Top 6 Thanksgiving Cocktails

Thanksgiving cocktails are just as important as the food itself. Instead of showing off your wine-corking skills, shake up a batch of drinks that will surely impress your guests.

Here are the top 6 cocktails (and a digestif!) to imbibe before, during, and after the family feast.

1. Bourbon Apple Cider Sour

The tartness of this cocktail will awaken your palate and fire-up your taste buds for the coming feast.

Ingredients

• 1½ bourbon
• 1 oz. apple cider
• 1 oz. lemon juice
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup ice
• Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions

1. Add everything but the ice into a cocktail shaker and dry shake.
2. Add ice and then shake again.
3. Strain into a serving glass and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon.

2. Cranberry Moscow Mule

A refreshing palate cleanser is just what you need after some light snacks and before the food starts flowing.

Ingredients

• 1½ vodka
• ½ lime, juiced
• ½ cranberry simple syrup
• ½ ginger beer
• ½ – 1 cup crushed ice

Directions

1. Put ice, lime juice, cranberry simple syrup and vodka into the mule mug.
2. Stir and top with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with lime and cranberries.

3. Pumpkin Spice Gin Sour

Fall flavors abound in this autumnal delight, and they pair nicely with your aunt’s seasonal side dishes.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. gin
• ½ lemon, juiced
• 1 tbsp. pumpkin butter
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup ice

Directions

1. Put gin, lemon juice, pumpkin butter and egg white into a cocktail shaker and dry shake for 20 seconds.
2. Add ice and shake for another 20 seconds.
3. Strain into serving glass and garnish with thyme.

4. Cranberry Old Fashioned

A refreshing twist on a classic that pairs well with savory turkey meat, spiced nuts, and pumpkin seeds.

Ingredients

• 1½ bourbon
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• 1 cube sugar
• 8 cranberries

Directions

1. Add bitters, sugar, and 5 cranberries to a serving glass.
2. Muddle until sugar dissolves and add bourbon.
3. Garnish with remaining cranberries.

5. Dulce De Leche Hot Chocolate

And for dessert…

Ingredients

• 1½ rum
• 1 cup hot chocolate
• ¼ cup dulce de leche sauce

Directions

1. Put dulce de leche into the bottom of a serving glass.
2. Add hot chocolate and rum, stir.
3. Garnish with whipped cream.

6. Fergus Henderson’s Secret

A good meal deserves a good digestif, and Fergus Henderson, the world-renowned chef, has the perfect way to settle that bulging tummy.

Ingredients

• 2 parts Fernet Branca
• 1 part crème de menthe
• To serve: ice

Directions

1. Mix it
2. Drink it.

Be sure to stock up for your Thanksgiving cocktail ingredients at your local Spec’s Wines, Spirits & Finer Foods.