When I first started hunting for Thanksgiving cocktails, I wasn’t expecting much beyond a basic apple martini or a spiced mug of something warm. But wow, was I wrong.
I ended up unearthing 29 incredible drink ideas that completely changed what I thought holiday sips could be. From bubbly sparklers to cozy hot toddies, these are the ones I’ll be shaking and stirring all season long.
1. Earl Grey Tea Cocktail
Between the gin, lavender, lemon, and Earl Grey tea, this cocktail is highly fragrant and tastes somewhat perfumey. It might not be for you if you’re not a lover of that botanical, floral taste. Gin is super floral, and when you mix that with lemon and lavender, this drink smells like a pretty bouquet of wildflowers.
2. Honey Ginger French 75
The French 75 uses gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar, making it a kind of adult lemonade. It gets its name from the 75mm Howitzer field gun from WWI.
A gun with incredible accuracy and speed. Similarly, the cocktail gives you quite the kick after just a few sips.
3. Red Wine Pomegranate Punch
Like mulled wine, this drink is ideal for serving a crowd. So, make up a big batch and let people help themselves.
That way, you can enjoy the day with everyone rather than heading to the kitchen every half hour. Also, feel free to add extra fruit. I used a bag of mixed berries and threw in a bunch of cherries to give this an extra fruity kick.
4. The Fall Dark and Stormy
The Dark and Stormy isn't one of your more classic Thanksgiving cocktail recipes. But this one puts an autumnal twist on the traditional recipe. With apple cider, ginger beer, and cinnamon, it pretty much covers all your fall favorites.
5. Maple Old-Fashioned
Many people will add a teaspoon of sugar to their old-fashioned to help cut through the bitterness. But using maple syrup is kind of genius.
The syrup gives this drink hints of vanilla, caramel, and sometimes prunes. If maple isn't your thing, try honey or agave nectar instead. It's a quick and easy drink that you'll definitely want to add to your Thanksgiving cocktail recipes.
6. Spiced Citrus Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is the quintessential Thanksgiving cocktail recipe. It’s warm, sweet, strong, and bursting with incredible flavor.
It's also super easy to make in a big batch to serve a crowd. As the name suggests, red wine is the base for this drink. I like to go for something fruity to complement the citrus.
7. Cinnamon Bourbon Hot Toddy
Don't act like you don't already know what I'm going to say. I LOVE THIS DRINK!
(Seriously, guys, the hot ones are my favorites in the cold months. It's a soothing, warming drink sweetened with honey and gently spiced with cinnamon. It looks, smells, and tastes fantastic and is impossible to resist.
8. Cranberry Martini
Martinis are known to be pretty intense and definitely not sweet. That’s especially true for those who prefer them dirty with plenty of salty olives.
But cranberries aren’t super sweet, and their tart flavors work well to keep this more like the original. This drink also includes a splash of Cointreau, which adds to the bitterness while giving a citrus lift at the same time.
9. Kir Cocktail
I think this might be the easiest recipe on the list. Seriously.
Blink while someone is making this cocktail, and you’ll miss it! It takes mere moments to whip up, and it tastes incredible. Blackcurrant liqueur is so underrated with its lovely deep flavor, and it’s great for a more intense, cold-weather cocktail.
10. Cranberry Apple Sangria
No doubt you’ve tried sangria before, but did you know you can make some excellent Thanksgiving cocktails with it? This festive recipe takes the idea of sangria and turns it on its head.
It uses apples, cranberries, oranges, cinnamon, and cloves. You’ll use pinot grigio for the base, which has lovely hints of lime, pear, and green apple. The final product is lip-smackingly good.
11. Pumpkin Pie Martini
No list of Thanksgiving cocktails is complete without the pumpkin pie martini. It's a classic staple of the season, and no drinks table should be without it.
It's sweet, creamy, and loaded with legitimate pumpkin pie flavor. Top it with homemade whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon, and you're all set.
12. Hot Buttered Rum
I love, Love, LOVE hot buttered rum! I'd drink it all fall and winter long if I could.
(Whew. Can you imagine?!
That'd be one heck of a boozy season! Honestly, though, it's so warm, comforting, and soothing.
It tastes spectacular and even has medicinal qualities. Make a batch as part of your Thanksgiving drinks, or just make one for yourself to enjoy before bed. Either way, it's perfect.
13. Apple Cider Bellini
Bellinis are basically peach-flavored mimosas. Both use fruit puree or juice with sparkling wine, and both are totally acceptable to have for breakfast.
What I love about this recipe is the use of apple vodka. Not only does it provide extra warmth, but it really helps to boost that fresh apple taste.
14. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
I enjoy a good whiskey sour, but I nearly always have it with bourbon and orange juice. Unfortunately, my sweet tooth isn’t a huge fan of whiskey.
That said, this one does include some lovely, sweet maple syrup, so it’s just right for me. Play with the lemon juice to maple syrup ratios to suit your tastes specifically.
15. Spicy Blackberry Margarita Sour
This drink tastes precisely how the name makes it sound. It's a classic sour drink full of the tart taste of blueberries.
However, a secret ingredient lurks beneath the surface: fresh jalapeno slices! They don't impart much flavor, but they certainly add heat. This cocktail is unlike anything else on this list, and I highly recommend trying it at least once.
16. Pecan Pie Martini
Fruity drinks with tiny umbrellas are usually my thing, so creamy cocktails don’t often grab my attention. But this pecan pie martini completely won me over from the very…
17. Pear Aperol Spritz Cocktail Recipe
We all tend to think of apples and pumpkins during the colder months, but pear is just as tasty and partners so well with warm spices. You’ll need to muddle some pear slices with lemon juice, simple syrup, and vanilla extract to get that unique flavor. But if you enjoy this pairing, why not make pear-infused simple syrup instead?
18. Pomegranate Ginger Sparkler
This recipe is more or less a pomegranate mimosa, using sweetened pomegranate juice in sparkling wine. But that little bit of ginger in the mix makes all the difference. You’ll start by making enhanced pomegranate juice, using pomegranate juice, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and ginger.
19. Toasted Pecan Old-Fashioned
An old-fashioned is a pretty grown-up drink that I didn't like for the longest time. It's mostly whiskey with some sugar and bitters, with a splash of water to mellow it out.
The alcohol is very prominent. It's typically the kind of drink you grow into as your tastebuds mature.
20. Caramel Apple Martini
Are you the type to throw on a chunky sweater and head to the closest orchard? If so, I guarantee these decadent Thanksgiving cocktails will blow you away.
I don't care who you ask. Caramel apple is synonymous with Thanksgiving and the cold winter months.
So, what could be better than those same flavors in a boozy drink? If you're craving the richness of caramel apples, absolutely nothing!
21. Pumpkin Spice White Russian Cocktail
This drink speaks to the basic pumpkin spice latte lover in me! I can't help what I love, and I'll choose flannel and pumpkin spice any day of the week.
But this isn't just pumpkin spice creamer with vodka. It's like an icy, boozy pumpkin spice latte, thanks to the coffee liquor in the mix.
22. Chocolate Almond Autumn Negroni
Negronis can be pretty bracing drinks. They're extremely dry and can even be somewhat bitter, depending on the recipe.
This Negroni is no exception, but I really like it nonetheless. It features chocolate and almond liqueurs and chocolate bitters. They pair nicely with the gin, Campari, and vermouth.
23. Pomegranate Mule
Looking for Thanksgiving drink ideas that put new spins on old classics? Try the pomegranate Moscow mule.
It's just as crisp and refreshing as the traditional Moscow mule. But it comes with a tangy, fruity pomegranate boost.
Don't worry, though! It doesn't make the drink overly sweet. If anything, it might even have a bit more of a bite!
24. 3-Ingredient Pomegranate Ginger Smash
Since this cocktail uses vodka and ginger beer, you could get away with calling it a pomegranate mule. No matter what name you use, it’s still vibrant and fresh, using 100% pomegranate juice for its big, bold taste.
25. Apple Cider Mimosas
I’ve been to my fair share of bottomless mimosa brunches. Of course, I usually opt for blueberry juice with my bubbles.
I can’t believe I never thought to put apple cider in the glass! This tastes like amped-up sparkling cider. The apple flavor is way more pronounced, and I love how the thicker cider blends with the sparkling wine.
26. Spiced Cranberry Hot Toddy
Hot toddies are usually full of whiskey, honey, and a plethora of warm spices. Served hot, it’s the perfect winter warmer after a long day.
This stunning toddy takes that warmth and gives it a fruity twist. You’ll use bourbon, which is sweeter than whiskey. You’ll also add a small orange to the pot to complement the slightly tart cranberries.
27. Cranberry Margarita
Without trying to be too cliché, yes, I’m a margarita fanatic. There’s nothing more comforting to me than tequila with fresh lime juice and a dash of orange.
But I also love margarita variations, from banana and blueberry to sriracha mango and even jalapeño! So, I couldn’t get through a list of cocktails without a margarita recipe, and this is probably the most Thanksgiving-esque around.
28. Cranberry Caipirinha
The Caipirinha (pronounced kye-pea-reen-yuh) is a classic Brazilian cocktail dating back to the 19th century. It typically contains cachaça, lime, sugar, and ice.
This version retails all that but also adds cranberry simple syrup and fresh cranberries. The result is a semi-sweet, totally festive drink for the holiday season.
29. Spiced Pear Gin Fizz
The spiced pear gin fizz is one of my favorite cocktails for Thanksgiving. It's crisp and citrusy with loads of spices and a lovely pear flavor.
Couple that with a spiced and sugared rim, and you've got a drink that no one can resist. Plus, it just looks incredible. It'll be the star of any drinks table.