Finding the right drink recipes for your Thanksgiving dinner doesn't need to be difficult; take inspiration from your meal's flavors as well as from traditional fall ingredients. These Thanksgiving drink recipes are sure to please your guests and complement your meal.
1. Sparkling Pomegranate Thanksgiving Apéritif
Pomegranates are in season around Thanksgiving, and they make a wonderful addition to any dinner. Serve these with the appetizers to get people in the mood for the main course.
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 cups dry sparkling wine, such as Champagne or Prosecco
- 2/3 cup pomegranate juice
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Pomegranate arils for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the wine, pomegranate, and lime juices in Champagne flutes.
- Garnish with pomegranate arils.
2. Lemon and Sage Thanksgiving Mocktail
This refreshing cocktail pairs beautifully with the stuffing, and is safe for the kids to have, too. Serve it during the main course for those that want to keep their drinking to a minimum.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup fresh sage leaves
- 1/2 cup simple syrup
- 12 ounces club soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 quartered Meyer or regular lemons
Instructions
- Place sage leaves, simple syrup, lemons, and salt in a pitcher.
- Muddle or press them together well to release the flavor from the lemons and sage.
- Add club soda right before serving.
- Serve on the rocks.
3. Vodka Ginger Cranberry Fizz
You can't have turkey and dressing without the cranberry sauce. Cranberry also makes a tasty, tart flavoring for a cocktail. Serve these along with the turkey at dinner.
Ingredients
- Ice
- Cranberry juice, approximately 6 ounces
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- Ginger ale
- Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a rocks glass half-full with ice.
- Add the cranberry juice, vodka, and ginger ale. Stir.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs.
4. Maple Pumpkin Spiced Old-Fashioned
If you like the old-fashioned cocktail, then you're sure to enjoy this pumpkin twist on the classic.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice syrup
- 1-inch piece of orange peel (no pith)
- 2 dashes cardamom bitters
- 2 ounces maple bourbon
- Splash of water
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- In a rocks glass, combine the pumpkin spice syrup, orange peel, and cardamom bitters. Muddle.
- Add the maple bourbon, water, and an ice cube. Stir.
5. Hot Spiced Thanksgiving Cider With Rum
Hot spiced cider is a classic autumn treat. Make up a full batch to serve a crowd before or after the main meal. This makes 16 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple cider
- 2 tablespoons whole cloves
- 3 to 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- 3 star anise
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup demerara rum
- Clove-studded orange slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
- Pour the cider into a large slow cooker along with the cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice, star anise, brown sugar, lemon zest, and rum.
- Cover and simmer on low for four hours. Reduce heat to keep warm.
- Serve garnished with clove studded orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
6. Thanksgiving Maple Ginger Hot Toddy
Warm up with this simple and delicious hot toddy made even warmer with Thanksgiving spices.
Ingredients
- 4 slices fresh ginger root
- 8 ounces hot water
- 1 ginger spice tea bag
- 2 ounces maple bourbon
- 1/2 ounce maple syrup
- Squeeze of fresh orange juice
Instructions
- Place the ginger root in a mug and pour hot water over the top. Add the teabag and steep for two minutes. Remove the teabag.
- Add the bourbon, maple syrup, and a squeeze of orange juice. Stir to mix.
7. Thanksgiving Sangria Wine Punch
Sangria is a fruity summer wine punch made with either red wine or white wine. This Thanksgiving sangria uses classic fall flavors. Beaujolais Nouveau wine is recommended because it releases in the grocery stores in the United States on the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the Beaujolais Nouveau, Armagnac, amaretto, cranberry juice, orange juice, simple syrup, ginger root, cinnamon sticks, and fresh cranberries. Stir to blend.
- Refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight.
- Add the ginger ale to fill the pitcher and stir.
8. Cranberry Mule
This fall twist on the classic Moscow mule is the perfect combination of warm and gingery and fruity.
Ingredients
- Ice
- Juice of 1 lime
- 2 ounces cranberry juice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 6 ounces ginger beer
- Fresh cranberries, lime wedges, and mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice, add the lime juice, cranberry juice, and vodka.
- Shake to chill and blend.
- Strain into a mule cup or rocks glass half filled with ice.
- Add the ginger beer and stir.
- Garnish with fresh cranberries, lime wedges, and mint sprigs
9. Pumpkin Spice Cocktail
One of the first flavors that comes to mind at Thanksgiving is pumpkin. It's not a traditional ingredient for a cocktail, but it's possible to make one that tastes just like grandma's pumpkin pie.
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice mixture
- 1 shot Kahlua
- 1 shot Bailey's Irish Cream
- 1 shot Vodka
Instructions
- Combine a shot each of kahlua, Bailey's, and vodka with 1/2 teaspoon spice mixture.
- Shake well with ice to combine.
- Strain into a glass.
10. Pumpkin Purée Dessert Cocktail
This sweet ice cream cocktail is perfect for dessert alongside or in place of pumpkin pie.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pumpkin purée
- 1 scoop vanilla ice cream
- 1 shot vanilla vodka
- 1 cup milk
- Ground cinnamon
Instructions
-
Place the pumpkin purée, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, milk, and a shot of vodka into a blender.
- Blend on high for 30 seconds and pour into a frosted glass.
- Garnish with ground cinnamon.
11. Apple Pie Dessert Shooter
Serve these shooters alongside the apple pie for dessert. Even people that don't typically like pie will enjoy the flavor of this shot.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons apple cider
- 2 tablespoons apple brandy
- Whipped cream, to taste
- Dash of ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Pour apple cider and apple brandy into a shot glass.
- Top with whipped cream and a little grated cinnamon.
Tips for Serving Thanksgiving Drinks
It's not easy to play bartender and serve a multi-course meal at once. Follow these tips to help you coordinate your efforts:
- Mix up cocktails in advance so that assembly is easy; simply pour and serve.
- Designate a friend or relative to be the cocktail maker for the evening.
- Set up a "do it yourself" bar area on your counter. Invite your guests to blend up their own cocktails. Give them a few options of Thanksgiving drinks by printing small recipe cards and placing them nearby.
- Serve drinks in colorful glassware to make them look extra festive.
- Keep your cocktail menu simple by deciding on one special cocktail and a few types of wine or beer. Serve the cocktail before dinner or as a dessert drink.
- Offer a "signature" Thanksgiving cocktails along with appropriate Thanksgiving wine selections.
Thanksgiving Dinner and Drinks
When deciding on which Thanksgiving drinks you plan to serve, think about your menu and what would pair best with the flavors of the food. Apple, pumpkin, maple, cranberry, and warm spices like ginger and cinnamon are all seasonally appropriate flavors that translate well into delicious cocktails. Don't get overwhelmed by serving drinks that are too fancy; after all, the point is to enjoy the holiday with people that you love.
