Celebrate the flavors of the season and treat your holiday guests to one of my 22 Easy Thanksgiving Cocktails. From classics like a Manhattan, to warming hot toddies, to drinks starring cranberry, apple, and pomegranate – I’ve got you covered!
My Favorite Thanksgiving Cocktail Recipes
Whether you’re entertaining for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving, treat your guests to festive Thanksgiving Cocktails to get everyone in the spirit! From a warming hot toddy or Mexican coffee, to a tart cranberry gin & tonic, to classics like an old fashioned or a whiskey sour – I’ve got you covered. And if you’re looking for a pitcher cocktail, be sure to check out my big-batch Prosecco margaritas recipe – it’s a reader favorite all year long.
Pick one of these Thanksgiving cocktail recipes to serve with appetizers, another with dessert. And peruse all the Thanksgiving recipes, to round out a delicious Thanksgiving gathering!
Why You’ll Love These Festive Ideas
Thanksgiving was founded on celebrating the harvest and blessings of the year. And the best Thanksgiving cocktails will put everyone in a celebratory mood. Here are a just a few good reasons why you should shake up a cocktail this holiday:
It makes guests feel special. Whenever we’re invited over for dinner and the host hands me a pretty cocktail after we walk in the door, I can’t help but feel special – it feels like a gift in my hand. I hope that when I hand friends and family a drink that I’ve made, that they feel special too!
Perfect for celebrating. We can always find things to be thankful for, whether we’re celebrating a literal harvest (I’m a farmgirl, after all!) or other blessings in life. And a celebratory cocktail kicks off a time of togetherness in a beautiful, delicious kind of way.
In-tune with the season. When I think of Thanksgiving and fall-flavored cocktails, my mind turns to cozier drinks made with darker liquors such as whiskey and bourbon, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. And to the fresh flavors of apple cider, cranberry, and pomegranate – plus all the beauty of citrus season, with oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes. These seasonal ingredients are where it’s at!
If you’re looking for the perfect cocktail to serve this holiday season, you’ll surely find one here. Enjoy!
22 Easy Thanksgiving Cocktails
For a festive celebration, try one of these easy Thanksgiving cocktails! From a seasonal pomegranate gin & tonic to a classic Old Fashioned, you’re sure to find something for everyone.
My latest favorite – the Bourbon Limoncello Cocktail! Just muddle fresh rosemary and lemon with honey, then add bourbon and limoncello. It’s fresh and citrusy, with a hint of smoky caramel notes from the bourbon.
Serve Salted Nut Roll Shots with slices of pie, or all on its own as a simple dessert. It's a sweet, short drink that features a caramel-dipped rim and flaky salt.
This Espresso Martini is a beautiful coffee cocktail made with just 4 ingredients. It’s strong, slightly sweet, and a little bit creamy, the perfect brunch or after-dinner drink. A coffee lovers dream!
Stock up on pomegranate juice to make this beautiful, sweet-tart Pomegranate Gin & Tonic. I love making this festive drink for pre-Thanksgiving dinner cocktails – it gets everyone in the holiday spirit!
This New York Sour is made with bourbon, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and topped with a pretty layer of red wine. It feels just right for fall and winter celebrations.
Try this twist on a traditional margarita with bourbon instead of tequila – it's so lovely for the cooler months. A Bourbon Margarita is always a welcome addition to the pre-dinner drinks selection!
I love serving warm drinks during the cold months here in Minnesota, and this soothing Hot Toddy is perfection. Serve this before or after dinner, for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, and all holiday season long!
A classic Gin & Tonic is a drink that's perfect all year 'round; it simply never goes out of style! It's light and refreshing, a beautiful palate-cleanser to serve with holiday meals.
Woodsy rosemary and tart grapefruit are the stars of this bright Rosemary Greyhound Cocktail. I love using seasonal fresh citrus for cocktails during the holidays!
This Cranberry Gin & Tonic is dressed up for the holidays with seasonal citrus and cranberries, plus sprigs of fresh thyme. It’s bright, tart, sweet, and earthy…absolutely perfect!
ThisSalty Dogcocktail is a twist on a classic greyhound that features fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, gin, and a coarse salt rim. It's crisp and refreshing, a delicious celebration of the citrus season!
This big-batch sparkling cocktail has been a year 'round favorite for a very long time. Make a pitcher of Prosecco Margaritas for your Thanksgiving celebrating!
Another pitcher cocktail recipe – Apple Sangria with Bourbon and Thyme. It's flavorful with fresh-pressed apple cider and bourbon, perfect for fall – and so pretty!
The Paloma cocktail is tart, a little bit sweet, and super refreshing – made with fresh grapefruit and lime juices, tequila, and sparkling water. I adore a grapefruit cocktail!
For this Jalapeno Mezcal Margarita, smoky mezcal is infused with fresh jalapeno for a bold and spicy margarita, then served in a chili salt rimmed glass. The smokiness is beautiful for fall – and that jalapeno will warm you up!
Celebrate the glorious citrus season with a sunny Orange Margarita. This tangy cocktail is super easy to make with just a few ingredients – and it always make people smile!
Mexican Coffee is a decadent dessert cocktail that's served hot, with tequila, Kahlua, and whipped cream. It's a super fun and beautiful way to top off your Thanksgiving meal!
