[Photographs: Elana Lepkowski]
When Turkey Day arrives, you're gonna want a drink. Preferably something perfectly autumnal, stirred with dark spirits, perhaps spiced with cinnamon and clove or woodsy rosemary.
What you probably don't want is to spend your Thanksgiving behind the bar. You've got potatoes to mash and a turkey to carve; except, perhaps, for the first drink of the night, you shouldn't be shaking cocktails to order. So we've gathered our favorite fall-celebration sips, many of which can be prepped partially or entirely ahead of time. And, because we know Thanksgiving dinner can be an all-day event, we've made sure to include some lower-alcohol drinks to make pacing yourself a little easier. Ready to get your liquor cabinet stocked? These 22 cocktails are a must-have addition to your Thanksgiving menu.
Pick Your Poison
Whiskey Drinks
Turkey and Sage Cocktail
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
Since you're likely eating turkey on Thanksgiving, why not drink some, too? This cocktail pairs overproof Wild Turkey 101 with deeply flavored pumpkin butter and fresh sage. The bourbon's vanilla and caramel notes work wonderfully with the pumpkin and spice, and it's all amped up with fresh lemon and Angostura.
Get the recipe for the Turkey and Sage Cocktail »
5-Spice Bourbon Punch
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
Barrel-aged bourbon takes kindly to spices, and the best way to add them is to skip the powdered stuff. This drink starts with whole Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds, toasted for full, rich, earthy flavor. A splash of fresh lime and fizzy club soda keep the punch refreshing.
Get the recipe for the 5-Spice Bourbon Punch »
Sparkling Bourbon Pear Cocktail
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
We love pears, but they're a little watery for adding to a drink when raw. The secret: Roast them to concentrate the flavor, then sweeten with maple syrup and spike with bourbon. This mix gets extra classy with a splash of sparkling wine. (And there's no need to spring for pricey Champagne here, since there's so much going on in the cocktail—any decent Cava or Crémant will do.)
Get the recipe for the Sparkling Bourbon Pear Cocktail »
Cardamaro Concord Cocktail
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
We like to stock up on bittersweet amari for post-feast sipping, but they're wonderful in pre-dinner drinks, too. Here, herbal and nutty wine-based Cardamaro, which is flavored with cardoon and blessed thistle, comes together with purple Concord grapes and bourbon for a drink that's perfectly in season.
Get the recipe for the Cardamaro Concord Cocktail »
9 Ladies Dancing Punch
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
Big-batch punches are great for low-stress holiday entertaining, but you don't need to sacrifice complex flavor to make them easy. This delicious drink starts with smoky blended Scotch, plus a rich sherry teaming up with homemade cinnamon syrup for sweetness. Chai tea adds spice (and necessary dilution), and a cranberry-studded ice block is a festive way to keep the drink cold.
Get the recipe for the 9 Ladies Dancing Punch »
Orchard Boulevardier
[Photograph: María del Mar Sacasa]
The Boulevardier—a Negroni variation that uses whiskey in place of gin—is a great fall cocktail in its own right. Here, we combine it with another autumn favorite, hot apple cider, for the ultimate in cold-weather comfort. Bold and spicy rye and bitter Campari are natural foils for the sweet cider.
Get the recipe for the Orchard Boulevardier »
Gin Drinks
Smoky Sage Punch
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
There's no reason to relegate gin to summer; its swath of herbal flavors are wonderful in fall, too. For this make-ahead punch, gin is matched with fresh sage, smoky lapsang souchong tea, and an intense citrus syrup made with lemon and orange zest.
Get the recipe for the Smoky Sage Punch »
Charred Lemon Gin Sparkler
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
This is no basic spiked lemonade. Its haunting flavor starts with lemons seared in a dry cast iron skillet to add a bit of charred depth and mellow out the tartness. Woodsy rosemary and herbal gin pair up to add a savory side, and a little fizzy wine completes the picture nicely.
Get the recipe for the Charred Lemon Gin Sparkler »
Sherry Martini
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
There are days when nothing but a classic Martini will do, but lately we've been finding ourselves reaching for a good dry sherry instead of vermouth. It boosts the savory flavor and adds a salty character—if you want to get really fancy, you can garnish the drink with a slice of Spanish ham.
Get the recipe for the Sherry Martini »
Date Martinez
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
The Martinez is an undersung hero, a silky and dark Martini alternative that may even predate its drier, tuxedo-wearing cousin. This variation gets its rich sweetness from date molasses, which is excellent paired up with nutty but dry Amontillado sherry.
Get the recipe for the Date Martinez »
Rum Drinks
Spiced Cranberry Rum Fizz
[Photograph: Autumn Giles]
Tart cranberries, orange zest, and ginger give this rum cocktail the flavors of a classic Thanksgiving cranberry sauce, but better, and sparkling wine makes it especially refreshing.
Get the recipe for the Spiced Cranberry Rum Fizz »
Cranberry Especial
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
This cranberry cocktail is the ideal aperitif, bringing together tangy unsweetened cranberry juice and nutty oloroso sherry. A small pour of rum gives the drink more depth, without adding too much extra alcohol.
Get the recipe for the Cranberry Especial »
Cider Drinks
Apple Elixir
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
Apple lovers, this one's for you. We pack apple into this drink in three forms: apple brandy, apple cider concentrate, and hard cider. To make the concentrate, you'll reduce unfiltered fresh apple cider on your stovetop with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and black pepper—it's easy, we promise, and it's loaded with flavor.
Get the recipe for the Apple Elixir »
Pop! Cider
[Photograph: María del Mar Sacasa]
This cheerful cocktail combines fresh apple cider with sparkling wine and Bénédictine, an herbal, honeyed liqueur that works well to complement the apple. You could make the drink with Champagne, but feel free to use cheaper Prosecco instead.
Get the recipe for Pop! Cider »
Tangy Cider Fizz
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
As much as we love strong, stirred cocktails, it makes sense to embrace something a little lighter as you start a marathon Thanksgiving meal. This low-alcohol drink combines fresh apple cider with delicious Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, which adds fruitiness and a complex herbal flavor. Sweetening the cocktail with brown sugar gives it some of the richness of oaky spirits, without the extra booze.
Get the recipe for the Tangy Cider Fizz »
Wine, Amaro, and More
Fresh Ginger Amaretto Sour
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
We're on a mission to bring back the amaretto sour. First of all, the sweet, almond-flavored liqueur needs some spice to wake it up—a dash of Angostura bitters gives the drink a hit of clove and cinnamon, which is a good start. Lemon juice and fresh ginger further balance the amaretto's sweetness, and then we're off to the races.
Get the recipe for the Fresh Ginger Amaretto Sour »
Sparkling Lemon-Suze Pitcher Cocktail
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
Before Thanksgiving dinner, you'll want a drink that will stimulate the appetite. This bittersweet, herbaceous option, made with the French aperitif Suze, is just right for pairing with pre-dinner nibbles. A lemon-sage syrup boosts the drink's herbal flavor, while chilled sparkling wine keeps it bright.
Get the recipe for the Sparkling Lemon-Suze Pitcher Cocktail »
Sparkling Pomegranate Pitcher Cocktail
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
Pomegranate is wonderful in cocktails (and nonalcoholic drinks) because it adds a little bitterness and tannin in addition to deep fruit flavor. Here, pomegranate juice is reduced on the stove to give the drink a dark, tangy base that brings it firmly into fall. Bitter Cocchi Rosa deepens the flavor, balanced with fresh lime and a bit of bubbly wine.
Get the recipe for the Sparkling Pomegranate Pitcher Cocktail »
Basil Cranberry Julep
[Photograph: Nick Caruana]
Juleps are generally summer drinks, and this basil-scented cocktail would be great on a hot day. But smoky, savory mezcal and a tart cranberry syrup make it a fun Thanksgiving option. If you don't have julep cups, you can use mixing tins (or whatever sturdy glasses you have on hand).
Get the recipe for the Basil Cranberry Julep »
Spiced Averna Toddy
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
Cold out there? Warm up from your pre-turkey walk with this unusual hot toddy that swaps out whiskey for Averna, a mild, low-alcohol Italian bitter liqueur with a spicy caramel flavor. An easy brown sugar and black peppercorn syrup fortifies the flavor.
Get the recipe for the Spiced Averna Toddy »
Sparkling Apple Sherry Cocktail
[Photograph: Elana Lepkowski]
In this fresh, effervescent drink, apples are muddled to add sweetness to a mix of potent Laird's Bonded Apple Brandy, nutty oloroso sherry, and Mandarine Napoléon, a mandarin orange liqueur.
Get the recipe for the Sparkling Apple Sherry Cocktail »
Search for Delicious
[Photograph: Maggie Hoffman]
If you're into bitter drinks, this recipe is for you. Foregoing a base spirit, this cocktail blends vegetal Cynar with Punt e Mes, a fantastically bitter Italian vermouth. Adding a pinch of salt to the top of the drink slightly tempers the bitterness, letting the sweetness of the Punt e Mes come through.