Thanksgiving calls for a good drink, and these easy Thanksgiving cocktails are made with cozy fall flavors like apple cider, bourbon, cranberry, pear and maple. Some are easy single-serve sippers, and one is a big-batch jungle juice that’s perfect for a crowd. There’s something here for your Thanksgiving Day toast, your pre-dinner prep and your dessert table.
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Why You’ll Love These Thanksgiving Cocktails
- Easy. Simple ingredients and quick steps, so you’re not stuck behind the bar all day.
- Fall flavors. Apple cider, caramel, cinnamon, maple, cranberry and pear in every glass.
- Crowd-friendly. Great for Thanksgiving Day get together.
- Fun for any spirit lover. Bourbon, whiskey, vodka, tequila and champagne are all covered.
1. Apple Cider Mimosa
A festive twist on the brunch classic. Apple cider and champagne make a bubbly, easy drink for Thanksgiving morning.
Ingredients: apple cider, champagne, caramel and brown sugar for the rim, sliced apple for garnish
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
2. Apple Whiskey Sidecar
A classic sidecar gets a fall upgrade, shaken cold and served in a chilled martini glass.
Ingredients: apple cider, bourbon, cognac, orange liqueur, lemon juice
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
3. Apple Pie Bourbon Mule
This one tastes like apple pie in a glass, with a caramel sugar rim and a fizzy ginger kick.
Ingredients: bourbon, apple butter, apple cider, maple syrup, brown sugar cinnamon syrup, ginger ale or ginger beer, cinnamon sticks and apple slices for garnish, caramel sugar for the rim
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
4. Cranberry Margaritas
A tart and festive margarita with a spiced, sugared rim. It’s an easy way to bring tequila to the Thanksgiving table.
Ingredients: 100% unsweetened cranberry juice, reposado tequila, orange liqueur, rim of turbinado sugar, ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
5. 🎃🥃 Pumpkin Spice Old Fashioned
An old fashion with a Thanksgiving twist of pumpkin flavors.
Ingredients: Rye, Orange Bitters, Walnut Bitters, Pumpkin Spice Syrup
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
6. Spiced Apple Martini
Chai, apple cider and vanilla vodka make a warm, spiced martini that looks as good as it tastes.
Ingredients: vanilla vodka, chai tea, apple cider, cinnamon rum, caramel sugar rim, apple fan for garnish
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
7. Spiced Pear Cosmopolitan
A fall version of the cosmo, with spiced pear vodka and a sweet pear syrup. Garnish it with a pear slice.
Ingredients: spiced pear vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, pear syrup, pear slice for garnish
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
8. Thanksgiving Whisky
A great one to sip on while you’re prepping for the big feast. It’s light, crisp and made with sugar-free ingredients.
Ingredients: Maker’s Mark whisky, sugar-free brown sugar syrup, lemon, Sparkling ICE apple cider zero sugar
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
9. To-Go Apple Pie Jungle Juice
Your big-batch option. It’s easy to mix for a crowd and take wherever the party is.
Ingredients: apple juice, apple, cinnamon sticks, whipped cream vodka
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
10. Vanilla Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
A cozy fall whiskey sour with vanilla cinnamon and maple syrup, garnished with rosemary and a cinnamon stick.
Ingredients: bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, rosemary, and cinnamon stick.
👉 Click the video to find the full recipe.
Tips for Serving Thanksgiving Cocktails to a Crowd
- Batch ahead. Mix the base for drinks like the jungle juice earlier in the day and keep it chilled.
- Add bubbles last. Top with champagne, ginger beer or sparkling water right before serving so the drinks stay fizzy.
- Prep your garnishes. Slice apples and pears, and set out cinnamon sticks and sugared rims before guests arrive.
- Offer a non-alcoholic option. Have a few mocktails on hand for guests who aren’t drinking. See our Thanksgiving Mocktails post.
FAQ
What are the best Thanksgiving cocktails?
Apple cider cocktails are the classic choice, like the Apple Cider Mimosa, Apple Pie Bourbon Mule and Maple & Apples Whiskey Sour. Cranberry margaritas and spiced pear cosmos are fun, festive alternatives.
What cocktails can I make for a crowd at Thanksgiving?
The To-Go Apple Pie Jungle Juice is the easiest big-batch option. Mimosas and mules also scale well when you set out the ingredients as a drink station.
Where do I find the full recipes?
Click the video for the full recipe for each drink.
From a bubbly apple cider mimosa to a pumpkin s’mores martini, these Thanksgiving cocktails make the holiday feel extra festive. Pick a few favorites, and don’t forget to click the video for each full recipe. Please drink responsibly and enjoy!
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