The holidays are upon us and that means gut-busting, epic, marathon meals. It’s imperative that your perfect thanksgiving meal is paired with the perfect cocktail. Here’s a list of inventive, fresh, tasty cocktails that are perfect for thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. You might like these so much that you’ll still be making them in July.
Thanksgiving Cocktails
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Pumpkin Pie Old Fashioned
There’s no doubt that this time of the year is all about pumpkin and whiskey. So forget the crust and frosting for this pumpkin pie!
- 1.5 oz. Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition
- 0.5 oz. Grand Marnier
- 2 tablespoons Pumpkin puree
- 1 oz. Maple syrup
Garnish with orange peel
Combine pumpkin puree, whisky, syrup and Grand Marnier in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange peel.
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Cranberry Cosmo
Everyone’s go-to drink is the easiest and most refreshing: cranberry and vodka. Shake things up a bit by mixing your homemade cranberry sauce with some vodka to make a holiday drink guests will never forget.
- 1.5 oz. Reyka Vodka
- 0.5 oz Orange Liqueur
- 0.5 oz. squeezed lime juice
- 1.5 oz. Cranberry sauce
Garnish with Cranberries
Combine Reyka vodka, cranberry sauce, lime juice, orange liqueur and ice in cocktail shaker. Shake well and strain into glass.Garnish with cranberries.
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Bacon Bloody Jerry
So we’re not adding turkey - but what about bacon? A major trend in drinks gets a Thanksgiving upgrade with a morning-fresh Bloody Mary, with Sailor Jerry.
- 1 1/2 oz. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum
- 2 dashes hot sauce
- 3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1 heavy-handed dash of steak seasoning spices
- 1 teaspoon of wet minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of spicy bean or pickle juice
- Fill with plain tomato juice
Pour it all in a pint glass, squeeze in some lemon and lime wedges. Add ice and shake. Garnish with whatever you want. We like bacon!
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Pomegranate Punch
The best way to dress up a classic gin cocktail for the holidays is with delicious crimson pomegranate.
- 2 oz. Boodles Gin
- 0.75 oz. 100% pomegranate juice
- 0.25 oz. Fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz. Simple syrup
- 1 dash Grapefruit bitters
Garnish with long lemon peel
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice and shake vigorously. Pour over fresh ice in a rocks glass. Add a splash of club soda. Garnish with a long lemon peel.
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Mexican Hot Chocolate
It’s finally dessert time! While the pies and cookies are being served, spike a family favorite to end the night with a bang!
- 1.5 oz. Milk
- 1 1/2 bars chocolate; broken into chunks
- 1 oz. Cocoa Powder
- 0.3 oz. Cane sugar
- 0.2 oz. Cayenne pepper
- 4 oz. 1800 Tequila
- 2 oz. Heavy whipping cream
Garnish with cinnamon
Warm milk in saucepan. Add chocolate bar chunks, cocoa powder and sugar. Whisk to combine all ingredients. Pour dash of cayenne pepper. Pour mixture into large glass and add 1800 tequila. Top with layer of whipping cream and sprinkle with cinnamon.
