Thanksgiving is all about family, tradition, and a shared meal, but it also comes with its fair share of chaos. Between the classic kitchen stress, nosy relatives, and kids running wild, it’s easy to forget how to really enjoy the day.
Luckily, there’s one thing that can make the holiday a little smoother (and tastier). These Thanksgiving-inspired cocktails embrace cozy fall flavors while offering a fun way to unwind and bring everyone together. Not only will these cocktails be a crowd pleaser, but they’ll be a quick fix for seasonal stress.
Here are some cocktails worth mixing this Thanksgiving:
Pumpkin Pie Martini
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Jeptha Creed Wheated Bourbon
- 2 dash Ne Oublie Black Walnut Bitters
- 1 oz of egg white
- ½ oz Spiced Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Pumpkin Puree
- Graham Cracker crumbs
- Chocolate ganache
Method:
Rim martini glass with ganache and graham cracker crumbles and chill. Add all ingredients to the shaking tin and shake without ice. Add ice, shake again. Double strain into martini glass.
Heated Affair
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Partida Añejo Tequila
- 6 oz Apple Cider (Hot and spiced)
- Heavy Cream
- Garnish: Grated Nutmeg
Method:
In a small warm wine glass add Tequila and hot apple cider. Float heavy cream. Garnish: grate fresh nutmeg over cream.
Maple Apple Rum Cider
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz. Kōloa Spice Rum
- 1 oz. lemon juice
- ½ oz. maple syrup
- ½ oz. Triple Sec
- 2 oz. Sparkling Apple Cider
- Pinch cinnamon
- Glass: Wine Glass
- Garnish: Warmed Cinnamon Stick
Method:
Add Kōloa Spice Rum, lemon juice, maple syrup, and triple sec in a mixing glass with ice. Stir about 20 times, then gently add cold Sparkling apple cider. Strain into a wine glass and garnish with a warmed cinnamon stick.
Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Bols Vodka
- 0.75 oz Galliano Espresso Liqueur
- 0.5 oz Bols Pumpkin Spice Liqueur
- 1 oz Fresh Espresso
- 0.25 oz Simple Syrup
- Garnish: Three coffee beans and grated nutmeg
Method:
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with three coffee beans and grated nutmeg.
Hot Toddy
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Sagamore Spirit Small Batch Rye Whiskey
- 3 oz Boiling Water
- .5 oz Lemon Juice
- .75 oz Honey Simple Syrup*
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- Garnish: Lemon Wedge
Method:
Boil the water with the cinnamon stick in it. Pour boiling water, rye whiskey, lemon juice and honey syrup into a mug. Mix and garnish with lemon wedge.
*Honey Simple Syrup: Combine 1 cup honey and 1 cup water in a small pot. Cook over low heat until honey dissolves. Chill overnight and strain.
Ruinite Negroni
Ingredients:
- 2 oz of Riunite Lambrusco
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz of Sweet Vermouth
- Garnish: Orange Slice
Method:
Add all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with an orange slice.
Middle West Manhattan
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Middle West Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey
- .5 oz OYO Stone Fruit Vodka
- .5 oz Sweet Vermouth
- 5 dashes of Angostura Bitters
- Garnish: 1 Luxardo Maraschino Cherry
Method:
Add ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a Luxardo cherry.
California Negroni
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Gunpowder Irish Gin with Californian Orange Citrus
- 1 oz Campari
- 1 oz Boissiere Sweet Vermouth
- Orange slice or twist for garnish
- Ice cubes
Method:
Fill a mixing glass with ice, then pour in the gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. Stir well to chill and dilute the mixture, then strain it into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice or twist.
Cheers from The Bourbon Flight!
