla schnapps
- Ice
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe in a saucer with honey.
- With the crushed graham crackers on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the crumbs to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, whipped cream vodka, pumpkin pie cream liqueur, and vanilla schnapps.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Chocolate Pie Martini
Thanksgiving dessert is one of the best parts of the day. It means a selection of your favorite desserts, all on one plate. If you don't have space for another slice, this chocolate martini will help you out.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dark chocolate cream liqueur
- 1 ounce vodka
- ¾ ounce brown crème de cacao
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, dark chocolate cream liqueur, vodka, brown crème de cacao, and orange liqueur.
- Shake well to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Quick Three-Ingredient Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes
Stir, shake, and dance your way to a Thanksgiving cocktail with a quick 1-2-3. Take your pick of classic, innovative, or choose your own adventure, all with flavors that'll make you grateful and appreciative to have one in hand. Simple prep makes these some of the best Thanksgiving cocktails to try.
Fig Deal
A fizzy figgy delight, this will cocktail will go from bottle to glass to first sip in no time.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce fig simple syrup
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Thyme sprig and sliced fig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add bourbon and fig simple syrup.
- Stir to mix.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with thyme sprig and sliced fig.
Frosty Cranberry Martini
Enjoy this chilled martini with a slightly tart taste; sip slowly, so you aren't napping after dinner.
Ingredients
- 1¼ ounces cranberry vodka
- ¾ ounce lime vodka
- ½ ounce orange liqueur
- Ice
- Cranberries for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a mixing glass, add ice, vodkas, and orange liqueur.
- Stir rapidly to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with cranberries.
Almond Martini
Considered a digestif, you can tell yourself that the amaretto will help settle your stomach, maybe in time for another slice of pie.
Ingredients
- 1¼ ounces vanilla vodka
- 1½ ounces amaretto
- ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Ice
- Lemon peel for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass or coupe.
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, amaretto, and lemon juice.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into chilled glass.
- Garnish with lemon peel.
Maple Cranberry Cocktail
Take your regular vodka cranberry to something a bit more fitting for the Thanksgiving autumn season with a pantry staple: maple syrup. No one will need to know you whipped this up in a pinch. No cranberry juice? Go ahead and use orange juice, cherry juice, or even cider.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- ¾ ounce maple syrup
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, cranberry juice, and maple syrup.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Ginger Apple Highball
Soothe full tummies with a highball that'll leave the body and soul happy.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces bourbon or vodka
- 2 ounces apple cider
- Ice
- Ginger beer or ginger ale to top off
- Lemon wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add bourbon and apple cider.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with lemon wedge.
Spiced Cider Martini
There's no reason an elevated or fancier cocktail needs to have a grocery list of ingredients. You already have enough on your ... plate.
Ingredients
- Lemon wedge and sugar for rim
- 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
- 2 ounces apple cider
- Ice
- Star anise for garnish
Instructions
- To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lemon wedge.
- With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
- In a cocktail shaker, add vanilla vodka and apple cider.
- Shake to chill.
- Strain into prepared glass.
- Garnish with star anise.
Cranberry Gin Fizz
Nothing compares to some bubbles on a holiday. And this quick Thanksgiving cocktail is the perfect segue between the holidays.
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces gin
- 4 ounces cranberry juice
- Ice
- Prosecco to top off
- Orange slice, cranberries, and thyme sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, add ice, gin, and cranberry juice.
- Top off with prosecco.
- Garnish with orange slice, cranberries, and thyme sprig.
Taking Any Cocktails from Great to Grateful
Thanksgiving is an indulgent holiday, with rich food, boisterous company, and never enough space in your stomach to gobble everything you want -- and then some. But good food deserves good cocktails; not just any cocktail, but cocktails that can rise to the occasion. If you're feeling inventive or adventurous, you can turn just about any cocktail into one fit for Thanksgiving.
- Don't overlook taking the time to infuse spirits with classic autumn and Thanksgiving flavors. Infuse your favorite spirit with almonds, pecans, or walnuts for those nuttier, earthy flavors. Apples, cranberries, figs, pears, pomegranate, and sweet potatoes all make for savory flavors that'll make any martini, old-fashioned, or mixed drink really pop with every sip- even if you enjoy the infused spirit with a little bit of club soda.
- Muddle fresh ingredients, including several of the ones listed above, and fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and basil. Look to your Thanksgiving recipes, both savory and sweet, for flavor inspiration. Spare a few herbs you'd otherwise add into the stuffing, and add a touch of grated chocolate to a cocktail and your pie.
- No dish or cocktail is complete without a garnish. Toss in a handful of fresh cranberries, add a thyme sprig, lightly torch a rosemary sprig, or add a sprinkling of crushed herbs or spices. Whatever you do, don't undercook your food, and don't leave your cocktails unfinished.
- Look to juices as not only a mixer but as a way to easily flavor and add color to your drinks. Cranberry juice, cherry juice, apple cider, orange juice, and even pineapple juice are all excellent mixers.
Cocktails Stuffed With Thanksgiving Flavors
With so many incredible flavors packed into one day, Thanksgiving cocktail recipes can be a saving grace. You can shake up cocktails with herbs, smash berries, and swirl your way into a dessert. So when you're inevitably too full for one more forkful of food, opt for a liquid treat.
