Cheers to Thanksgiving: Festive Cocktails to Elevate Your Holiday Celebration

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Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, sharing gratitude, and, of course, indulging in delicious food and drink. While the turkey and sides might take center stage, the right cocktail can elevate your celebration to a whole new level. From cozy, spiced libations to refreshing twists on classics, these Thanksgiving-inspired drinks will delight your guests and keep the festive spirit flowing all day long. Whether you’re mixing up a pre-dinner aperitif or a decadent dessert drink, we’ve got you covered with cocktails that pair perfectly with the flavors of the season. Cheers to a memorable Thanksgiving!

  • 2 oz. Argonaut Fat Thumb Brandy

  • 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth

  • 2 dashes of Orange Bitters

  • Argonaut Brandied Cherry

  • Splash of Club Soda

  • Garnish: Expressed Orange Peel or Brandied Cherry

  • Glassware: Coupe

Add ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice, and stir together to combine / chill. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with expressed orange peel and a brandied cherry.

Pumpkin Spice Spritz

Cover rim of stemless wine glass in simple syrup. Dip in cinnamon sugar and add ice to glass. Pour in the pumpkin spice liqueur and Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc. Stir then top off the glass with seltzer.

Optional: Garnish with skewer of gummy pumpkin candies

Fat Washed Gin Old Fashioned

For the fat-washed gin:

  • 2 cups Staple Gin 

  • 1/3 cup worth of the fat from your turkey drippings or use chicken or duck fat

Add the turkey or duck fat and gin to a jar or container. Seal the jar and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for 2-4 hours (or overnight). Place the jar in the freezer for at least 2 hours, or until the fat has solidified. Remove the jar from the freezer and skim off the solidified fat. Strain the gin through a very fine strainer (or a cheesecloth or coffee filter would be even better) into a clean container. It is now ready to use in cocktails. 

To make the Gin Old Fashioned:

  • 2 ounces turkey/duck fat-washed gin 

  • .25oz. simple syrup

  • 2-3 dashes orange bitters

  • Garnish: orange twist

Add the gin, simple syrup, and bitters into an ice-filled mixing glass and stir until well-chilled. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass or over one large ice cube. Garnish with an orange twist.

Halloween cocktails

The Warm and Toasty

Recipe:

  • 1.5 Santa Teresa 1796

  • 0.5 Smoky Rhubarb Amaro

  • 0.25 Cherry Herring

  • 1 Martini Sweet Vermouth

  • 2 dashes of orange bitters

Method: Stir and strain into a coupe garnish with an orange peel and brandied cherry.

Proper Cider (6 servings)

Combine the warm apple cider and Proper No. Twelve in a large pitcher or pot. Stir well to mix. Pour into individual glasses and garnish with a cinnamon stick in each glass (if desired).

Party Punch

  • 2 Cups Dos Hombres Mezcal 

  • 1 ½ Cups Pomegranate Juice 

  • ½ Cup Fresh Orange Juice 

  • ¼ Cup Lime Juice 

  • ⅛ Cup Orgeat Syrup 

  • 2 Cups Blood Orange Soda

Add all ingredients to a punch bowl, add ice, stir to incorporate. Garnish with orange slices, lime slices, and pomegranate seeds. Enjoy with friends!

Autumn Sangria from Francis Ford Coppola Winery

• 1 bottle of Diamond Collection Chardonnay

  • 4 cinnamon sticks

  • 2 apples, chopped

  • 2 pears, chopped

  • 2 plums, chopped

  • 3 cups apple cider

  • 1 cup club soda

  • 1/2 cup bourbon

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Place fruits, wine, apple cider, club soda, maple syrup and bourbon into a large pitcher and stir to combine. Set in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours or overnight. Serve over ice.