30 Best Thanksgiving Cocktails & Festive Drink Ideas

When I started looking for Thanksgiving cocktails, I didn’t expect to find much of anything. 

Maybe an apple martini or cranberry margarita would be nice, or some warm cup of something spiced.

I should’ve known better! 

The kings and queens of online food blogs have plenty of sweet, warm, spiced, and festive cocktails to get us through the long holiday weekend. 

This list is full of 30 fun cocktail recipes, and I just know you’ll want to try them all. 

1. Pecan Pie Martini

I’m a sucker for a good cocktail but tend to opt for those with fruity flavors and colorful umbrellas. So, I’m not always a fan of creamy alcohol.

Still, this pecan pie martini won me over at the first sip.

Before this, I didn’t even know you could get pecan-flavored vodka! But you can, and it tastes phenomenal mixed with Irish cream, vanilla vodka, and heavy cream.

2. Apple Cider Mimosas

I’ve been to my fair share of bottomless mimosa brunches. Of course, I usually opt for blueberry juice with my bubbles.

I can’t believe I never thought to put apple cider in the glass!

This tastes like amped-up sparkling cider. The apple flavor is way more pronounced, and I love how the thicker cider blends with the sparkling wine.

This will be my go-to Thanksgiving morning drink from now on.

3. Pomegranate Mule

Looking for Thanksgiving drink ideas that put new spins on old classics? Try the pomegranate Moscow mule.

It’s just as crisp and refreshing as the traditional Moscow mule. But it comes with a tangy, fruity pomegranate boost.

Don’t worry, though! It doesn’t make the drink overly sweet. If anything, it might even have a bit more of a bite!

4. Spiced Cranberry Hot Toddy

Hot toddies are usually full of whiskey, honey, and a plethora of warm spices. Served hot, it’s the perfect winter warmer after a long day.

This stunning toddy takes that warmth and gives it a fruity twist.

You’ll use bourbon, which is sweeter than whiskey. You’ll also add a small orange to the pot to complement the slightly tart cranberries.

5. Spiced Pear Gin Fizz

The spiced pear gin fizz is one of my favorite cocktails for Thanksgiving. It’s crisp and citrusy with loads of spices and a lovely pear flavor.

Couple that with a spiced and sugared rim, and you’ve got a drink that no one can resist. Plus, it just looks incredible. It’ll be the star of any drinks table.

6. 3-Ingredient Pomegranate Ginger Smash

Since this cocktail uses vodka and ginger beer, you could get away with calling it a pomegranate mule.

No matter what name you use, it’s still vibrant and fresh, using 100% pomegranate juice for its big, bold taste. 

7. Pumpkin Spice White Russian Cocktail

This drink speaks to the basic pumpkin spice latte lover in me!

I can’t help what I love, and I’ll choose flannel and pumpkin spice any day of the week.

But this isn’t just pumpkin spice creamer with vodka. It’s like an icy, boozy pumpkin spice latte, thanks to the coffee liquor in the mix.

I can’t know for sure, but I’d wager it’s the Dude’s favorite fall drink.

8. Cranberry Caipirinha

The Caipirinha (pronounced kye-pea-reen-yuh) is a classic Brazilian cocktail dating back to the 19th century. It typically contains cachaça, lime, sugar, and ice.

This version retails all that but also adds cranberry simple syrup and fresh cranberries.

The result is a semi-sweet, totally festive drink for the holiday season.

9. Honey Ginger French 75

The French 75 uses gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar, making it a kind of adult lemonade.

It gets its name from the 75mm Howitzer field gun from WWI. A gun with incredible accuracy and speed.

Similarly, the cocktail gives you quite the kick after just a few sips.

For this particular variation, you’ll substitute ginger honey simple syrup for the sugar. It still packs quite the punch, though!

10. Pear Aperol Spritz Cocktail Recipe

We all tend to think of apples and pumpkins during the colder months, but pear is just as tasty and partners so well with warm spices.

You’ll need to muddle some pear slices with lemon juice, simple syrup, and vanilla extract to get that unique flavor.

But if you enjoy this pairing, why not make pear-infused simple syrup instead? 

11. Cranberry Apple Sangria

No doubt you’ve tried sangria before, but did you know you can make some excellent Thanksgiving cocktails with it?

This festive recipe takes the idea of sangria and turns it on its head. It uses apples, cranberries, oranges, cinnamon, and cloves.

You’ll use ​​pinot grigio for the base, which has lovely hints of lime, pear, and green apple. The final product is lip-smackingly good.

12. Hot Buttered Rum

I love, Love, LOVE hot buttered rum! I’d drink it all fall and winter long if I could. (Whew. Can you imagine?! That’d be one heck of a boozy season!)

Honestly, though, it’s so warm, comforting, and soothing. It tastes spectacular and even has medicinal qualities.

Make a batch as part of your Thanksgiving drinks, or just make one for yourself to enjoy before bed. Either way, it’s perfect.

13. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

I enjoy a good whiskey sour, but I nearly always have it with bourbon and orange juice. Unfortunately, my sweet tooth isn’t a huge fan of whiskey.

That said, this one does include some lovely, sweet maple syrup, so it’s just right for me.

Play with the lemon juice to maple syrup ratios to suit your tastes specifically.

14. Spiced Citrus Mulled Wine

Mulled wine is the quintessential Thanksgiving cocktail recipe. It’s warm, sweet, strong, and bursting with incredible flavor.

It’s also super easy to make in a big batch to serve a crowd.

As the name suggests, red wine is the base for this drink. I like to go for something fruity to complement the citrus.

You’ll also use apple cider and orange juice to lighten it up a little.

15. Irish Coffee

Irish coffee is another cocktail like hot buttered rum that I could literally drink all season long. (Can you tell I have a thing for hot, tummy-warming drinks?)

And this specific Irish coffee recipe is my favorite. It has just the right amount of everything so that the flavors blend seamlessly. I give it 11/10.

16. Toasted Pecan Old-Fashioned

An old-fashioned is a pretty grown-up drink that I didn’t like for the longest time.

It’s mostly whiskey with some sugar and bitters, with a splash of water to mellow it out. The alcohol is very prominent.

It’s typically the kind of drink you grow into as your tastebuds mature.

This version, though, uses pecan-infused whiskey, making it an instant hit, no matter your tastebuds’ maturity level.

17. Chocolate Almond Autumn Negroni

Negronis can be pretty bracing drinks. They’re extremely dry and can even be somewhat bitter, depending on the recipe.

This Negroni is no exception, but I really like it nonetheless.

It features chocolate and almond liqueurs and chocolate bitters. They pair nicely with the gin, Campari, and vermouth.

It’s a hard drink to describe, but it’s well worth trying.

18. Maple Old-Fashioned

Many people will add a teaspoon of sugar to their old-fashioned to help cut through the bitterness. But using maple syrup is kind of genius.

The syrup gives this drink hints of vanilla, caramel, and sometimes prunes. If maple isn’t your thing, try honey or agave nectar instead.

It’s a quick and easy drink that you’ll definitely want to add to your Thanksgiving cocktail recipes.

19. Apple Cider Bellini

Bellinis are basically peach-flavored mimosas. Both use fruit puree or juice with sparkling wine, and both are totally acceptable to have for breakfast.

What I love about this recipe is the use of apple vodka.

Not only does it provide extra warmth, but it really helps to boost that fresh apple taste.

20. Caramel Apple Martini

Are you the type to throw on a chunky sweater and head to the closest orchard? If so, I guarantee these decadent Thanksgiving cocktails will blow you away.

I don’t care who you ask. Caramel apple is synonymous with Thanksgiving and the cold winter months.

So, what could be better than those same flavors in a boozy drink? If you’re craving the richness of caramel apples, absolutely nothing!

21. Cinnamon Bourbon Hot Toddy

Don’t act like you don’t already know what I’m going to say. I LOVE THIS DRINK! (Seriously, guys, the hot ones are my favorites in the cold months.)

It’s a soothing, warming drink sweetened with honey and gently spiced with cinnamon. It looks, smells, and tastes fantastic and is impossible to resist.

22. Earl Grey Tea Cocktail

Between the gin, lavender, lemon, and Earl Grey tea, this cocktail is highly fragrant and tastes somewhat perfumey.

It might not be for you if you’re not a lover of that botanical, floral taste.

Gin is super floral, and when you mix that with lemon and lavender, this drink smells like a pretty bouquet of wildflowers.

23. The Fall Dark and Stormy

The Dark and Stormy isn’t one of your more classic Thanksgiving cocktail recipes. But this one puts an autumnal twist on the traditional recipe.

With apple cider, ginger beer, and cinnamon, it pretty much covers all your fall favorites.

24. Spicy Blackberry Margarita Sour

This drink tastes precisely how the name makes it sound. It’s a classic sour drink full of the tart taste of blueberries.

However, a secret ingredient lurks beneath the surface: fresh jalapeno slices! They don’t impart much flavor, but they certainly add heat.

This cocktail is unlike anything else on this list, and I highly recommend trying it at least once.

25. Red Wine Pomegranate Punch

Like mulled wine, this drink is ideal for serving a crowd. So, make up a big batch and let people help themselves.

That way, you can enjoy the day with everyone rather than heading to the kitchen every half hour.

Also, feel free to add extra fruit. I used a bag of mixed berries and threw in a bunch of cherries to give this an extra fruity kick.

26. Cranberry Margarita

Without trying to be too cliché, yes, I’m a margarita fanatic. There’s nothing more comforting to me than tequila with fresh lime juice and a dash of orange. 

But I also love margarita variations, from banana and blueberry to sriracha mango and even jalapeño!

So, I couldn’t get through a list of cocktails without a margarita recipe, and this is probably the most Thanksgiving-esque around. 

27. Pomegranate Ginger Sparkler

This recipe is more or less a pomegranate mimosa, using sweetened pomegranate juice in sparkling wine.

But that little bit of ginger in the mix makes all the difference.

You’ll start by making enhanced pomegranate juice, using pomegranate juice, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar, and ginger.

Let it cool, and add a decent helping in your glass. Then, top it up with bubbles and enjoy.

28. Pumpkin Pie Martini

No list of Thanksgiving cocktails is complete without the pumpkin pie martini. It’s a classic staple of the season, and no drinks table should be without it. 

It’s sweet, creamy, and loaded with legitimate pumpkin pie flavor. Top it with homemade whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon, and you’re all set. 

29. Kir Cocktail

I think this might be the easiest recipe on the list. Seriously. Blink while someone is making this cocktail, and you’ll miss it!

It takes mere moments to whip up, and it tastes incredible.

Blackcurrant liqueur is so underrated with its lovely deep flavor, and it’s great for a more intense, cold-weather cocktail.

30. Cranberry Martini

Martinis are known to be pretty intense and definitely not sweet. That’s especially true for those who prefer them dirty with plenty of salty olives. 

But cranberries aren’t super sweet, and their tart flavors work well to keep this more like the original.

This drink also includes a splash of Cointreau, which adds to the bitterness while giving a citrus lift at the same time.