Top 10 Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are planning the perfect feast, complete with festive cocktails to complement the meal. Maybe you're hosting a family gathering or looking to impress your guests with Thanksgiving cocktails at your bar or restaurant. Regardless, these Thanksgiving cocktail recipes are sure to be a hit. 

Using seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, cranberry, cinnamon, and apple cider in drinks can help embody the flavors of fall. Below, we've compiled a list of ten creative Thanksgiving cocktails for bartenders and hosts alike that will add a special touch to your holiday celebration. 

1. Pumpkin Spice Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz pumpkin liqueur
• 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
• 1 oz heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Ice
• Cinnamon stick or whipped cream for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Add vodka, pumpkin liqueur, Irish cream, heavy cream, and pumpkin pie spice.
3. Shake well until chilled.
4. Strain into a martini glass.
5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or a dollop of whipped cream. 

2. Cranberry Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz cranberry juice
• 1/2 oz lime juice
• Ginger beer
• Fresh cranberries and lime slices for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill a copper mug with ice.
2. Add vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
4. Garnish with fresh cranberries and lime slices.

3. Apple Cider Margarita

Ingredients:

• 2 oz tequila
• 1 oz triple sec
• 2 oz apple cider
• 1 oz lime juice
• Cinnamon-sugar rim
• Apple slice for garnish

Directions:

1. Rim a glass with a mix of cinnamon and sugar.
2. Fill a shaker with ice and add tequila, triple sec, apple cider, and lime juice.
3. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass over ice.
4. Garnish with an apple slice.

4. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1 oz maple syrup
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• Ice
• Cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and add bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and ground cinnamon.
2. Shake well and strain into a rock glass filled with ice.
3. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

5. Spiced Pear Collins

Ingredients:

• 2 oz pear vodka
• 1 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Club soda
• Pear slice and rosemary sprig for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and add pear vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Shake well and strain into a tall glass filled with ice.
3. Top with club soda and stir gently.
4. Garnish with a pear slice and rosemary sprig.

6. Maple Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1/2 oz maple syrup
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• Orange peel and cinnamon stick for garnish

Directions:

1. In a mixing glass, combine bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters.
2. Fill with ice and stir until well chilled.
3. Strain into a rock glass over a large ice cube.
4. Garnish with an orange peel and a cinnamon stick.

7. Pomegranate Gin Fizz

Ingredients:

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz pomegranate juice
• 1/2 oz lemon juice
• 1/2 oz simple syrup
• Club soda
• Pomegranate seeds and lemon twist for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and add gin, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with ice.
3. Top with club soda and stir gently.
4. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and a lemon twist.

8. Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients:

• 2 oz vodka
• 1 oz apple schnapps
• 1 oz butterscotch schnapps
• Caramel sauce for rimming
• Apple slice for garnish

Directions:

1. Rim a martini glass with caramel sauce.
2. Fill a shaker with ice and add vodka, apple schnapps, and butterscotch schnapps.
3. Shake well and strain into the prepared glass.
4. Garnish with an apple slice. 

9. Spiced Cranberry Punch 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup spiced rum
• 1/4 cup triple sec
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup simple syrup
• Club soda
• Cranberries and orange slices for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large pitcher, combine cranberry juice, orange juice, spiced rum, triple sec, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Stir well and chill in the refrigerator.
3. When ready to serve, pour into glasses filled with ice and top with club soda.
4. Garnish with cranberries and orange slices.

10. Pumpkin Pie Shots 

Ingredients:

• 1 oz vanilla vodka
• 1 oz Irish cream liqueur
• 1 oz pumpkin liqueur
• Whipped cream and ground nutmeg for garnish

Directions:

1. Fill a shaker with ice and add vanilla vodka, Irish cream, and pumpkin liqueur.
2. Shake well and strain into shot glasses.
3. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of ground nutmeg.

These festive fall drinks for restaurant menus and bars will impress your guests with their seasonal flavors and creative presentations. Incorporating these Thanksgiving cocktail recipes for bars into your holiday menu will elevate your service and provide a memorable experience for your patrons. 

Whether you're a bartender looking for new ideas or a host aiming to impress, these seasonal drink ideas for the Thanksgiving service are the perfect addition to your celebration. 

However, if you’re a bartender or serve and sell alcohol, make sure to do so responsibly by signing up for Alcohol Safety training from a trusted provider like TIPS. Over the past 40 years, TIPS has certified more than 5.5 million participants to sell and serve alcohol while promoting responsible drinking. Join those 5.5 million today!