5 Thanksgiving-Special Cocktails With A Festive Twist
Thanksgiving kicks off the last stretch of the holiday season in a year, ranging all the way to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. What makes Thanksgiving even more special is the fact that this festival is not just about that turkey at the centre of your feast thronged by cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, stuffing and pies, but also about the delicious drinks that you can pair with the meal. Sure, Christmas is also about that grand feast, but while it captures the essence of winters really well, Thanksgiving is all about basking in the spirit of fall season.
And what better way to do that than with some delicious, Thanksgiving-special cocktails that not only boast of yummy flavours but also add something more to your feast? To be fair, cooking up a feast on Thanksgiving can be quite hectic and nobody would quite blame you for making do with a hot toddy or mulled wine for the occasion—after all, these go with the spirit of the festivities in any case. But to make the occasion truly memorable, you should absolutely try to whip up some of these incredible Thanksgiving-themed cocktails with a festive twist.
Truth be told, making these Thanksgiving-special cocktails isn’t that difficult. All you need to do is get a few cocktail basics, your favourite alcoholic beverage and then get the recipes right to make the perfect Thanksgiving cocktails.
Sage And Pear Old Fashioned
What you first need for this one is a really good bourbon, so select an intensely smooth bourbon like Royal Challenge American Pride. Mix in 50ml of the bourbon with 75ml of pear nectar and 25ml of sage syrup to create a cocktail with an earthy, fragrant note. Of course, the addition of pear nectar is bound to add a bit of sweetness to the beverage, but you can easily offset that with a dash of bitters. Don’t forget to garnish this twist on an Old Fashioned with sage leaves or pear wedges.
Gingerbread White Russian
If gingerbread cookies capture the essence of the holiday season for you, then this Gingerbread White Russian is simply perfect. For this vodka-based cocktail, pick a dependable distilled vodka like Ketel One or Smirnoff and mix 50ml of it with 25ml each of coffee liqueur and cream. Add a bit of gingerbread syrup if you can lay your hands on some, or simply garnish your drink with a thin slice of ginger. Yes, a sip of this cocktail feels like the taste of gingerbread cookies in liquid form.
Pumpkin Spiced Dark And Stormy
Pumpkin pie, dark rum and the spicy aroma of ginger and cinnamon make this Thanksgiving cocktail just the best thing to sip on during the holiday season. You simply need to get 50ml of a good rum, like Captain Morgan, and mix it up with 25ml of pumpkin spice syrup and 100ml of non-alcoholic ginger beer. Serve this one with a cinnamon stick and a squeeze of lime for the perfect blend of flavours.
Maple Cranberry Smash
Is Thanksgiving ever complete without a taste of cranberries? Of course not! And that means adding those red fruits to your cocktails to turn them into a true holiday special! To make a Maple Cranberry Smash, take 50ml of Tanqueray and mix it up with a handful of muddled cranberries. Now add in 15ml each of maple syrup and lemon juice along with some club soda and mix everything well. This cocktail is the most delicious blend of tartness and sweetness.
Smoked Maple Bourbon Punch
Fall season is all about watching those maple leaves turn orange-gold and relishing the tastes of a good punch at a gathering. So, this Smoked Maple Bourbon Punch suits the weather and the occasion of Thanksgiving perfectly well. Just take 250ml of Royal Challenge American Pride and mix it with 50ml of smoked maple syrup, 200ml of apple cider and a bit of lemon juice and cinnamon powder. Smoky, spicy and warm, this holiday punch is the perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving feasts and bonfires.
