Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.
Native American Saying
On Thanksgiving, a day to set aside “normal life,” we are offered a unique moment to focus on all that we have. We gather with those we love (either in person or through one of our biggest gifts: technology) to count and cherish our many blessings, our home, our health, our friendship. Even though we’ve been through a difficult year, we all have so much to be grateful for if we just look.
And hopefully, it won’t take too long for your eyes to land upon some amazing food and cocktails! While the Thanksgiving feast gets most of the attention on the big day, why not get crafty in our kitchens with the libations, too?
I always like to start a meal or gathering with the “Drink of the Day.” Of course, you can count on classic cocktail options. Or break the ice with something new and unique! Be celebratory and make a splash for the folks who may not venture past their scotch on the rocks. Though there’s certainly nothing wrong with that!
In honor of those amazing people who have supported us through the good, the bad, and the unpredictability of 2020, the new opportunities we’ve found, and the unknown blessings on their way, let’s raise a glass (or two)!
Six Unique & Delicious Thanksgiving Cocktails & Nibbles
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a full-blown turkey extravaganza with all the trimmings, but why stop there? Enjoying abundance and plenty all through the day is what makes Thanksgiving a truly sensational holiday. With these recipes, you’ll be nibbling and sipping the whole day long – and all with a grate-full heart! (All recipes are available in a printable format at the end of this post.)
Marmalade Whisky Sour
This cocktail concept is an homage to the delicious Old-Fashioned cocktail, which dates back to the 1880s. This version, however, gets a modern upgrade with chunky fresh sweet orange marmalade for a cozy autumn feel.
Whiskey refreshes your palette. And with holiday foods, which tend to liven the soft, sweet, and creamy segment of the flavor wheel, with precious few pungent, spicy, or crunchy dishes, whiskeys are an excellent substitute for wine. Whiskeys also complement a warm apple pie a la mode while sitting’ around the fire.
Pair with: An olive tray or spiced nuts. Or, if you have the extra time, the Barefoot Contessa’s Chipotle & Rosemary Roasted Nuts are the perfect starter for your Thanksgiving feast!
Sparkling Cucumber & Celery Gimlet
The Gimlet is synonymous with the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel, The Long Goodbye. In it, it is stated that “a real gimlet is half gin and half Rose’s lime juice and nothing else.” It was also believed to be a gift from the gods for sailors to ward off scurvy. No offense to Mr. Chandler, but we like to make our Gimlet with the fresh, crisp bite of celery and cucumber juices to clear our palettes before our Thanksgiving feast!
Pair with: Serve these refreshing gimlets with a pre-dinner cheese, artisan cracker, and dried fruit assortment.
Pear Honey Champagne Cocktail
Here’s the skinny of the relationship between pears and honey. They’re like Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, star-crossed lovers that are a match made in heaven. Take it from Yummly and their pear cheese appetizer suggestions. Now, let’s get those flavors mixed as a cocktail.
Pair with: When the doorbell rings, hand your guests this sparkling magic. Then lead them to the table displaying a seriously good pear cheese and honey hors d’oeuvre. Or you can make it even easier with a sliced pear on top of a warm Triscuit, with a smear of blue cheese and a few drops of honey.
Pumpkin Pie Punch
The fun of serving this drink is using all different types and styles of glasses. You can use a traditional punch bowl, top each cup with whipped cream. Or set-up a self-serve bar with colorful Mason Jars, martini glasses or other stemmed goblets. Make the table festive with an autumn colored tablecloth or napkins and lots of mini pumpkins.
While this recipe can be made with vodka, it can easily be made without it. This makes for a fun punch that everyone, kids included, will love!
Pair with: This mocktail/cocktail is a bit heavier than most. Pair with a lighter treat like fruit or dark chocolate.
Chai Spiced Apple Margarita
Warm up with a spicy cocktail that’s sure to get the party started. This Chai-spiced apple margarita is an herbal twist on the classic apple cider.
Thanksgiving Irish Coffee
We couldn’t leave out the after-dinner drinks! Irish coffee is a satisfying way to wind down after a delicious gathering around the Thanksgiving table. And, it seems, a great way to relax after a blustery, wild ride. . . .
The Irish Coffee was created in 1943 by Joe Sheridan, chef at Foynes Port near Limerick, Ireland. Foynes worked transatlantic flights that often carried political or Hollywood figures. Usually, just a stopover for longer flights to refuel, often due to weather, passengers would need to stay for the night, so the airbase built a new restaurant.
After a flight was turned back due to inclement weather, Chef Sheridan, feeling empathy for the cold and weary passengers, decided to whip up something special for them to drink. The story goes that a silence descended as everyone enjoyed this delectable concoction, which came to be known as The Irish Coffee. This year, we all deserve an Irish Coffee to finish off the holiday!
Pair with: Thanksgiving pie and a game of cards, of course!
Cheers to a Thanksgiving to Remember!
However you spend Thanksgiving this year, it is bound to be one to remember. So, light a fire, grab some cozy blankets, stare at the flames, sip in silence and enjoy the loving company of your family (near or far). Bask in the beauty of gratitude, and a well-deserved cocktail!
Marmalade Whisky Sour
Equipment
- Cocktail Shaker
- Cocktail Stirrer
- Rock glass
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups bourbon
- 1/2 cup lime juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon superfine sugar
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 1/4 teaspoon Angostura bitters
- Crushed Ice
- Luxardo Maraschino Cherries and liquid
Instructions
- Blend bourbon, lime juice, sugar, marmalade and bitters in a large pitcher. Stir until sugar and marmalade are completely dissolved. Fill rocks glasses with ice and top with bourbon mixture. Garnish with a cherry, and a drizzle of cherry juice. Voila!
Sparkling Cucumber & Celery Gimblet
Equipment
- Tall tumbler
- Cocktail Pitcher
- Blender
- Fine Mesh Sieve
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 cups celery hearts coarsely chopped, leaves removed
- 1 cup cucumber coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup lime juice freshly squeezed
- 12 ounces gin chilled
- small celery stalks with leaves for garnish (optional)
- thinly sliced cucumber for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring 1/4 cup water and sugar toboil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let cool completely and then refrigerate, covered, at least one hour and up to a month.
- Puree celery, cucumber and 1/2 cup simple syrup in a blender until smooth. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl.
- In a cocktail pitcher, combine celery/cucumber syrup, lime juice and gin. Fill tumblers halfway with ice, pour 3 ounces of cocktail base into each glass. Top off with lime seltzer. Garnish with your choice of accompaniment.
Pear Honey Champagne Cocktail
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Blender or food processor
- Large pitcher
Ingredients
- 6 pears sliced in half
- 1/3 cup honey divided
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon divided
- pinch nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons apple juice or water
- pinch ground clove
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 28 ounces sparkling wine or champagne
- Brown Sugar to coat rim of glass
- Fresh thyme, sage or rosemary for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet. Slice pears in halves. Remove stems.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespooon balsamic vinegar, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, and pinch of nutmeg. Brush over the pears evenly.
- Place pears in oven for 20-25 minutes until they are soft and browned on bottom. Cooking time may vary depending upon size of pears. Remove from oven and scoop out seeds.
- Put pears in blender or food processor with vanilla and 2 tablespoons juice or water. Blend until pureed.
- Add pears to large pitcher. Chill before serving.
- Once ready to serve, add a pinch of ground clove, 3-4 more tablespoons honey, 24-28 ounces sparkling wine or champagne to the pitcher. Stir together.
- Rim glasses in brown sugar. Pour mixture into glasses. Garnish with additional pear slice or fresh herb.
Pumpkin Pie Punch
Equipment
- Punch Bowl or Pitcher
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon apple cider cold
- 15 ounces pumpkin puree
- 12 ounces cream soda
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup vodka optional
- Whipped cream for garnish
- apple slices for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, stir together cider and canned pumpkin with a large whisk until smooth. Stir in cream soda, pumpkin pie spice and vodka (if using). Leave in pitcher or transfer to a decorative punch bowl.
- To serve, pour punch into a fun glass. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with apple slices, if desired.
Chai Spiced Apple Margarita
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Rocks glasses
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks small
- 9 caradamon pods crushed
- 1.5 teaspoons black peppercorns
- 6 slices unpeeled fresh ginger
- 4 cloves whole
- 2 ounces gold tequila PER glass
- .75 ounce lime juice freshly squeezed, PER glass
- 1 teaspoon simple syrup PER glass
For Rim
- lime wedges
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 star anise PER cocktail
Instructions
Chai-Spiced Apple Cider
- Combine chai spices (cinnamon, cardamom, black peppercorns, ginger) with the apple cider in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand to chill for at least one hour or overnight to develop its flavor.
Cocktail Glass Rim
- Mix cinnamon, sugar and salt on a small plate. Run a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass, then dip into the cinnamon mixture. Fill with ice and set aside.
Cocktail
- Strain the chai-spiced apple cider. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour in two ounces tequila, 2 ounces apple cider, lime juice, and simple syrup. Shake for 20 seconds, then pour into the cinnamon-rimmed glasses. Garnish with star anise.
Notes
Thanksgiving Irish Coffee
Equipment
- Coffee maker
- Coffee cup or mug
- Stand or hand mixer (for whipped cream)
Ingredients
- 1 cup strong coffee
- 1.5 ounce Jameson Whiskey
- 1 ounce Bailey's Irish Cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- Nutmeg for garnish, optional
- Chocolate Shavings for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Divide coffee into two warm mugs. Pour whiskey and Irish cream.
- In a medium bowl, whip up your own cream by whipping together the heavy cream, pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar. Whip until soft peaks form, then top each mug with a dollop of the gream.
- Garnish with nutmeg.
Sabine
November 19, 2020Really appreciate the article starting out with a Native American quote. Yes we have a lot to be thankful for even when it’s not so obvious!!!
Amazing cocktails!
TG baugh
November 19, 2020Should I make them all? Wait I just answered YES to my own question! ❤️