Holidays & Occasions Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Recipes 32 Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes We Can All Be Grateful For By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is an Associate Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 25, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Thanksgiving is all about being grateful. Of course, we're especially thankful for the food on the table. After piling roasted turkey, countless Thanksgiving side dishes, and plentiful pies on our plates, we never leave a holiday gathering any less than uncomfortably full. But there's one thing you should never forget to serve on Thanksgiving and that's an amazing cocktail. With these delicious and festive recipes, your drink menu won't be an afterthought. Don't settle for a cooler of beer this year. Instead, step up your drink game with these incredible concoctions. From bourbon to rum and sparkling to spiced, these cocktails will get the party started. Serve up some fall flavor with our favorite spiked cider recipes, and ensure everyone gets a glass with big-batch recipes. Whether your family likes to celebrate Thanksgiving with brunch, football watching, or a formal dinner, there's a recipe here that will fit the bill. These are the best cocktails for celebrating with family and friends. 01 of 32 Thanksgiving Rum Punch Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living Recipe: Thanksgiving Rum Punch This spiced holiday punch will ensure every guest has a good time. 02 of 32 Cranberry Sangría Punch Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Cranberry Sangría Punch Fresh cranberries and Granny Smith apples take this cocktail into holiday mode. 03 of 32 Aperol Bourbon Fizz Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Aperol-Bourbon Fizz If your family loves bourbon cocktails, warm up to this sipper this Thanksgiving. 04 of 32 Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch This herb-infused cocktail has cozy fall flavors but is still refreshingly cold. 05 of 32 Spiced Hard Cider Fizz Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Spiced Hard Cider Fizz This fizzy cocktail is perfect for Thanksgiving because of fall flavor from spiced simple syrup and apple cider. 06 of 32 Fizzy Cider Punch Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Fizzy Cider Punch Replace mimosas with this holiday-ready cocktail at Thanksgiving brunch. 07 of 32 Hot Toddy Micah A. Leal Recipe: Hot Toddy If Thanksgiving is going to be a cold one, warm your guests up with the comfort of an old-school Hot Toddy. 08 of 32 Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine Southern-favorite Cheerwine gets party-ready with this fun cocktail recipe. 09 of 32 Spiced Orange-Bourbon Punch Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Spiced Orange-Bourbon Punch This holiday punch recipe has a high yield, so be sure you invite plenty of guests to help empty the punch bowl. 10 of 32 Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch This drink recipe was made to serve a crowd, so it's perfect for a big holiday gathering. 11 of 32 Aperol and Blood Orange-Mint Spritz Peter Frank Edwards Recipe: Aperol and Blood Orange-Mint Spritz This sparkling cocktail will be the star at your gathering. 12 of 32 Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Big-Batch Cajun Lemonade Citron, or lemon-flavored vodka, adds extra lemon tang to this cocktail that's sure to transport you to Cajun country in just one sip. 13 of 32 Sparkling Caramel-Apple Sangria Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Katie Jacobs Recipe: Sparkling Caramel-Apple Sangria Our favorite fall flavors are transformed into a big-batch cocktail with this recipe from entertaining expert Katie Jacobs. 14 of 32 French 75 Southern Living Recipe: French 75 This classic cocktail will be gorgeous alongside a dressy Thanksgiving dinner. 15 of 32 Rum Swizzles Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Thom Driver; Food Stylist: Tina Stamos Recipe: Rum Swizzles Whether you make Rum Swizzles for two or a big batch cocktail for a crowd, this drink is sure to shake up happy hour. 16 of 32 Bacon-Infused Bourbon Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Bacon-Infused Bourbon We really don't have to say much else to convince you to make this cocktail than "bacon" and "bourbon." 17 of 32 Big Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Big Batch Bourbon Ginger Ale Punch Don't waste time mixing individual cocktails on your holiday. Make this big-batch drink recipe and be done with it. 18 of 32 Cranberry Mojito Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Cranberry Mojito This refreshing cocktail recipe proves mojitos aren't reserved for the summer. 19 of 32 Maple Bourbon Smash Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Maple Bourbon Smash We love using maple syrup in our fall baking recipes, so of course it's amazing in a fall cocktail recipe. 20 of 32 Bourbon and Hard Pear Cider Cocktail Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Bourbon and Hard Pear Cider Cocktail This sweet, smooth cocktail features two types of homemade simple syrup. 21 of 32 Big Batch Bloody Marys Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Big-Batch Bloody Marys If you have a big family, this is the best way to serve Bloody Marys to a crowd. 22 of 32 Sparkling Pomegranate Punch Laurey W. Glenn Recipe: Sparkling Pomegranate Punch The pomegranate ice ring makes for the most impressive presentation. 23 of 32 The Southern Living Bloody Mary Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Mary Claire Britton Recipe: The Southern Living Bloody Mary You can't go wrong with Bloody Marys at brunch or lunch. 24 of 32 Mississippi Bourbon Punch Photo: Ralph Anderson Recipe: Mississippi Bourbon Punch Muscadine wine stars in this big-batch punch recipe. 25 of 32 Basil Bourbon Orange Smash Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Basil Bourbon Orange Smash Bright citrus and bourbon are a match made in cocktail heaven with this sipper. 26 of 32 Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail Southern Living Recipe: Pomegranate Champagne Cocktail Ruby red pomegranate juice adds a festive touch to your champagne toast. 27 of 32 Retro Rum Punch Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Retro Rum Punch This retro punch has a short ingredient list and high yield—perfect for parties. 28 of 32 Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy Our riff on the hot toddy cocktail makes a comforting after-dinner drink. 29 of 32 Apple Pie-Bourbon Sweet Tea Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Apple Pie-Bourbon Sweet Tea Apple pie, bourbon, and sweet tea are three of Southerners' favorite things, so of course we made a refreshing drink recipe that combines them. Our Apple Pie-Infused Bourbon tastes amazing on the rocks, too. 30 of 32 Ambrosia Cocktail Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Ambrosia Cocktail Many Southerners serve traditional ambrosia at holiday gatherings, and this fruity cocktail is our new favorite way to do so. 31 of 32 Rosemary Collins Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Rosemary Collins Fresh rosemary sprigs make the prettiest holiday garnishes. 32 of 32 Montgomery Punch Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Montgomery Punch This festive punch recipe from Montgomery, Alabama, is poured over a fruity ice ring for beautiful presentation. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit