15 Thanksgiving Cocktails to Elevate Your Holiday Entertaining

The right Thanksgiving cocktail has the power to complete your entire holiday meal. Some cocktails are refreshing enough to enjoy with appetizers, while others are robust enough to hold their own with dessert. Whether you prefer a spirit-forward drink or a fruity sparkler, choosing one of these cocktails in this collection will elevate your holiday celebrations and get the party started!

Warm, Sparkling & Seasonal: The 15 Best Thanksgiving Drinks

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Make your holiday celebration feel extra festive with this curated collection of 15 Thanksgiving cocktails, each designed to complement the flavors of the season. Whether you’re looking for something bright and bubbly to pair with appetizers or a warm, cozy drink to serve alongside dessert, these cocktails offer a perfect balance of refreshing, fruity, and spirit-forward options.

With easy-to-follow methods and simple, accessible ingredients, you can mix up bar-quality drinks right from your kitchen.
From sparkling classics and cozy hot cocktails to fruity spritzes and bourbon-forward favorites, this roundup brings together the very best Thanksgiving drinks to elevate your holiday gathering and get the celebration started.

Thanksgiving Cocktails

Applejack Cocktail

A sophisticated twist on the classic whiskey sour, this cocktail features smooth apple brandy balanced by the tang of fresh lemon. Orgeat (almond syrup) adds a subtle, wedding-cake-like sweetness for a perfectly layered autumnal drink.

Find the full Applejack Cocktail recipe here.

Mug of mulled wine garnished with star anise and orange slice.

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

Ideal for a crowd, this spiced wine fills your home with a welcoming, festive aroma as it simmers. Simply combine red wine, brandy, citrus, and spices in your slow cooker for an effortlessly warm and comforting beverage.

Learn Slow Cooker Mulled Wine here.

Side view of French 75 cocktail garnished with lemon twist.

Sparkling French 75 Cocktail

Elegant and effervescent, this cocktail combines gin, lemon, and simple syrup before being topped with sparkling wine. It’s a celebratory drink that adds a touch of sparkle to any holiday gathering.

Find the full Sparkling French 75 Cocktail recipe here.

This Blackberry Champagne Cocktail is a festive sparkling cocktail that's perfect for holiday parties. Or, try this blackberry mimosa for brunch! // blackberry bellini

Blackberry Mimosa Recipe

Elevate your brunch with this festive cocktail, featuring a homemade blackberry simple syrup. Just add the syrup to a glass and top with sparkling wine for a beautiful and delicious drink that can be prepared ahead of time.

Find the full Blackberry Mimosa Recipe here.

Apple Cider Cocktail with Vodka

This simple and refreshing cocktail mixes crisp apple cider with vodka and a bright squeeze of lime. A splash of soda water adds a light fizz, and the vodka can easily be swapped for bourbon.

Find the full Apple Cider Cocktail with Vodka recipe here.

Fig Cocktail

This uniquely cozy cocktail is sweetened with a rich vanilla bean and fig simple syrup. Combined with vodka and a splash of soda, it creates a beautifully fragrant and fizzy drink that’s perfect for fall.

Find the full Fig Cocktail here.

Two Bees Knees Cocktails in coupe glasses next to honey simple syrup and bowl of lemons.

Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe

A Prohibition-era classic, this cocktail is both smooth and bright. Gin is perfectly balanced by the fresh citrus of lemon and the mellow sweetness of a honey simple syrup.

Find the full Bee’s Knees Cocktail Recipe here.

THREE MUGS OF HOT TODDIES GARNISHED WITH LEMON SLICES AND STAR ANISE NEXT TO HONEY JAR

Hot Toddy Recipe

The ultimate cozy remedy for a chilly evening, a Hot Toddy is warm, soothing, and customizable. Choose your base spirit – bourbon, brandy, or rum – and steep it with hot water, honey, and comforting spices.

Find the full Hot Toddy Recipe here.

Ginger pear cocktails on counter with ice.

Sparkling Pear & Ginger Cocktail

This pitcher-friendly cocktail combines the delicate flavor of pear with the spicy kick of ginger beer. It’s an easy, make-ahead option that’s perfect for serving a holiday crowd.

Find the full Sparkling Pear & Ginger Cocktail recipe here.

Apple Cider Moscow Mule

A festive fall twist on the classic Moscow Mule, this version incorporates sweet and spiced apple cider. It’s a refreshing blend of vodka, ginger beer, and lime that’s perfect for Thanksgiving.

Find the full Apple Cider Moscow Mule recipe here.

Mug of mulled cider garnished with cranberries, apple slices and cinnamon stick.

Non Alcoholic Mulled Cider

This warm and cozy mulled cider is a crowd-pleasing non-alcoholic option that makes your home smell incredible. For those who prefer it, the batch can easily be spiked with a spirit of your choice.

Find the full Non Alcoholic Mulled Cider here.

Winter aperol spritz garnished with cranberries and rosemary.

Cranberry Aperol Spritz

Give the classic spritz a seasonal makeover with a hint of cranberry simple syrup. This vibrant cocktail maintains its signature bittersweet profile from the Aperol but is dressed up for the holidays.

Find the full Cranberry Aperol Spritz recipe here.

This Cranberry Ginger Bellini is a festive sparkling cocktail that's perfect for brunch or holiday parties. | platingsandpairings.com

Easy Cranberry Bellini Recipe

This cranberry bellini is a stunning and simple sparkling cocktail, perfect for holiday toasts. It combines Prosecco with an easy-to-make cranberry simple syrup for a festive and bubbly drink.

Find the full Easy Cranberry Bellini Recipe here.

Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail

Bold bourbon is sweetened with a quick maple-cranberry syrup and balanced with tart cranberry juice. A fragrant rosemary sprig makes for an elegant and aromatic garnish.

Find the full Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail recipe here.

How to Make Ahead and Store

Knowing whether you can store these cocktails really depends on the type of cocktail itself – the majority are made fresh, just before serving and intended to be enjoyed immediately.

That said, there are components of cocktails that can be made ahead of time. For instance, you could make a simple syrup up to 5-days ahead of time for some of these Thanksgiving cocktails that call for this sweetener. Make a double (or triple) batch by simply adjusting the serving size in the recipe card of the particular cocktail recipe.

How to Serve Thanksgiving Cocktails

You can serve your cocktails up in wine glasses or rocks glasses and garnish with rosemary sprigs and season-inspired fresh fruit, like cranberries, or dried fruit garnishes, like these dried orange slices for an extra festive pop.

What to Serve with Thanksgiving Cocktails

Start the celebrations with these savory appetizers, designed to pair perfectly with your holiday drinks.

These desserts, featuring caramel, apple, and cranberry, are the perfect sweet complement to your holiday cocktails.

15+ Thanksgiving Cocktails

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Thanksgiving Cocktails

How to Make Ahead and Store

How to Serve Thanksgiving Cocktails

What to Serve with Thanksgiving Cocktails

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