Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. With “that time of year” officially in full swing—I can practically hear the holiday music already—there are loads of opportunities to add a unique, seasonal flair to your menu via special, Thanksgiving themed cocktails.
Whether you’re a local bartender, a food business owner, or simply looking to do something interesting and boozy for the holidays this year, these 5 Thanksgiving themed drinks are sure to please.
THANKSGIVING COCKTAILS
PECAN PIE MARTINI
Add a unique twist on the classic Thanksgiving dessert this year with a pecan pie martini. Just add 2 oz. rumchata, 2 oz. creme de cocoa, and 1 oz. bourbon, et voila! Whether it’s shaken or stirred, you’ll have yourself a flavorful followup to that delicious turkey dinner. For a little extra pizazz, you can garnish your drink by dipping the glass in caramel sauce and finely chopped pecans. With a dusting of cinnamon on top, this dazzling holiday themed cocktail is ready to go.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. rumchata
- 2 oz. creme de cocoa
- 1 oz. bourbon
- Ice
- Caramel sauce
- Finely chopped pecans
- cinnamon
EMILY HLAVAC GREEN
APPLE CIDER OLD FASHIONED
Rated 2021’s most popular cocktail, the Old Fashioned is a long-time classic that belongs on any alcoholic beverage menu. This year, you can add a seasonal twist by incorporating a Thanksgiving favorite: apple cider. All it takes is ⅔ cup apple cider, 2 oz. whiskey, and 2 dashes of angostura bitters poured over ice. Mix well and garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick to provide your customers with a holiday alternative to this already beloved drink.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup apple cider
- 2 oz. whiskey
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Ice
- Apple slices
- Cinnamon stick
JON BOULTON
CRANBERRY MIMOSA
Nothing says Thanksgiving like cranberries, am I right? And for those of us who like to start the celebration early, there’s one cocktail that scratches the holiday itch better than the rest: the Cranberry Mimosa. Also known as the Poinsettia, this drink incorporates 50/50 cranberry juice and champagne. Garnish by dipping the glass in white sugar, plop in a few cranberries, a fresh sprig of rosemary, and you’ve got yourself one festive way to start the holidays.
Ingredients:
- 50% (~3 oz.) cranberry juice
- 50% (~3 oz.) champagne (or prosecco)
- Sugar
- 3-4 cranberries
- 1 rosemary sprig
GREAT PUMPKIN
Forget about Charlie Brown. There’s a new Great Pumpkin in town, and it’s really to rock your holiday menu this year. Created by PDT’s Jim Meehan, this cocktail is almost guaranteed to put your autumn in a class. How does it work? Just pour 2 oz. pumpkin ale,1 oz. apple brandy, 1 oz. rye, ½ oz. maple syrup, and 1 whole egg in a shaker, shake it up, add some ice, and strain into a chilled Fizz glass. Garnish with ground nutmeg and bam—you’ve got yourself a Great Pumpkin.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. pumpkin ale
- 1 oz. apple brandy
- 1 oz. rye
- ½ oz. maple syrup
- 1 whole egg
- Ground nutmeg
CINNAMON MAPLE WHISKY SOUR
The whiskey sour is another classic cocktail and there’s no better way to add a holiday twist than using maple syrup: a classic autumn flavor. Just experience this incredible seasonal drink, just mix 1 ½ oz bourbon, 1 oz. fresh lemon juice, a pinch of cinnamon, and 2-4 oz. of maple syrup to taste. For a hint of spice, you can add a little extra ground cinnamon or leave it alone to let the maple syrup do all the talking.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ oz. bourbon
- 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
- 2–4 Tbsp. maple syrup
- Ice
- 1 pinch ground cinnamon
CELEBRATE THE SEASON SAFELY WITH LIQUOR LIABILITY INSURANCE
There you have it: 5 Thanksgiving themed cocktails that are sure to please this holiday season. But before you add these drinks to your menu, it’s important to verify if your business has liquor liability insurance. Otherwise it could be held liable for accidents caused by individuals you served alcohol to. If you haven’t already, check out FLIP’s liquor liability insurance program. It’s high quality and affordable and takes less than ten minutes to get covered. It’s the perfect way to keep the drinks flowing with confidence this holiday season.
