Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather with loved ones, share gratitude, and indulge in delicious food and drink. But what’s a Thanksgiving celebration without the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail to complement the festivities? Not to worry; we’re giving you our favourite fall recipes to complete the day’s celebrations.
A Thanksgiving cocktail should embody the warmth and comfort of the season. Think spiced flavours, rich fruits, and a touch of indulgence. Seasonal fruits like cranberries, apples, and oranges, paired with warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, are the ultimate choices. Below, you’ll find the best Thanksgiving cocktail recipes to make your gathering even more special.
Classic Cranberry Mule
You may equate festive occasions with rich food and drinks, but it doesn’t always have to be that way! The Cranberry Mule is a vibrant take on the classic Moscow Mule, enhanced with the tartness from cranberries.
Make a Cranberry Mule with:
- 60 ml vodka
- 120 ml ginger beer
- 60 ml cranberry juice
- Juice of 1 lime (around 20 ml)
- Fresh cranberries and mint leaves for garnish
Start by filling a copper mug or glass with ice. Pour in your vodka and juices, then top with ginger beer and stir everything gently. Garnish with fresh cranberries and a sprig of mint for that festive visual.
Spiced Apple Cider Sangria
Sangria is always a crowdpleaser. It’s the perfect drink to serve when you have guests around as you can make it in batches. To give your regular sangria a festive twist, combine the classic recipe with some apple cider and spices.
Make an autumn sangria using:
- 750 ml white wine (preferably a dry variety)
- 250 ml apple cider
- 60 ml brandy
- 2 apples, thinly sliced
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 60 ml sparkling water (optional, for fizz)
In a large pitcher, combine the wine, apple cider, and brandy. Then, add your apples and orange slices along with the cinnamon stick and star anise.
Before serving, refrigerate the sangria for at least 2 hours so that all the flavours can meld together perfectly. Add sparkling water right before pouring into glasses and serve the drink over ice.
Pumpkin Pie Martini
Who says you can’t drink your dessert? This Thanksgiving cocktail is inspired by everyone’s favourite holiday dessert: pumpkin pie.
To create this dessert drink, you’ll need:
- 60 ml vanilla vodka
- 30 ml Irish cream liqueur
- 30 ml pumpkin purée
- 20 ml maple syrup
- 10 ml heavy cream
- Crushed graham crackers and cinnamon sugar for the glass rim
First, crush up some graham crackers along with cinnamon sugar and rim a martini glass with the mixture. This will give you that festive fall taste before you even take a sip.
Then, in a shaker filled with ice, combine vodka, Irish cream, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, and heavy cream. Shake until everything is well blended, then strain into the rimmed martini glass and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Maple Old Fashioned
For a Thanksgiving cocktail that brings warmth, opt for a stronger drink. The Maple Old Fashioned is a seasonal twist on a timeless classic.
Make your own with:
- 60 ml bourbon
- 10 ml pure maple syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- Orange peel and cinnamon stick for garnish
First, combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters in a mixing glass. Add in some ice and stir until everything is chilled, then strain into a rocks glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with an orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
Sparkling Pear Bellini
Sparkling cocktails can also be a part of the Thanksgiving festivities. This drink is the perfect pre-dinner drink, offering a subtle sweetness and bubbly finish.
A Sparkling Pear Bellini contains:
- 120 ml prosecco
- 60 ml pear purée (blend fresh pears for the best flavour)
- A dash of cinnamon (optional, for garnish)
Make a pear purée and spoon some into a champagne flute. Slowly top the glass with prosecco and stir gently to combine everything. Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon for garnish and serve immediately.
Thanksgiving cocktails are the ultimate way to elevate your celebration and impress your guests. Whichever crowdpleaser cocktail you choose to serve, these recipes are guaranteed to bring warmth and joy to your holiday. Which Thanksgiving cocktail will you be trying this year? Find the right ingredients at minuman.com or the minuman.com Superstore.
