50+ Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes Guests Will Be Grateful For

By Mary Shannon Wells
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox
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. 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.
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Add These Delicious Cocktails to Your Thanksgiving Drink Menu

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Thanksgiving Rum Punch

Photo: Alison Gootee; Styling: Suzonne Stirling

Recipe: Thanksgiving Rum Punch

This spiced holiday punch will ensure every guest has a good time.

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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.

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Cranberry Sangría Punch

Photo: 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.

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Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine

Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Cherry Bourbon Cheerwine

Southern-favorite Cheerwine gets party-ready with this fun cocktail recipe.

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Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch

Photo: 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.

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Cranberry Margaritas

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cranberry Margaritas

Margaritas? In the winter? With this cheerful recipe, absolutely.

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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.

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Zesty Bloody Mary

Southern Living

Recipe: Zesty Bloody Mary

Leave the mix behind and impress everyone at your Thanksgiving lunch with this fun homemade Bloody Mary recipe.

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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.”

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Clementine Whiskey Sour

Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Recipe: Clementine Whiskey Sour

Your guests will fall in love with this fresh twist on a classic whiskey sour.

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Cranberry Mojito

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Mojito

This refreshing cocktail recipe proves mojitos aren’t reserved for the summer.

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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.

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Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Sparkling Pomegranate Punch

The pomegranate ice ring makes for the most impressive presentation.

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The Southern Living Bloody Mary

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: The Southern Living Bloody Mary

You can’t go wrong with Bloody Marys at brunch or lunch. Don’t forget to check out our best tips for making your own Bloody Mary bar.

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The Corduroy Jacket

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: The Corduroy Jacket

Sparkling apple cider brings this pretty drink into Thanksgiving mode.

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Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Muscadine wine stars in this big-batch punch recipe.

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Aperol Bourbon Fizz

Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Aperol-Bourbon Fizz

If your family loves bourbon cocktails, warm up to this sipper this Thanksgiving.

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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.

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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.

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Sparkling Autumn Chianti

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sparkling Autumn Chianti

This fruity fall drink has pears, apples, and plums in it.

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Spiced Wine

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Spiced Wine

We’ll cozy up with this soothing cocktail full of warm spices.

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Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Hot Bourbon-Orange Tea Toddy

Our riff of the hot toddy cocktail makes a comforting after-dinner drink.

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Fizzy Cider Punch

Photo: 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.

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Sorghum-Cider Punch

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sorghum-Cider Punch

This punch recipe tastes like fall in every sip, so it’s perfect for Thanksgiving.

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Apple, Lemon, and Gin Shandy

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Apple, Lemon, and Gin Shandy

This refreshing sipper is perfect for Thanksgiving gatherings that are also football watch parties.

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Apple Butter Sparklers

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Apple Butter Sparklers

This fall cocktail is an unexpectedly delicious way to use our homemade Easy Apple Butter.

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Orange Spiced Cider

Southern Living

Recipe: Orange Spiced Cider

You can make batches of this warm apple cider for the adults and the kids, just don’t forget to label properly which is which.

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Hot and Cold Bourbon Ginger Slush

Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Hot and Cold Bourbon Ginger Slush

If your family likes everything with a hint of heat, this fun cocktail recipe has red pepper jelly and a touch of cayenne.

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Spiced Orange-Bourbon Punch

Photo: 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.

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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.

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Maple Bourbon Smash

Becky Luigart Stayner