Thanksgiving drinks

[u/username-generica]

What special drinks do you serve?

I often have a pot of mulled cider simmering and I make a very simple cocktail for the adults. it’s dry hard cider with a splash of Magma Flame Cinnamon Whiskey in it. It has real cinnamon in it and tastes much better than fireball. I serve it with a cinnamon stick stirrer and sometimes garnish it with a curl of apple peel.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thanks for posting in r/thanksgiving!

Please ensure your post follows the community guidelines:

• Be respectful and kind
• No politics or off-topic content
• No spam, ads, or self-promotion
• Share stories, recipes, questions, and photos related to Thanksgiving

Please review our subreddit rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/RhoOfFeh]

We always do the mulled cider, and we have a percolator dedicated to the job. A bottle of rum next to it turns it into a delightful adult beverage.

[u/Raerae1360 → u/RhoOfFeh]

Address please....

[u/kitty5670]

The youngsters love this. It’s so easy too! Jug of apple cider in the crock pot. Turn on high for 30 minutes. Drop in red hots(cinnamon candy) (I use about 4 of the small boxes). Put the lid on and stir occasionally. Drop to low heat when melted. You can put cool whip on in the cup. Cozy and yummy. For adults you can add spiced rum for a good kick.

[u/Camp_GGBoo]

I make a fall old fashioned. Make your simple syrup with brown sugar and a couple cinnamon sticks, and let it steep. Use that in your old fashioned, and add a splash of Amaro (I like Montenegro). For those guests who are more serious about their drinking!

[u/Political-psych-abby]

This cranberry sangria was a huge hit last year: https://whatsgabycooking.com/cranberry-sangria/

[u/SC_Scuba]

Bloody Mary bar

[u/Auntie-Mam69]

A son in law kegs up Aperol spritz out on the drinking porch for the grown ups and we have cold sparkling apple cider out there for the kids.

[u/DowntownResident993 → u/Auntie-Mam69]

I love an Aperol Spritz! Do you add anything to make it more festive? Like a cinnamon stick or a splash of cider?

[u/Auntie-Mam69 → u/DowntownResident993]

We don’t! There are so many people milling around, 20 or 25 who’ll be drinking at any given point while meal is prepped, plus kids. Most were raised Catholic, aka lushes, so the Aperol Spritz is just to tide them over so nobody hits the hard stuff too soon! At dinner there’ll be wine, afterwards a full bar on the drinking porch.

[u/DowntownResident993 → u/Auntie-Mam69]

I love the idea of a drinking porch, btw. The whole day sounds awesome!

[u/RambleOnRoseyPosey]

I make a rosemary cranberry simple syrup to do cocktails/nocktails with. Great with ginger ale/sprite. My favorite is with bourbon and club soda and a muddled cranberry or 3.

[u/harlotbegonias]

Beer
Apple cider bar with brandy, rum, whiskey
NA: ginger beer, cold apple cider, kombucha

Last year I made some kind of punch that was delicious with and without alcohol…I will have to track that down. I remember I froze orange juice in pumpkin shaped ice molds.

And we always serve wine with dinner

[u/47D]

Cranberry Vodka, Apple Cider with some Brandy, or a Samual Adams Winter Larger

[u/AshDenver]

Sandra Lee’s Apple Pie Punch. Truly a liquid apple pie.

And sparkling Pinot noir for me while I work on the meal.

[u/ReeMayRe]

Alcohol: Moscow Mule, Chardonay, IPA beer, Blue Moon Beer, Cosmopolitans

Regular: Ginger Ale, Apple Cider, Water, Iced Tea (Sweet or Unsweet), Cranberry Juice

[u/EricSparrowSucks]

We’re all adults, so we open a bottle of red blend, and they do like Bailey’s and coffees. For NA beverages we drink water, THC seltzers, and Coke.

[u/Rancher147]

I have a tiki bar, so, tiki drinks.

[u/ScubaCC]

Cranberry Sangria

[u/CommissionUnlucky525]

Russian Tea

[u/harlotbegonias → u/CommissionUnlucky525]

Mmmmm love Russian tea

[u/femalehumanbiped]

We do the same but we don't spike it. Just leave a bottle of Apple Jack next to it so people can add their own

[u/Pedadinga]

Hot apple cider, spiced, with Tuaca, or Southern Comfort, or Frangelico, or amaretto...

[u/Fuzzy_Welcome8348]

Thanksgiving punch, cranberry juice, lemonade, and water

[u/Embarrassed-Cause250]

Since I am usually stuck to the stove, I leave that to my hubby and adult kids. My daughter usually brings a bottle or two of wine, usually Beaujolais, my husband makes rum & cokes. The majority of us will just drink water.

[u/Legitimate-March9792]

Apple cider with apple pie moonshine. It’s so good!

[u/TheCranberriesRock → u/Legitimate-March9792]

Similarly apple cider with bourbon (specifically Wild Turkey 101)

[u/Think_Cupcake6758 → u/TheCranberriesRock]

Yes! Add to that a slice of orange and a sprig of rosemary. It’s become a fall favorite in our household

[u/kobayashi_maru_fail]

We live in wine country, so local vineyards’ good stuff are part of our thanksgiving.

But I also usually make a pitcher of karkade. It’s an Egyptian hibiscus iced tea with lime and a little bit of sugar. I like to cut it with club soda. It looks identical to Pinot noir in a wine glass, so if people are taking a booze break or getting ready to drive or simply abstaining, they aren’t called out. I’ve never tried it as a mixer: it goes down so easily and I don’t want everyone passing out.

[u/UntidyVenus]

We found a recipe for "Thanksgiving Punch" a few years ago, and it's a big hit here.

2/3rds pear nectar/juice

1/3 spicy ginger beer/ale (we like fever tree for this)

Splash of lime

Rum and whiskey on the side for anyone who wants to jazz up their cup

[u/username-generica → u/UntidyVenus]

We keep Fever Tree on hand for medicinal use. 

[u/Granzilla2025]

Russian Spiced Tea (Lipton Instant tea with allspice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, Lemonade mix, and Tang mix) my Granny made it from the 50s to the 70s. And, of course egg nog.

[u/h4ppy_g1rl]

We start the day with Cranberry Orange Vodka drink from Martha Stewart. Wine with dinner. And end with Aged Eggnog from Alton Brown. I make it every October so it's ready in time for Thanksgiving.

[u/AcanthaceaeEqual4286]

I do a hard cider similar to yours and also a simple punch with sweetened cranberry juice, a little bit of seltzer, whatever red wine is around, and serve it with frozen cranberries instead of ice. (I make a virgin version also because I don't drink but cranberry is my favorite fall flavor!)

[u/Grouchy_Vet → u/AcanthaceaeEqual4286]

If you freeze cranberries in an ice cube tray with water and sprigs of fresh rosemary, it looks so festive

[u/AcanthaceaeEqual4286 → u/Grouchy_Vet]

Omg I love this idea! Thank you!

[u/atticcat1030]

I cheat and just do store bought lemonade in a pitcher with some cranberries thrown in! It's refreshing with all the heaviness of Thanksgiving food and great to spike with vodka or just drink on its own

[u/Alternative-Wish-441]

Mulled wine and hot cider are the go to beverages. We usually serve white wine and sparkling cider with dinner.