Thanksgiving is upon us, and you know what that means: yet another festive occasion to show off your mixological skills.
Below we present our five favorite Thanksgiving cocktail recipes. So set up your service station and start mixing:
1. Autumn Cocktail
Just because the days are getting darker doesn’t mean your drinks can’t get a little brighter. This autumnal concoction features citrus, maple syrup, and bourbon: the perfect combo. You can also make this cocktail more pungent by stirring instead of shaking it.
- Prep Time 2 Minutes
- Cook Time 3 Minutes
- Total Time 5 Minutes
- Serves 2 People
- Calories 200 cal
Ingredients
- 5-6 ice cubes
- 2 fl. oz. bourbon
- 1 fl. oz. pure maple syrup
- 1 fl. oz. orange liqueur
- 1 juiced clementine, with peel cut into short strips
- ½ juiced lemon
Instructions
- Start by placing the ice cubes in a tumbler and adding the bourbon, syrup, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and clementine juice.
- Cover the tumbler and shake for around 15 seconds.
- Strain the mix into a cold martini glass.
- Light a flame over the cocktail and squeeze a clementine peel near the flame. This ignites the oil.
- Rub that peel around the rim and drop it into the drink.
2. Mulled (and Spiked) Apple Cider
You can’t get more Thanksgiving-y than apple cider. Well, maybe you can by splashing a bit of brandy into it! That’s right— this is the perfect mix of spices and booze to give your slow cooker some business and your guests some smiles.
- Prep Time 3 Minutes
- Cook Time 10 Minutes
- Total Time 13 Minutes
- Serves 3-4 People
- Calories 300 cal
Ingredients
- ½ gallon pure, fresh-pressed apple cider
- 1 cup apple brandy
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- ¼ cup of honey
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp. ground ginger
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
- ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
- 10 1x1/4” strips of orange zest
- 10 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Start by pouring all of the ingredients (with the exception of the orange zest and cinnamon sticks) into a pot and heat it over medium-high heat.
- Simmer the mixture until you’re satisfied the flavors have combined.
- Pour the mixture into mugs, then twist orange zest strips between your fingertips and drop one into each mug along with a cinnamon stick.
3. Cranberry Martini
Don’t neglect that beautiful bottle of vodka on your shelf. Make some cranberry martinis to give it some love. This smooth drink is classy, fun, and boozy, and it’s sure to be a hit at your high-society holiday ball.
- Prep Time 2 Minutes
- Cook Time 1 Minutes
- Total Time 3 Minutes
- Serves 2 People
- Calories 280 cal
Ingredients
- 1.5 fl. oz. vodka
- ½ fl. oz. orange liqueur
- ½ fl. oz. dry vermouth
- 3 fl. oz. cranberry juice
- 1 cup of ice
- Cranberries
Instructions
- Start by combining your liquids and ice into a shaker.
- Shake for 15 seconds to chill it all.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass and garnish it with cranberries.
4. Apple-Ginger Shrub
This cocktail of yesteryear requires some planning since you need to marinate a shredded Granny Smith apple for 4-5 days before making it. Once you’ve done that, you can use those apples to make a delicious holiday cocktail and even use them for salads and as a glaze for meats.
Here’s how to make your very own apple-ginger shrub:
- Prep Time 5 Minutes
- Cook Time 5 Days
- Total Time 5 Days
- Serves 5-6 People
- Calories 320 cal
Ingredients
- 1 shredded Granny Smith apple
- A splash of bourbon
- ⅓ cup of apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup of white sugar
- 1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
Instructions
- Shred your apple, and place it in a tight-lidded glass jar.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar, grated ginger, and sugar, and stir it well.
- Close it tightly and put it in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days.
- When you take it out, strain the liquid into a bottle and chill it.
- Add a splash of bourbon for a delicious, tart cocktail.
5. Pumpkin Cocktail
If you’re the type who simply can’t get enough pumpkin no matter how much Thanksgiving throws at you, we have the perfect cocktail for you. Quite similar to a pumpkin eggnog, this recipe delivers a sweet, comforting mix of flavors and rum.
- Prep Time 2 Minutes
- Cook Time 2 Minutes
- Total Time 4 Minutes
- Serves 3 People
- Calories 320 cal
Ingredients
- 1 cup of ice
- 3 fl. oz. pumpkin pie filling
- 1.5 fl. oz. spiced rum
- 1.5 fl. oz. half-and-half
- 1.5 fl. oz. milk
- 1 pinch of ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
- Cinnamon stick for garnish
Instructions
- Take your cocktail shaker and fill it with ice.
- Then add all the ingredients and shake it vigorously.
- Pour into a martini glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
