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Amazing cocktails for every part of your Thanksgiving 2023 party.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s time to start buying up the liquor and thinking of some great thanksgiving cocktails. Not sure what to do? We’ve got you covered with drinks from the morning of to relax you while you are preparing for your group, to the last drink of the night.
Table of Contents
Morning of Thanksgiving Cocktails
#1 Pomegranate Mimosa – By A Couple Cooks
Nothing screams the holidays more than bright red pomegranate juice. Top it off with a sprig of rosemary and you’ll look like you’ve been doing this for years! All you need for this festive thanksgiving cocktail is pomegranate juice, Aperol (or orange juice) sparkling wine and then orange and rosemary for garnish.
Although I wouldn’t recommend making this drink too far in advance, this cocktail is perfect for a group setting.
Try the recipe out here
#2 Easy Irish Iced Coffee – By Real Simple
There are plenty of Irish coffees, but this one is a bit better suited than others for the morning. Remember, we don’t want to put you to sleep before the guests come! This coffee has just 1.5 oz of Irish whiskey – so it doesn’t over power the kick you get from the coffee! With just 3 simple ingredients, this is a perfect easy drink for the morning! So brew up a cup of coffee and start making this thanksgiving cocktail for your group!
Get the recipe here
#3 Spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte – By Crazy For Crust
Although I’m not personally super excited by pumpkin spice lattes, I feel like I’m in the minority, so here is a delicious spiked pumpkin spice latte that will remind you that it is still the fall! Again, with only 1.5 oz of liquor, this thanksgiving cocktail is a perfect pick me up in the morning!
The recipe has options for both hot and cold coffees to fit whatever mood you are in.
This drink has coffee, vanilla vodka, cinnamon whiskey & pumpkin spice creamer as the main ingredients. Get your group in the festive fall mood with this pumpkin late!
See the recipe here
Thanksgiving Cocktails Before or During the Big Meal
As guests come in and settle down, why not give them a cocktail to get them in the thanksgiving mood? These drinks are perfect to drink both before or during the meal. If you’re worried about how your food is going to taste, have them sip a bit more before 😉
#4 Pomegranate Moscow Mule – By Crowded Kitchen
These Thanksgiving cocktails are easy to make and can be made in a large batch for easy serving. You’re going to want to make a lot of these – they will go fast!
This Thanksgiving cocktail only has 5 ingredients – lime juice, pomegranate juice, vodka, orange juice and ginger beer.
See the recipe here
#5 Apple Cider Margarita – By A Couple Cooks
The A Couple Cooks website has some amazing cocktails, and this one is a perfect complement to a Thanksgiving meal. For the tequila lovers in your group, this will be requested a lot!
Again, a very simple cocktail that can be made ahead of time for easy serving.
With just tequila, lime juice, cointreau, and apple cider, this will likely become a staple during thanksgiving time!
View the recipe here
#6 Thanksgiving Jungle Juice – By Delish
Another easy make-ahead Thanksgiving cocktail with a literal 1 sentence instruction, this simple recipe packs a punch in a great way.
The ingredient list is a little longer than the others, but they shouldn’t be hard to find in the supermarket. They include red wine, ginger ale, cranberry juice, fireball, whiskey, frozen cranberries, 1 orange and 1 apple.
See the recipe here
#7 Ginger Spritz – By Bon Appetit
This light, refreshing Thanksgiving Cocktail will brighten up any meal. With just 4 ingredients, again this is a perfect make-ahead drink that the ginger lovers out there will love!
Ingredients include peeled ginger, Lillet, cava and a splash of ginger beer.
See the recipe here
After Dinner Cocktails & Dessert Cocktails
Now that everyone is thoroughly stuffed and the conversation starts to wane, it’s time to get things started again with some great after dinner and dessert cocktails. I’ve compiled some easy and some more involved Thanksgiving cocktails based on what you’d like to do for the rest of the night. I personally love still being behind the counter towards the end of the night, so I don’t mind the extra work.
#8 Pumpkin Martini – By A Couple Cooks
Again, I can’t help featuring a few more from A Couple Cooks – these cocktails are amazing!
This is a much more involved drink, but it is a true labor of love for those pumpkin lovers out there. I mentioned that I’m not a pumpkin latte fan, but I do love a good pumpkin pie or a pumpkin martini..or two 🙂
With dairy free options, this can be made for anyone who likes pumpkin.
Ingredients include Vodka, heavy cream (or dairy alternative), pure maple syrup, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract and graham crackers (if you want to make a fancy rim).
See the recipe here
#9 Chocolate Martini – By Preppy Kitchen
You simply cannot mention dessert cocktails without having a chocolate martini. This recipe is less involved than the pumpkin martini, but just as delicious! Make it a fancy drink by adding a chocolate decoration inside the glass and topping off with chocolate shavings.
This cocktail has 4 simple ingredients – Baileys Irish Cream, chocolate liqueur, vodka and chocolate syrup.
See the recipe here
#10 Espresso Martini – By Preppy Kitchen
Some people like coffee after dinner, others want a little more kick – that’s when the espresso martini shines. Have this with a great chocolate tart or a rich pumpkin pie – what a great way to end the night!
Just shake coffee liqueur, espresso & vodka and pour into a martini glass, and you have yourself a knockout espresso martini!
See the recipe here
#11 Hot Buttered Rum – By Once Upon A Chef
One of my ultimate favorite Thanksgiving cocktails (and any holiday in the winter really), the hot buttered rum will not disappoint the cider lovers out there. This is like an apple cider wrapped in a warm hug.
This recipe is a little more involved but you can make it ahead of time. I have a friend who makes these in mason jars and gives them out as gifts during the holiday season. Once November rolls around, people are bringing back their mason jars so he can fill them up again – they are that good!
Ingredients include brown sugar, unsalted butter, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, apple cider, rum and cinnamon sticks.
See the recipe here
Bonus Thanksgiving Cocktail – Classic Old Fashioned – By A Couple Cooks
Not a new cocktail by any means, but if you’re family or friends group is like mine, there are some hard core whiskey fans who would rather sip this all day than try and of the fancy Thanksgiving cocktails I listed above, so I’ve got to add this here!
There are plenty of recipes for a good Old Fashioned, but this one is a tried and true recipe that will keep that whiskey lover satisfied.
With just bourbon, sugar cube, water , bitters and an orange peel, this is an easy cocktail to learn and perfect!
See the recipe here
Have any cocktail suggestions? Comment below!
