10 Delicious & Easy Thanksgiving Cocktails For Your Table

Sometimes we’re so focused on figuring out our Thanksgiving food, plans, who’s coming, table settings, and more, that we forget a super important detail—what are we drinking??

Yes, you can go the wine route (ahem, dry red sparkling!), but I’m here to advocate for Thanksgiving cocktails!

You might also like: The Best Gifts for the Home Bartender in Your Life

A lot of people think that cocktails are difficult, but they’re really not! Now, if (like my family) you’re hosing 25+ people, cocktails probably aren’t the way to go…unless you make my delicious batch whiskey sour, which I desperately need to write up and share with you.

But if you’re having a more intimate Thanksgiving dinner with family or friends, cocktails are not only awesome as a pre- or post-dinner option, but in many cases are the perfect complement to the traditional (heavier, richer, kind of bland) Thanksgiving meal.

New to hosting? Here are my tips (& recipes) for a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner!

10 Thanksgiving cocktails you’ll fall for

So here are ten of my favorite cocktails that I think are a perfect pairing for Thanksgiving!

Cinnamon Cranberry Whiskey Sour (With or Without Egg White)

This one is right on the nose, with cozy cranberry-spice flavors and bright jewel tones. It’s also a great way to use leftover fresh/frozen cranberries…this drink relies on a SUPER easy cinnamon cranberry simple syrup, and is the perfect sipper for Thanksgiving!

Spiced Pear Bourbon Cocktail

This drink is Thanksgiving in a glass! The spiced pear syrup is easy to make, and the juicy pear and warm cinnamon flavors combined with a boozy hit of bourbon and a hint of lemon somehow manage to be both refreshing and cozy at the same time.

“New York” Whiskey Sour (with Optional Egg White Foam)

I love a whiskey sour, and I LOVE a New York sour even more! What’s a New York sour, you ask?? It’s is a traditional whiskey sour with a red wine float on top.

The dry red wine perfectly balances the lightly-sweet and tart whiskey sour, adding extra depth and making it perfect when paired with all those rich Thanksgiving foods.

“Trouble In Paradise”: Spiced Peach Bourbon Cocktail

This is like if fall were desperately trying to cling onto summer. You’ve got a sweet, juicy peach flavor normally found in midsummer, paired with the warming notes of cinnamon and bourbon that takes us straight into fall.

This would be good with Thanksgiving dinner, but even better as a pre- or post-dinner sip!

A Perfect Amaretto Sour Cocktail (with Bourbon)

A classic amaretto sour is a thing of beauty…that slightly sweet and tart blend or a whiskey sour, paired with (IMO) almond’s amazing flavor. Amaretto always gives me a cozy vibe, and this drink is super easy to make and great addition to your Thanksgiving table.

“Preservation Punch” Whiskey Cocktail

This lovely whiskey cocktail showcases a combination of strawberry jam and balsamic vinegar, with a bit of lemon juice for brightness. It’s a delicious, balanced cocktail for Thanksgiving, as the complex flavors pair up nicely with Thanksgiving’s rich (but kind of bland) dishes.

Sage Advice: A Winter Bourbon Cocktail

I can hear some of you saying, “Whoa, no, sage does NOT belong in a cocktail.” But you’ll be shocked how delicious this is! This is like a winter-y version of a whiskey sour, bringing both spiced and herbal notes, but then also substituting lime juice for the traditional lemon.

And this sage will pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving stuffing 🙂

A Different Take on Poinsettia Punch (Berry, Lemon, Spice, & Gin)

The name may make you think I’m jumping ahead to other holidays, but trust me—this berry, lemon, and spiced gin cocktail is definitely one of my preferred Thanksgiving drinks!

Rye Port Manhattan Cocktail

The Manhattan has never been my favorite cocktail. At all. And I don’t tend to think it pairs very well with meals, particularly a heavier, richer one like a traditional Thanksgiving feast.

But I actually LOVE this particular Manhattan, which swaps ruby port for the vermouth that traditionally makes it so bitter. It’s a bit softer and complex in a different way, and I feel like its slightly lighter taste than the traditional one makes it a great option for the holiday.

Warm Spiked Apple Cider with Port & Cranberries (low ABV)

If you get hit with a cold front for Thanksgiving, this spiked cider might be your favorite Thanksgiving cocktail. It is such a delicious combination of cozy flavors, with brightness from the cranberries and orange. A mug of this will warm any cold hands!