These 15 amazing Thanksgiving cocktails are sure to liven up your Thanksgiving gathering this year! Make a memorable cocktail everyone will love with one of these fun and original Thanksgiving drinks.
Easy fall cocktails like these are the best way to kick off your turkey day gathering. And yes, there are even some non-alcoholic options!
How do you get to see your family this year? Whether you’re hosting a Virtual Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or traditional Thanksgiving, these libations will add warmth and fun!
From single servings to punch for a crowd, I have Thanksgiving cocktails for you! Bourbon, rum, tequila, sangria, the list goes on and on. Can we ever have too many cocktails to choose from? Never!
I have long loved cocktails and I love trying new things. I’m always thrilled to experiment, photograph and then share with you. No matter how you’re celebrating this year, I know you’ll find a Thanksgiving drink your family loves!
Thanksgiving Cocktails
Love a seasonal cocktail as much as we do? Don’t skip my FREE Christmas Cocktail round-up, filled with classics and fresh new favorites!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can choose a variety of alcohol to go alongside your Thanksgiving turkey! Wines (both red and white) are always appropriate, beer can be paired beautifully with poultry, and a Thanksgiving cocktail is always perfect.
According to a survey in Food and Wine Magazine, over 60% of Thanksgiving guests prefer to stick to wine with their Thanksgiving dinner. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t like a pre-dinner (or after-dinner) cocktail this year! It’s always fun to try something new.
If you’re looking to serve a fabulous Thanksgiving cocktail alongside your traditional pies, look no further! Try the cinnamon toast cocktail alongside your apple pie, or try an oatmeal cookie cocktail with your pumpkin pie. So delicious!
Tips
- Don’t forget a garnish – think cinnamon sticks, apple slices, cranberries and more!
- Some of these cocktails (like sangria and mulled wine) can be made ahead, which can ease the burden of the host.
- Serve both a traditional cocktail and a non-alcoholic version to accommodate all guests and allow everyone to have something special.
15 Thanksgiving Cocktails
Click through for the free printable recipe card for each one! Cheers!
Cinnamon Toast
A Cinnamon Toast is the ultimate fall cocktail that will warm you up on even the chilliest of evenings.
It’s the perfect blend of Cinnamon Schnapps (a Cinnamon Liquor) and apple cider, garnished with an apple slice and cinnamon sticks!
Apple Cider Cocktail
Apple Cider Cocktail is grown up cider with a fun fall twist! Serve it warm or on the rocks – it’s completely up to you!
Apple Cider with spiced rum makes the perfect party drink. It can easily be prepared in advance to serve as an easy Thanksgiving cocktail.
Pear Cider
Serve homemade pear cider with your favorite liqueur – rum, bourbon, brandy or tequila! You can serve it warm or chilled for a memorable fall drink.
Mulled Wine
Mulled Wine is wine that simmers with Mulling Spices filling your home with an amazing aroma while adding a hint of warm spice.
It’s quick and easy to make a large batch which is a good thing because it’s a crowd pleaser!
Apple Cider Margarita
Add some fall flavor to your life with an Apple Cider Margarita! It’s an easy four ingredient fall cocktail you can mix up in minutes for one or a pitcher for a crowd.
You’ll get the deliciously fragrant warmth of apple cider, shaken with tequila, lime and simple syrup. This combination turns a classic margarita into your favorite fall sip!
Apple Cider Bourbon Slush
An Apple Cider Bourbon Slush is a grown up slushy that’s easy to sip! Even my mom who would rarely drink would gravitate to this Thanksgiving cocktail! It’s incredibly easy to make, too!
Spiked Apple Cider with Bourbon
This Spiked Apple Cider with bourbon is an easy Thanksgiving cocktail recipe that will warm your spirits. It is the perfect hot apple cider cocktail for chilly nights and fall and winter festivities!
Learn how to make this easy-to-sip spiked cider recipe with a few simple tips and tricks along the way!
Apple Butter Old Fashioned
Warm up this fall with a Thanksgiving cocktail you’ll never forget! An Old Fashioned made with apple butter is full of apple cinnamon flavor you’re going to love.
It’s easy to make and easy to sip!
Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail
An Oatmeal Cookie cocktail is a delicious drink that tastes just like its namesake.
The Oatmeal cookie shot, a favorite of mine because of the delicious and distinct flavor, can be made to serve one or many with my easily adaptable recipe.
Sangria Punch Recipe
This Spanish Sangria is the ultimate Thanksgiving cocktail indulgence. Sangria punch serves beautifully for parties, and it’s easy to create a non alcoholic sangria too!
Apple Cider Sangria
This Apple Cider Sangria recipe is the chilly weather cocktail you need in your life… it’s the perfect combination of sweet cider, zesty ginger, and warm spices.
Non-Alcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks
Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine
An easy Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine recipe for the holidays is enjoyable for people of all ages. This alcohol free mulled wine recipe is created with sweet grape juice, fruit and spices that simmer into a hot Thanksgiving drink that warms you from the inside out.
It’s a four ingredient mocktail you’ll want to make time and time again throughout the holiday season.
Homemade Apple Cider
An iconic fall drink, homemade apple cider is the coziest gift of this brief season. Warm, perfectly spiced, fragrant and utterly delicious, making a batch of this apple cider recipe will be the best way to celebrate all things autumn!
Homemade Hot Chocolate
This delicious Homemade Hot Chocolate recipe is so easy to make! Get the secret that makes this Homemade Hot Chocolate so rich and creamy!
Serving Suggestions
If you’re looking for festive glassware, here are a few of my favorite options for serving cocktails!
- Glass Coffee Mugs – these are perfect for warm cocktails and so pretty for serving.
- Goblet – this is technically a stout goblet, but it serves a thick, creamy cocktail beautifully as well!
- Fleur De Lys Tumblers
- Pressed Glass 9.5 ounceTumblers
- Classic Hurricane Glass Set – perfect for frozen drinks!
Cheers! I hope these Thanksgiving cocktails add warmth and fun to your festivities!
More Thanksgiving Inspiration
The Best Thanksgiving Cocktails: Apple Cider Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces apple cider
- 1 ounce rum dark or spiced
- 1 ounce cinnamon schnapps
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
Instructions
- Combine apple cider, rum, cinnamon schnapps and orange juice in a cocktail shaker (or mixer if you're serving multiples). Mix well.8 ounces apple cider, 1 ounce rum, 1 ounce cinnamon schnapps, 1 tablespoon orange juice
- Pour over a glass of ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick, star of anise and a sprig of rosemary or thyme.
Julie’s Tips
HOW TO SERVE
- For a Crowd – Combine in a punch bowl and have pre-garnished glasses to serve. To make a large amount use the adjustable servings in the recipe card.
- Single Serving – With a cinnamon stick to stir, sprig of rosemary or thyme and a star of anise.
HOW TO STORE
- Refrigerate – this apple cider cocktail can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours in an airtight pitcher or other container.
- Freeze – You can freeze this apple cider cocktail into a slush! Simply freeze, already combined, in an airtight container with a couple inches left at the top to make room for expansion. When ready to drink as a slush, simply stir- it’s already the best consistency!
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
