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Thanksgiving cocktails and pours to pair with every course
The turkey, sides and pies always take center stage at Thanksgiving, whether you’re gathering with friends or family. That doesn’t mean you have to put away your cocktail shaker and pull out a few bottles of wine instead.
Cocktails and spirits can certainly have a place at your table, too. And we created Thanksgiving cocktail recipes and pours that perfectly pair with every course to truly mix things up this year.
First, a signature serve
Having a festive signature drink is one way to elevate an entire Thanksgiving gathering, while adding a little flair and showing off your own personality. As early guests who want to lend a hand in the kitchen arrive, offer them this pumpkin-take on the classic cobbler cocktail. The earthy pumpkin flavors are the perfect match for the barrel and roasted agave notes in Don Julio Reposado. After the first guests have their drinks, keep the ingredients on hand to mix up another round at any point during the meal.
Pumpkin Cobbler
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Don Julio Reposado
0.5 oz. Pumpkin Puree
0.5 oz. Cinnamon Syrup*
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
Orange Slice and Nutmeg Garnish
Instructions
1. Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake and strain into a highball glass over crushed ice.
3. Garnish with an orange slice, dusted with grated nutmeg and serve with a straw.
Serves 1
*In a saucepan, bring 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 4 crushed cinnamon sticks to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to sit overnight.
A before-dinner aperitif recipe
Aperitifs are designed to stimulate your appetite and prepare your stomach for a big meal. They are usually made with different bitters to achieve that. In this late-fall take, Johnnie Walker Black Label meets mint, fresh lemon juice and aromatic bitters – making it perfect for sipping while nibbling on appetizers.
“Pre-Meal Walk”
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Johnnie Walker Black Label
0.5 oz. Honey Syrup (2 parts honey : 1 part hot water)
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
6-8 Mint Leaves
2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters
Lemon Peel Garnish
Mint Sprig Garnish
Instructions
1. Add ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake vigorously and fine strain over ice in a rocks glass.
3. Garnish with a lemon peel and a mint sprig.
Serves 1
A cocktail for the main course
In a classic Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll typically find earthy sage flavors with winter vegetables and (of course) turkey with rich gravy. This Pimm’s cocktail plays off those flavors, and thanks to its bitter backbone (and a bit of rum), the taste of sweet maple, apple and lemon will feel balanced alongside your stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Pimm’s and Zacapa Spiked Cider
Ingredients
1 oz. Pimm’s No. 1
0.5 oz. Zacapa No. 23
2 oz. Apple Cider
0.5 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
0.5 oz. Maple Syrup
Lemon Wheel and Cinnamon Garnish
Apple Slice Garnish
Cinnamon Stick Garnish
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice cubes.
3. Garnish with a lemon wheel dusted with powdered cinnamon, an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.
Serves 1
An after-dinner digestivo
The lull in-between dinner and dessert is usually when folks start nodding off watching football, rather than spending time together. To keep things lively and settle everyone’s stomachs, get your group together for a single malt scotch tasting. Single-malt scotch is a digestivo, which is the after-dinner counterpart to aperitifs, making this part of the meal the perfect time to pour a few samples. This set includes everything you need for beginners and scotch enthusiasts alike, as the bottles are hand-selected from the Scottish Isles, and will encourage everyone to interact, rather than scroll their phones.
A drink with dessert
You can’t have dessert without coffee, especially on Thanksgiving. Instead of breaking out the French press, lean into a classy and sweet treat: an espresso martini. This one features Baileys Original Irish Cream, making it the ideal complement for apple and pumpkin pies. Plus, it comes in a convenient cocktail kit (and there is even a non-alcoholic option!) or you can mix it up yourself with the below recipe.
Baileys Espresso Martini
Ingredients
1 oz. Ketel One Vodka
1.5 oz. Baileys Original Irish Cream
1 oz. Espresso
Coffee Bean Garnish
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
3. Garnish with 3 coffee beans.
Serves 1
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