Cocktail & Other Recipes Occasion Thanksgiving

The 30 Best Cocktails to Make for Thanksgiving

Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

By
Audrey Morgan
Headshot of Audrey Morgan, smiling and facing forward, wearing black sweater on solid dark gray background
Audrey Morgan
Audrey Morgan is the associate editor at Liquor.com, where she writes and edits features, explainers, bottle reviews, bartender profiles, and more.
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Updated 11/7/23
Reverse Martini in a Nick & Nora, sherry-style glass, with dropped olive garnish on marble background

Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

Let’s get this out of the way: No matter how elaborate your bar cart setup, the food is going to be the main attraction on Thanksgiving Day. The best Thanksgiving cocktails (and wine!) won’t knock you off your feet with overly rich flavors and alcohol content. Think low-ABV spritzes you can sip over starters and several rounds of turkey.

Of course, no one will complain if you make a batch of Hot Toddies or Mulled Wine. And we’ve also rounded up more spirit-forward nightcaps to keep the festivities going long after you’ve polished off the last slice of pie.

Here are the 30 best Thanksgiving cocktails for your big feast—before, during, and after.

  • Americano

    Americano cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You’ve got a long day of eating and drinking ahead of you, so take it easy for the pre-dinner drinks: This low-ABV precursor to the Negroni combines Campari, sweet vermouth, and soda water.

    Get the recipe.

  • Francophile

    Francophile cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    If you’ve already perfected your Mulled Wine recipe, try a new twist. This warming spiced drink from bar pro Alex Day calls for Rioja red wine, Calvados, lemon juice, and cinnamon simple syrup. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Hot Toddy

    Hot Toddy

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Make your guests feel cozy with a round of Toddies, which have warmed Americans for centuries. For this lightly spiced version, bar pro Jacques Bezuidenhout combines whiskey, boiling water, demerara or brown sugar, a clove-studded lemon peel, and lemon juice.

    Get the recipe.

  • Sherry Cobbler

    Sherry Cobbler

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Your Thanksgiving shopping list is probably long enough as it is. Keep things simple with a bottle of amontillado sherry. Shake three ounces with simple syrup, an orange, and lots of ice, and you have a refreshing and low-ABV drink. 

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 5 of 30 below

  • Aperol Spritz

    Aperol Spritz

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Light, lively, and easy to mix up on the spot, the spritz might just be a perfect Thanksgiving cocktail. Make the classic Aperol Spritz or swap the Aperol for any bitter liqueur or amaro, following the same 3-2-1 formula: three parts prosecco, two parts bitter, one part soda water.

    Get the recipe.

  • Italian Espresso Martini

    Italian Espresso Martini

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This drink from bartender Nicholas Boden swaps the Espresso Martini’s usual vodka for Averna, a silky and caramelly Italian amaro. It’s fantastic as an after-dinner drink, but the lower alcohol content also makes it a solid choice for daytime sipping.

    Get the recipe.

  • Reverse Martini

    Reverse Martini in a Nick & Nora, sherry-style glass, with dropped olive garnish on marble background

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Yes, you can have Martini hour on Thanksgiving Day. This variation reverses the usual ratios of gin and vermouth for a more sessionable drink that will keep you on your feet until meal time.

    Get the recipe.

  • Autumn Rickey

    Bourbon Rickey cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This Bourbon Rickey riff is easy to mix up for your guests on the spot. Just add maple syrup to the classic combination of bourbon, lime juice, and soda water.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 9 of 30 below

  • Thanksgiving Margarita

    Thanksgiving Margarita

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Margaritas aren’t just for the warmer months, as bar pro Naren Young proves with this rich pumpkin spice twist. He uses a base of reposado tequila instead of the classic blanco and combines it with allspice dram, amaretto, pumpkin puree, lime juice, and agave nectar.

    Get the recipe.

  • Horsefeather

    Horsefeather cocktail, light yellow, in Collins glass filled with ice and lemon wedge garnish

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Upgrade your typical Whiskey Ginger for the holiday. The Horsefeather tops whiskey (typically rye) with spicy ginger beer and bitters for extra depth of flavor. A squeeze of lemon brightens things up.

    Get the recipe.

  • Last-Minute Mulled Wine

    Last Minute Mulled Wine

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You may already have everything on hand for this quick and festive punch: Red wine, bourbon or brandy, star anise pods, lemon or orange peels, and sugar come together quickly in a saucepan. Divide into six mugs and garnish each with a cinnamon stick.

    Get the recipe.

  • Maple Old Fashioned

    Maple Old Fashioned

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You can’t go wrong with the classics on Thanksgiving Day. But Old Fashioned fans might just find a new holiday favorite in this recipe from bar pro Allen Katz, which combines rum, maple syrup, and Angostura bitters. It makes for a great nightcap.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 13 of 30 below

  • Apples & Pears

    Apples & Pears cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This crowd-pleasing drink has plenty of festive fall flavors. Bartending pro Charlotte Voisey combines apple-flavored vodka, pear juice, vanilla-nutmeg syrup, lime juice, and Angostura bitters, then tops the mixture with hard cider.

    Get the recipe.

  • Spiced Apple Cider

    Spiced Apple Cider

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Make a batch for a crowd with fresh apple cider, cinnamon, allspice berries, whole cloves, star anise, and an orange peel in a saucepan or slow cooker. To prepare both non-alcoholic and boozy versions, you can spike individual servings with a shot of bourbon or Calvados. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Pumpkin Spiced Latte

    Pumpkin Spiced Latte cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Try this boozy and big-batch version of the fall staple. Just add bourbon, rum, or Frangelico to a mix of freshly brewed coffee, pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, milk and heavy cream, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice.

    Get the recipe.

  • Bourbon Cider Slushie

    Bourbon Cider Slushie

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Don’t retire your blender just yet. A fall gathering is the perfect time to make this refreshing blend of bourbon, cinnamon vanilla syrup, lemon juice, and apple cider.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 17 of 30 below

  • Breakfast Martini

    Breakfast Martini

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    You might start drinking well before noon on Thanksgiving Day. This delicious combination of gin, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and orange marmalade will make the task easy. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Bamboo

    Bamboo cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Commonly served as an aperitif, this light and low-ABV cocktail will whet guests’ appetites for the meal ahead. It’s simple, to boot: Just combine sherry, dry vermouth, and dashes of Angostura and orange bitters. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Pumpkin Nog

    Pumpkin Nog cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Don’t wait until December to embrace Eggnog. For this fall variation, bar pro Tony Abou-Ganim adds pumpkin puree to a rich mixture of eggs, light rum, whole milk, sugar, and vanilla extract. It makes a delicious nightcap.

    Get the recipe.

  • Apple Toddy

    Apple Toddy

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    If you have leftover apples from holiday baking, put them to use in this old-school recipe. Presidents Madison and Monroe were rumored to have enjoyed the classic drink, which calls for baking apples and muddling them with sugar, then adding applejack, cognac, bourbon, and boiling water to the mix. 

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 21 of 30 below

  • Pear & Elderflower Collins

    Pear and Elderflower Collins

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Give the classic Tom Collins a fall outfit with this fruity and floral twist from Young. He combines vodka or gin, elderflower and pear liqueurs, pear puree, lemon juice, honey syrup, and soda water. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Spiced Pumpkin Flip

    Spiced Pumpkin Flip cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    Serve this decadent cocktail with the desserts. Young combines pumpkin ale, bourbon, amaretto, agave nectar, pumpkin butter, and one whole egg.

    Get the recipe.

  • Forbidden Sour

    Forbidden Sour cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    With a split base of bourbon and pomegrante liqueur, this Whiskey Sour variation is slightly lower in alcohol than the classic, with fall-appropriate flavors. Serve with appetizers or the main event.

    Get the recipe.

  • Cider Delighter

    Cider Delighter cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This refreshing drink would be delicious alongside a cheese plate. Bar pro Meaghan Dorman combines vodka, allspice liqueur, apple cider, lemon juice, and apple bitters.

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 25 of 30 below

  • Pumpkin Toddy

    Pumpkin Toddy

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This warming cocktail is fall in a mug. Apple brandy, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and Angostura bitters join the classic mix of rye whiskey, lemon juice, and boiling water. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Adonis

    Adonis cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    First crafted in the 1880s at the legendary Waldorf-Astoria hotel to honor the Broadway musical of the same name, this two-part low-ABV cocktail will make your gathering feel special with minimal effort. Simply combine equal parts fino sherry and sweet vermouth.

    Get the recipe.

  • Hey, Gourdgeous

    Hey Gourdgeous cocktail

    Céline Bossart

    Use your gourds as glassware. Served in mini pumpkins brushed with a spiced butter, this mixture of apple brandy, Amaro Montenegro, maple syrup, lemon juice, and plenty of fall spices can double as tabletop decor. 

    Get the recipe.

  • Hearts of Pom

    Hearts of Pom cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This fruity drink adds the flavors of in-season pomegranates to a classic Margarita template. Shake one up with silver tequila, Cointreau, and pomegranate and lime juices. 

    Get the recipe.

    Continue to 29 of 30 below

  • Pumpkin Sazerac

    Pumpkin Sazerac

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    The classic Sazerac combines cognac, rye whiskey, and a sugar cube in an absinthe-rinsed glass. This autumnal version swaps the usual sugar for a pumpkin spice syrup.

    Get the recipe.

  • Colony Records

    Colony Records cocktail

    Liquor.com / Tim Nusog

    This sweet-tart drink from Katz puts the spotlight on cranberries. He adds a homemade cranberry syrup to a mix of rum, grapefruit juice, and Angostura bitters.

    Get the recipe.