Copper Moscow mule mug filled with a cranberry mule
Food & Drink

Thanksgiving Drinks to Complement Your Dinner

Explore delicious alcoholic and non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drinks to accompany your dinner

November 25, 2020

Turkey. Mashed potatoes. Stuffing. Cranberry sauce. Food is undoubtedly the star of the show on Thanksgiving, which means that Thanksgiving drinks often take a backseat. But why should they? There are a lot of really fun Thanksgiving drink concoctions out there that deserve a spot next to the turkey platter—or at least on the folding table next to the table that holds the turkey platter. 

Here’s a list of some of our favorite Thanksgiving drink recipes to inspire you for Turkey Day. To accommodate all tastes and age groups, we have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drink ideas. 

Thanksgiving Drinks: Alcoholic

Buttered Rum

2 glasses filled with hot buttered rum

Source: Delish

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: 2h 20 min, including time to chill 

Drinking butter seems very appropriate for a holiday that promotes overeating. This hot, buttery rum drink sounds wild, but we promise it’s lip-smacking good. Plus, if you follow this recipe and mix together a separate batter ahead of time, all you have to do is heat up cider the day of Thanksgiving, add rum and serve. 

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Cranberry Mimosas

3 champagne flutes filled with cranberry mimosas

Source: Delish

Prep time: 10 min

Total time: 10 min

A mimosa is the perfect drink if you’re serving Thanksgiving brunch, particularly if it’s dressed up with some cranberry juice, fresh cranberries and a sprig of rosemary. Don’t forget to rim the glass with sugar for a faux snow effect. 

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Caramel Apple Mimosas

3 champagne flutes filled with caramel apple mimosas

Source: Delish

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: 5 min

With cider, caramel vodka, sugar and caramel, this mimosa is delicious. But we will warn you that you’ll want to lick the caramel off the rim of your glass, so maybe save this cocktail for intimate Thanksgiving get-togethers with close friends or family

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Cranberry Mules

Copper Moscow mule mug filled with a cranberry mule

Source: Delish

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: 5 min

This spin on a traditional Moscow mule gets a little festive for Thanksgiving with the addition of cranberries. The red berries look quite pretty floating at the top of the cocktail, so if you care about Thanksgiving aesthetics, this drink’s for you.

Note: this particular recipe calls for 1/4 cup of lime juice, which may be a bit too citrusy for some, so we recommend starting with 1 tablespoon and adding more to taste.

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Apple Pie Bourbon Shots

Mason jar shot glasses with apple pie bourbon shots next to an apple pie

Source: Delish

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: about 2 days, including time to infuse 

If your family or friends really like to party, then you need to try these apple pie bourbon shots. They’re fun but also fancier than your typical shot, making them perfect for a holiday gathering where everyone wears nice clothes. Just don’t forget to make these a few days ahead of Thanksgiving, as it takes a bit of time to infuse your own bourbon. 

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  • Bourbon

  • Chopped apples

  • Sugar cubes

  • Nutmeg

  • Cinnamon sticks

  • Fresh ginger

Maple Bourbon Cocktail

Rocks glass with maple bourbon cocktail

Source: Jelly Toast

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: 5 min

Maple syrup on pancakes? Of course. In candy and sweets? We’re on board. What about in drinks? Maple cocktails are becoming increasingly common because they’re both playful and delicious, especially when paired with bourbon. This particular drink will warm your belly up long before you sit down for a hot Thanksgiving dinner. 

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Pear & Thyme Fizz

Flute glass with pear & thyme fizz

Source: Camille Styles

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: about 2 hours, including time to chill

If you’re looking for a light Thanksgiving libation, may we suggest this refreshment. The sweet notes of apple juice and pear balance out the bitter notes of orange liqueur and fresh thyme. And the sparkling wine rounds it all out with some cheerful bubbles. 

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Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate

Spiced Mexican hot chocolate in mugs

Source: Country Living

Prep time: 10 min

Total time: 10 min

This post-dinner drink deliciously accompanies everything from pumpkin and pecan pie to apple crisp cheesecake. It might sound like too much sugar, but the bourbon and dark chocolate help cut through the sweetness. 

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Pumpkin Spice White Russian

Pumpkin spice white Russian in a glass with a cookie rim

Source: Country Living

Prep time: 10 min

Total time: 10 min

With its crumbled gingersnap rim, heavy cream and coffee liqueur, this ultra-sweet drink works well as a standalone Thanksgiving dessert. But because Thanksgiving Day is about indulgence, we recommend pairing it with all the pies and cookies and worrying about the consequences later.

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Thanksgiving Jungle Juice

Punchbowl & glasses filled with Thanksgiving jungle juice

Source: Delish

Prep time: 10 min

Total time: 10 min

Before you get scared, just know that this is not your typical college party jungle juice. It’s sophisticated jungle juice. Yes, that’s a thing, and it consists of red wine, whiskey, cranberry juice, cranberries and ginger ale.

And OK, sure, it has Fireball in it, but that’s for taste. Plus, this version has cut-up fruit in it, making it similar to a sangria—and that’s something you never would have had in college unless you spent a semester abroad in Barthelona

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Thanksgiving Drinks: Non-Alcoholic

Pumpkin Shrub with Club Soda or Ginger Beer

Glass with pumpkin shrub drink next to pumpkin

Source: Serious Eats

Prep time: 15 min

Total time: about 24 hours, including time to chill overnight 

Crafting your own pumpkin shrub takes a little bit of time and effort, but the result is a vinegary, pumpkin-flavored bomb that will keep in the fridge long after the loose-pants season is over. Serve the shrub cold with soda water or ginger beer. 

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Sparkling Apple Cider

Glass pitcher with sparkling apple cider & apple slices

Source: Gather for Bread

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: 5 min

Upgrade a basic glass of cider with the addition of sparkling water, fresh apple slices and cinnamon sticks for a festive non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drink. This recipe is super adaptable, so feel free to make it with apple juice or cider and your choice of flavored or unflavored sparkling water. 

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Sage Tea

Glass mug of sage tea

Source: The Spruce Eats

Prep time: 5 min

Total time: 35 min

This unexpected herbal tea makes use of an herb that frequently appears in Thanksgiving dishes, making it a perfect complement to your dinner. Lemon and sugar help balance sage’s herbaceous, piney flavor, but the tea can also be made plain by simply boiling water and steeping fresh sage leaves for about 30 minutes.

We suggest doing it the easy way if you’re hosting, as you’ll have much more important things to worry about, like vacuuming the dog.

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  • Fresh sage leaves 

  • Sugar

  • Lemon

Virgin Cranberry Basil Sangria

Glass pitcher & mugs with virgin cranberry basil sangria

Source: Delish

Prep time: 10 min

Total time: 10 min

You won’t miss the wine in this virgin sangria, a tangy blend of cranberry juice, seltzer and a freshly juiced orange crowned with pretty seasonal fruit. The addition of basil adds a pop of herbal flavor. 

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Sparkling Blood Orange Rosemary Water

Glass milk jar with sparkling blood orange rosemary water

Source: A Couple Cooks

Prep time: 15 min

Total time: 15 min

This stylish drink, which gets its gorgeous ruby color from freshly squeezed blood oranges, looks especially lovely on Thanksgiving tables, so don’t forget to snap a pic for the ’Gram. Despite its bold color, the flavor is quite mild, meaning it won’t overpower any of your favorite dishes. 

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  • alcohol
  • cocktails
  • drinks
  • thanksgiving
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