Be grateful for these festive Thanksgiving cocktails

These festive Thanksgiving cocktails will make raise another glass.

Looking for some festive Thanksgiving cocktails? Whether you prefer a gin, vodka or bourbon, holiday cocktails are a reason to imbibe. It is more than just pouring another glass of wine or cracking open a beer. A cocktail is a reason to celebrate.

Although much emphasis has been placed on the differences this Thanksgiving, it doesn’t mean that there are not reasons to feel grateful, celebrate and raise a glass.

Here are some festive Thanksgiving cocktails to enjoy.

The First Thanksgiving by Rhiannon Enlil and Matt Ray, The Sazerac House

While many people can recall the stories about the pilgrims and a first Thanksgiving, this festive Thanksgiving cocktail brings together the flavors of the season. Even if you don’t like cranberry sauce on the table, you will fall in love with this cocktail.

The First Thanksgiving

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Southern Comfort Black
• 1 oz 100% Apple Juice
• .33 oz pure maple syrup
• 1 rounded teaspoon of cranberry puree
• Cranberries for garnish
• Ice cubes

Instructions:

• In a mixing tin, add the Southern Comfort Black, 100% apple juice, maple syrup, and a rounded teaspoon of cranberry puree.
• Shake with ice and fine strain over fresh ice into a copper mug or rocks glass.
• Garnish with a spear of whole cranberries, apple slice and serve.

Cranberry Cooler

The combination of sweet and tart flavors is a favorite choice for Thanksgiving. This cocktail combines cranberry, pomegranate, citrus and honey to create quite a tempting sipper.

Cranberry Cooler

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Don Papa Rum
• 1/2 oz spiced cranberry-pomegranate honey syrup
• 1 oz grapefruit juice
• 1/4 oz lemon juice

Method:

• Combine all ingredients with ice and shake vigorously.
• Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice.
• Garnish with pomegranate seeds and mint sprig.

Gobbler

Sometimes the big batch of holiday cocktails can make for a more relaxing celebration. This vodka cocktail is the gift that keeps on giving. Just like meal prep, the idea of make once, enjoy twice applies to cocktails, too.

Gobbler

Ingredients:

• 1 part New Amsterdam Vodka
• 2 parts Cranberry Juice
• Juice of 1 Orange
• Top w/ Hard Apple Cider
• Garnish: Apple & Pear slices, Rosemary and whole Cranberries

Batch Instructions:

• Add ingredients into a block ice filled punch bowl, and stir together to combine/chill.
• Service: Pour into glasses filled with ice and garnish as desired

Cranberry Bramble

Gin is having a moment and this Beefeater Gin cocktail is a lovely choice for the holidays. The combination of the herbaceous notes from the gin and the citrus works both before and after dinner. Cheers!

Cranberry Bramble

Ingredients

• 1 ½ oz Beefeater Gin
• 1 oz Cranberry Sauce
• ¾ oz Lemon Juice
• ½ oz Orange Juice

Method

• Build in tin. Ice. Shake. Strain. Garnish with Rosemary.

Recuerdo Mezcal Pumpkin Pie

If you love pumpkin pie, this Thanksgiving cocktail brings those class flavors to the cocktail glass. This year skip the fork and grab a cocktail glass.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Recuerdo Mezcal Joven
• 1 oz Grand Marnier
• 2 Tablespoons pumpkin puree
• 1 oz cinnamon syrup (1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, 1-2 sticks cinnamon – break apart the cinnamon sticks and heat alongside the water and sugar to a gentle boil and reduce to a simmer for 1-2 minutes while stirring. Pull off the heat and allow to sit 30-60 minutes to infuse the cinnamon. Cool and strain the cinnamon.)

Instructions:

• Mix all ingredients in a shaker with ice then double strain into a chilled old-fashioned glass with ice. Garnish with a roasted pumpkin slice.

Fireside Spice

Sometimes a warm cocktail with inviting spices can be help ward off the chill. This tequila cocktail is simple yet comforting. It could be the perfect end to the day.

Ingredients

• 3 parts Chai-spiced apple cider*
• 2 parts Patrón Añejo
• 2 parts ginger beer
• Method:

Combine all ingredients over ice and garnish with cinnamon and star anise.

• *Chai-spiced Apple Cider
• 2 cups apple cider, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 cardamom pods, 4 cloves, ½ teaspoon fennel seeds, 3 star anise. In a small saucepan, add the ingredients for the chai apple cider and heat over medium heat. Once it starts to simmer, remove from heat and let it cool. Once cooled, strain the spices out to discard and keep the spiced apple cider for the cocktail.

These festive Thanksgiving cocktails are just a few options for the holiday. Whether you enjoy one or a few, remember to toast to the good parts of life. Gratitude is the sentiment of the season, even in during an unprecedented year.

What is your favorite holiday cocktail?