Thanksgiving Cocktails

Name: The Best Thanksgiving Cocktails
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: Cinnamon Toast; Apple Cider Cocktail; Spiked Pear Cider; Mulled Wine; Apple Cider Margarita; Apple Cider Bourbon Slush; Spiked Apple Cider with Bourbon; Apple Butter Old Fashioned; Oatmeal Cookie Cocktail; Sangria Punch Recipe; Apple Cider Sangria; Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine; Homemade Apple Cider; Homemade Hot Chocolate; Pear Cider

5 minutes

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By: Julie Blanner1 Comment
Updated: 11/30/21

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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!

three glasses filled with a Thanksgiving cocktail and garnished with cinnamon stick and orange slices.

This post was originally shared November 4, 2020 and updated with fresh content November 18, 2021.

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 on ice with apples and cinnamon sticks surrounding.

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

What alcohol goes with Thanksgiving?

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.

What is the most popular drink on Thanksgiving?

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.

What alcohol goes with pie?

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!

Thanksgiving Drink 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.

A clear glass pumpkin drink dispenser filled with an apple cider sangria recipe, dispensing fall sangria into a glass.

The Best Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

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!

A thanksgiving cocktail on a marble surface with ingredients and tools surrounding.

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.

Three Thanksgiving cocktails on ice in clear glasses, cinnamon stick for garnish.

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.

Two clear glass mugs of apple cider Thanksgiving drinks, apples and cinnamon sticks in background.

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!

A Thanksgiving cocktail in a clear glass next to white plates and a pink napkin.

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!

A copper cocktail shaker with clear glasses full of apple margaritas, cinnamon stick for garnish.

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!

apple cider slush garnished with apple slice and cinnamon stick

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!

Spiked apple cider in a white mug, garnished with an orange slice, star anise, and cinnamon stick.

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!

An apple Thanksgiving cocktail in a clear glass with cinnamon stick and apple slice garnish, whole red apples to the side.

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.

Oatmeal cookie shot with greenery and pink linen napkin to the side.

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!

Three glasses of sangria and a pitcher for a Thanksgiving cocktail.

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.

A clear glass full of Thanksgiving sangria with cranberries and a cinnamon stick.

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.

A gray pot on the stove filled with a mulled Thanksgiving drink recipe

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!