4 Thanksgiving cocktail ideas
A Thanksgiving feast is only as good as the libations that accompany it. If you want to try something different than your standard wine and beer this year, perhaps you should whip up a signature cocktail. When you play bartender, you’ll have the chance to incorporate your favorite flavors of the season (and those of your guests) into sweet and sippable concoctions. Not sure where to begin? Start with one of these Thanksgiving-themed cocktail recipes.
- Apple Cider and Rum Punch [Bon Appetit]
Autumn is apple season, which means it’s also cider season. Showcase your favorite hard cider when you mix up a bowl of this rum punch. Start with rum and sweet vermouth, then add a dash of lemon juice, simple syrup, and bitters. Toss in two cups of ice and stir, then add slices of apple and a bit of orange zest. Finally, pour in a 12-ounce bottle of dry apple cider and start to sip. You can also make this punch a day ahead of time (just sans the cider, apple, and orange zest) and save yourself some prep time on Turkey Day. - Cranberry Cobbler [Epicurious]
If cranberry sauce is your favorite part of Thanksgiving, then this cranberry cobbler might be your second-favorite. It stars gin and fresh or frozen cranberries, plus a bit of sherry and ample amounts of sugar. With lemon wedges and orange slices bringing the subtle citrusy flavors and fresh mint sprigs to glam up your glass, this cocktail is as pretty as it is delicious. You can easily make this into a mocktail for your non-drinking guests by subbing a quarter-cup of tonic water or ginger ale in place of the gin and sherry. - Pumpkin Pie Sangria [Delish]
The pumpkin is probably the only fruit that can compete with apples come November. Instead of eating a slice of pumpkin pie, sip it (or, better yet, have both). This seasonally inspired sangria features pumpkin pie vodka with white wine and sparkling cider. Dice up an apple and pear and drop the chunks of fresh fruit into the boozy blend. Before you pour it into stemless wine glasses, dust the rim with a mix of sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Then add ice and the sweet sangria, plus a cinnamon stick as a final cute flourish. - Pear-Rosemary Cocktails [Martha Stewart]
Martha Stewart isn’t just the queen of the kitchen, she’s also the queen of the bar. These pear-rosemary cocktails prove that fact unequivocally. She recommends using Seckel pears, the only domestic pear and one that’s prized for its super-sweet flavors. Take note: you’ll have to start this cocktail two weeks before Thanksgiving. That’s when you seal the peras in a 48-ounce glass jar with vodka. Wait as the fruity flavors seep into the vodka, and then then on Turkey Day, create a rosemary-infused syrup. Add ice to a glass then pour in the pear-infused vodka, add a couple of tablespoons of your rosemary syrup, and cap it off with pear nectar and sparkling water. For some added flair, toss in a fresh sprig of rosemary.