51 Greatest Thanksgiving Cocktails & Mocktails for 2024

Why not mix things up this Turkey Day with some festive Thanksgiving cocktails? There are always new and creative iterations on classic dishes — from chocolate pecan pie to stuffing made out of cheeseburgers, so why not experiment with your drink options? A nice bottle of wine never goes out of style, but for the host or hostess with the most, the beverages served are one more opportunity to showcase your creativity.

There are plenty of delicious Thanksgiving cocktails and mocktails to accompany every part of the feast. What cocktail pairs well with turkey? What alcohol is best for Thanksgiving? From something light and slightly bitter to function as an aperitif, to the perfect pairing for turkey and potatoes, right down to a Thanksgiving dessert drink, there are so many spirits and seasonal flavor combinations that work.

Cocktails can be a bit trickier to pair with main courses, Thanksgiving charcuterie boards and Thanksgiving salads than the usual wine and beer, states Escoffier School of Culinary Arts. That's why it's so important to understand the flavor profile of your dishes to pair them correctly. A savory turkey, for example, pairs really well with dry gin-based cocktails, as well as the sweetness of vermouth and some brandies like apricot and lemon juice. Once you’ve had your fill of turkey and potatoes, and you're preparing to play some party games for Thanksgiving, you can move on to something richer and deeper for a nightcap with dessert. Read on for 51 of the yummiest Thanksgiving cocktail ideas. 

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• Join a Mixology Class This Thanksgiving
• Best Fall Themed Thanksgiving Cocktails
• Best Thanksgiving Dessert Drinks
• Best Nonalcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks
• Fun Thanksgiving Drinks For The Family

Join a Mixology Class This Thanksgiving

Nailing the basics of perfectly balanced Thanksgiving cocktails gives you the creative freedom to experiment with seasonal flavors. Add a fun, interactive Thanksgiving activity to your holiday party with mixology classes in Chicago, mixology classes in Las Vegas, or mixology classes in San Diego (to name a few).

You can even stream online mixology classes where you can learn from an expert how to pair flavors of fruit, citrus, smoke or spice with the various underlying herbs and notes in your favorite spirit — all the better to pair your food with. Mixologists can point you in the right direction for mixing up the best cocktails for the season or year-round favorites even better than at your local watering hole. This experience is a fun holiday or birthday gift for cocktail lovers, too. 

Best Fall Themed Thanksgiving Cocktails

1. Earl Grey Bourbon Punch

Welcome your guests with a festive punch, easy and refreshing Thanksgiving cocktails that’s easy to serve a crowd. Use your bundt pan to make a giant ice cube with lemon wedges and sprigs of rosemary to float on the top. For the punch, combine brewed and chilled Earl Grey, lemon, honey and orange bitters with a few generous pours of your favorite bourbon. This tasty sipper will warm you right up. 

2. Cranberry Aperol Spritz

The Aperol spritz is a classic pre-dinner drink any time of year but turn it into everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving cocktails with a quick addition. After pouring together the ingredients for a regular Aperol spritz, add a dash or two of 100% cranberry juice to give it a deep red color. Garnish with an orange wedge, a few cranberries and maybe a sprig of rosemary and enjoy. 

3. Campari And Cranberry

Another slightly bitter Thanksgiving cocktail that’s perfect for kick-starting digestion, this bold red beverage calls for just three ingredients. Combine the sparkling wine of your choice with a bit of Campari and a dash of cranberry juice for a bold and tart pre-dinner drink. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve in a tall glass, over ice. This will most likely also be found at the more upscale restaurants open on Thanksgiving. 

4. Gold Rush

While you enjoy the gorgeous shades of red and gold on the changing Autumn leaves, sip on this Thanksgiving cocktail. The Gold Rush is almost a whiskey sour but with two changes: honey instead of simple syrup and no egg whites. It’s warming and refreshing all at once, perfect for sipping before or after the big meal. 

5. Spiced Pear and Bourbon Sparkler

While cranberry may be an obvious choice, pears are also in season and combine well with bourbon for this Thanksgiving cocktails. Prepare your spiced pear simple syrup the night before by simmering pear juice, ginger, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves. Strain and chill to mix with bourbon, lemon juice, and some sparkling wine. You can add a cinnamon sugar rim or garnish with a cinnamon stick for one of your new favorite bourbon cocktails. 

6. Mulled Wine

The cold-weather version of sangria is back in season and makes delicious Thanksgiving cocktails for guests. You can put your own spin on this warm beverage, but it’s typically made by warming red wine and apple cider with fruits like raisins or oranges along with your favorite mulling spices. The aroma is heavenly and it’s not too strong so you can sip on it before dinner without getting overserved. 

7. Applejack Sour

Another twist on the whiskey sour, the Applejack sour is a perfectly fall-themed sipper. Apple brandy with oranges, lemons, maple syrup and some baking spices, this Thanksgiving cocktails is a crowd-pleaser. 

8. Francophile

If you’ve already whipped up a batch of mulled wine, then you’re halfway to the Francophile. If you're looking for some unique Thanksgiving cocktails, this deep purple cocktail is extra warming with additions of Calvados brandy and cinnamon simple syrup. Heat it on the stove or in a crockpot using Rioja red wine, lemon wedges and some water to help cut down on the alcohol percentage. 

9. Kir Royale

Keep the ABV low with this simple, two-ingredient Thanksgiving cocktails. Creme de cassis brings a subtle sweetness and beautiful purple and red hue from black currants. Combined with champagne (or sparkling water) for an easy sipper. Garnish with a few currants for extra pizzazz.

10. Pear Brandy Sidecar

This seasonal twist on a classic drink makes a lovely Thanksgiving cocktails. Shake together your favorite pear brandy with Cointreau and some fresh lemon juice. Serve it in a martini glass or something similar with a sugared rim. 

11. Jersey Lightning

Like a Manhattan but Fall-themed, the Jersey Lightning uses apple brandy instead of whiskey for this sweet Thanksgiving cocktails. Try to find Laird’s apple brandy, the original Jersey Lightning, but other brands will work too. Combine with sweet vermouth and a dash of bitters to serve over ice. Get fancy by making an orange peel accordion and sliding it onto a toothpick for a fun garnish. 

12. Bizzy Izzy Highball

The perfect Thanksgiving cocktails to offset salty appetizers like olives or cheese, the Bizzy Izzy highball is simple and refreshing. Made with rye whiskey, pineapple and sherry, serve it chilled with a lemon rind or chunk of pineapple. 

13. Pomegranate Cocktail

There’s no fancy name for this delightfully tart Thanksgiving cocktails. Pomegranate juice and orange liqueur combine with vodka in a low-ball glass. Sprinkle a few fresh arils to swirl around as you sip this bright red beverage. 

14.  The New York Sour

Not too sweet but heavy on flavor, the New York Sour is your favorite whiskey cocktail with a floater of dry red wine. It creates a beautiful two-tone Thanksgiving cocktails of red and gold when poured slowly. 

Best Thanksgiving Dessert Drinks

15. Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

The sweetness of apple pie gets a refreshing twist with this Thanksgiving cocktails and dessert drink. Before pouring your drink, don’t forget to run a lemon wedge around the rim and press it into cinnamon sugar. On top of ice and a few thin slices of apple, combine sparkling apple cider, white wine and a dash of Fireball. Include a cinnamon stick for stirring and you’re all set. You can experiment with garnishes like star anise or orange wedges and opt for your favorite whiskey in place of Fireball. 

16. Pumpkin Spice White Russians

The adult version of the Pumpkin Spice Latte is here and it’s a sweet and spicy Thanksgiving dessert drink. Made with vodka, Kahlua and pumpkin spice creamer, this drink deserves a spot on everyone Thanksgiving cocktails list. You won’t need a slice of pie after sipping on this! Make a festive but optional rim of crushed graham crackers mixed with pumpkin spice. Don’t forget whipped cream and a cinnamon stick to finish. 

17. Chipotle Maple Syrup Old Fashioned

While this Thanksgiving cocktails is both spicy and sweet, it’s a bit too heavy and flavorful to enjoy with the meal so save it for a dessert drink. Prepare ahead of time by soaking some dried chiles in your whiskey, checking every day until it reaches your desired smokey chili flavor. Combine with Aztec chocolate bitters and a dash of maple syrup with an orange peel for a chilled cocktail that’s warming and bold. 

18. Apple Pie Bourbon Shots

Sip or slam your dessert with this spiced apple pie bourbon shot. Infuse chopped red and green apples, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and a dash of sugar in some bourbon. Serve over ice with an optional cinnamon-sugar rim or with some whipped cream on top. You can serve this Thanksgiving cocktails and dessert drink as a shot or tall with the addition of club soda or sparkling cider.

19. Pumpkin Spiced Mule

The Moscow Mule gets a festive spin with the addition of pumpkin spice. Shake together a little pumpkin butter, apple cider and vodka (pumpkin spiced if you can find it) with ice. Top with a few glugs of ginger ale, which has a more subtle flavor than ginger beer and your choice of garnish. If you can’t find spiced vodka, you can always add a few dashes of pumpkin pie spice to the mix. This Thanksgiving cocktails and dessert drink can be made nonalcoholic by omitting the vodka and adding more ginger ale or an N/A vanilla seltzer. 

20. Pecan Pie Martini

These Thanksgiving cocktails are over the top and debatably negate the need for a pie at all. Combine Rumchata, creme de cacao, bourbon and half and half over ice. Before serving, coat the rims of your glasses with caramel and chopped pecans. Top with a tiny bit of whipped cream and a floating pecan and enjoy 

21. Pumpkin Pie Martini

The pumpkin pie martini is dessert in a glass. So rich you might only be able to handle one, it’s a boozy and well-deserved entry on Thanksgiving cocktails lists and is a dessert drink that can replace a slice of pie. Shake together whipped cream vodka, half and half, pumpkin purée and a dash of pumpkin pie spice. Don’t forget the graham cracker rim on your martini glass!

22. Hot Buttered Apple Cider

Prepare a big batch of these creamy Brandy Thanksgiving dessert cocktails for a crowd. Simmer butter, brown sugar and plenty of apple cider on the stove or in a crockpot with warming spices. Stir in some brandy or Fireball before serving and add a cinnamon stick to garnish. 

23. Cranberry Cobbler

With a little extra prep time, you can enjoy this delightful Thanksgiving cocktail, the Cranberry Cobbler. Made with gin, off-dry sherry, simple syrup, frozen cranberries and a hint of fresh mint, it’s both sweet and refreshing. Add in a dash of lemon and orange (fresh-squeezed) and it’s pretty close to perfection. Have your muddler handy to get that signature deep-red look from smashed cranberries. 

24.  Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini

The holidays are always ripe with excitement for the coming celebration. These Thanksgiving cocktails and dessert drinks will have you thinking ahead to Christmas and New Year's. For one of the most delicious vodka cocktails, blend together milk, hot chocolate mix, vodka and ice and pour into a martini glass. Get extra fancy by dipping the rim in a cocoa mix or chocolate sauce and don’t forget plenty of whipped cream and mini marshmallows on top!

25. Apples and Oranges

Hot buttered rum cocktails meets caramel apple with this sweet Thanksgiving cocktails. Citrusy Grand Marnier and a little bit of melted butter combined with apple cider and a splash of Amaro. Garnish with a lemon slice and a sprinkle of pink peppercorns. 

26. Brandy Milk Punch

Enjoy a sweet and creamy treat with this Thanksgiving cocktails and dessert drink. A distant relative of egg nog, you make this punch by combining milk, powdered sugar, vanilla, brandy and a dash of nutmeg. Give it a good shake and enjoy chilled. You can always add some pumpkin pie spice for a little more Fall flavor. 

Best Nonalcoholic Thanksgiving Drinks

27. Pomegranate Spritzer

This Thanksgiving mocktail comes courtesy of everyone’s favorite hostess: Ina Garten. Made with tart pomegranate juice, a squeeze of lime and some sparkling water, these alcohol-free Thanksgiving cocktails have a festive fuschia hue that lights up any table. You can always add a splash of your favorite spirit and garnish with a few cranberries and a lime wedge floating in the glass. 

28. Utilize Chipotle Maple Simple Syrup

The best way to add specialty flavors to your Thanksgiving cocktails or the best mocktails is with homemade simple syrup. Blend and infuse maple syrup with dried chipotle peppers and a dash of salt and let it rest in the fridge overnight. Want more heat? Add a few dashes of cayenne pepper. After straining the solids out of your special concoction, add it to hot chocolate or sparkling water with lemon for a spicy nonalcoholic drink. 

29. Chaider

Add some extra spice to your Thanksgiving cocktails by creating a blend of Chai spices like ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice and a few others. Simmer a pot on the stove with fresh ginger and cinnamon sticks for a wonderfully fragrant kitchen to welcome your guests. This non-alcoholic Thanksgiving drink goes perfectly with a splash of bourbon. 

30. Honey And Lime Ginger Mocktail

You won’t miss the alcohol at all in this sweet, spicy and slightly tart Thanksgiving mocktail. Ginger beer or ginger ale mixed with lime and a drizzle of honey perfectly balances flavors. Garnish with chunks of candied ginger pressed onto a toothpick to add some extra flair to these Thanksgiving cocktails. 

31. Life of the Party Punch

Pick up a few bottles of non-alcoholic red wine to enjoy this Thanksgiving mocktail. Made with pomegranate juice, cinnamon simple syrup, a bit of sugar and some sparkling cider or club soda, you’ve got a gorgeous deep red punch that is brimming with Fall flavor. 

32. Ginger Orange Mocktails

Combine two festive flavors with this simple Thanksgiving mocktail. Ginger beer or ginger ale, a splash of orange juice, and a splash of pineapple juices yield a sweet and refreshing non-alcoholic drink that is perfect for Thanksgiving cocktail menues.

33. Tarragon Hibiscus Spritz

Brewed and chilled hibiscus tea adds a fun red-ish pink hue to this non-alcoholic Thanksgiving mocktail. While these flavors are refreshing all year round the bright red hue feels very Fall-themed. Muddle together blackberries and a few tarragon leaves with a sprinkle of sugar. Top with hibiscus tea and some sparkling water for effervescence and garnish with a sprig of tarragon. 

34. Spiced Tea

You can serve this Thanksgiving mocktail hot or cold, depending on the climate. Use your favorite blend of Chai, stir in some orange juice and squeeze a lemon. Serve with a cinnamon stick for a non-alcoholic relative of the hot toddy. 

35. Fizzy Pomegranate Punch

Wow your guests with a punch bowl full of this sparkling pomegranate mixer, made extra special with a show-stopping giant floating ice cube. Fill your bundt pan with water and a whole bunch of pomegranate arils. In your punch bowl, stir together pomegranate juice, orange juice and some apple cider. If you want to make this a Thanksgiving cocktail, opt for spiked apple cider. Keep it as a mocktail by just using sparkling juice. 

36. Comfort and Joy

You’ll need a bottle of non-alcoholic whiskey for this warming Thanksgiving mocktail. The same warmth and spice of whiskey but zero-proof, stir it shot or two together with apple cider, a splash of citrus and a little bit of your favorite sweetener. Enjoy this one hot or cold. 

36. Cranberry Mojito

Muddle fresh cranberries and mint with a dash of sugar before topping with sparkling water and a splash of cranberry juice. This Thanksgiving mocktail is perfect for the holiday season. Serve it in a tall glass garnished with a few whole cranberries and a mint leaf.

38. Hot Pumpkin Pie

Those who don’t drink alcohol don’t have to miss out on all the delicious Thanksgiving cocktails. This hot pumpkin pie is non-alcoholic and plenty rich–some might even say it could replace dessert. Utilize a zero-proof rum for a little extra spice, then blend heavy cream, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and a little bit of homemade simple syrup. Garnish with star anise or some freshly grated nutmeg and sip it, chilled, out of a martini glass. 

39. Cranberry Gimlet

Mix up a batch of cranberry simple syrup for these red, non-alcoholic gimlets. Mix it with plenty of lime juice, a splash of club soda or maybe even some zero-proof gin. It’s easy to make a batch of these Thanksgiving cocktails or mocktails. Get fancy by freezing cranberries in an ice cube tray as a festive garnish for a whole bunch of tasty Thanksgiving drink ideas.

Fun Thanksgiving Drinks For The Family

40. Cranberry Punch

Mix up a big bowl of this tangy cranberry punch for the family. It can be enjoyed with or without alcohol and packs a tart and sweet flavor that makes you want more. Cranberry juice and a bit of sugar combine with ginger ale for the base. You can stir in rum if everyone is over 21, or leave it on the side to serve both crowds. Add cranberries, lemon and orange wedges to your punch bowl to add extra fun and flavors to this Thanksgiving cocktail. 

41. Moscow Mules

Another classic cocktail that can be enjoyed sans alcohol, spicy ginger beer feels like the perfect Fall flavor. Fresh lime wedges and an optional dash of cranberry juice (and maybe some vodka) turn this year-round drink into refreshing Thanksgiving cocktails or mocktails. 

42. Hot Toddies

This is a classic Thanksgiving cocktail for adult families to sip and savor around the holidays. Make a lightly spiced version by combining boiling water, whiskey, demerara sugar and a clove-studded lemon peel. Also called Southern cough syrup, this warming drink helps to soothe any scratchy throats from the chilled air outside. 

43. Ginger Fizz

It doesn’t get any simpler than the ginger fizz for Thanksgiving cocktails or mocktails for the family. Prosecco, champagne or your favorite sparkling water gets a kick of spice from homemade ginger simple syrup that’s well worth the 15 minutes or so that it takes to whip up. 

44. Cran-Apple Sangria

It’s easy to whip up a pitcher of these Thanksgiving cocktails that can be passed and poured for the whole table. This simple Fall cocktail gets better with time. Sliced green and red apples, oranges, and cranberries float in a bath of red wine, apple cider, cranberry juice and brandy. 

45. Apple Cider Mimosas

Sip on apple cider mimosas as you prepare a feast for the masses. Just two ingredients, chilled and combined, make for delightful and light Thanksgiving cocktails for families. Add as much or as little apple cider as you like to a champagne flute and top with bubbles. Voila!

46. Buck Buck Mule

Enjoy a more refreshing and vegetal version of the classic Moscow mule with the Buck Buck mule. This Thanksgiving cocktail combines muddled cucumber, gin, sherry, simple syrup and plenty of lime juice with the usual ginger beer. It’s neither red nor cranberry flavored, but it’s the perfect sipper alongside savory appetizers. Get fancy with a peeled cucumber garnish, wrapped around the inside of the glass. 

47. Make a Martini Bar

When you’re busy preparing ten or more dishes to feed a crowd, it’s more than okay to let guests serve themselves. Set up a fun martini bar with everything they need to stir together their perfect martini. Olives, lemon twists and plenty of gin cocktails and ice can become simple Thanksgiving cocktails in no time. Use fun glasses, even if they’re not true martini glasses, to make it more festive. 

48. Aperitif Scorpion Bowl

Another way to refresh the masses is with this aperitif scorpion bowl, perfect for kick-starting digestion ahead of a big meal. Curly lemon peels dance in sweet vermouth and amaro with club soda and a dash of bitters. Mix it all together in a punch bowl with ice and guests can sip on this easy Thanksgiving cocktails as they please. 

49. Mezcal Sour

This smoky Thanksgiving cocktail is like a Fall bonfire in a glass. A little egg white gets you that perfect frothy top and lots of fresh lime and lemon juice pair perfectly with mezcal and a hint of amaro. 

50. Paradise Apple

Open up a bottle of Riesling to share with your family, but give it some festive flavor with the help of fresh apple cider and a splash of bourbon. Serve it in a coupe glass and float a thinly sliced piece of apple on top. 

51. Extra Stormy Dark and Stormy

At times a tropical, poolside refresher, you can sip on this Thanksgiving cocktails version of the dark and stormy when you need to warm up a bit. Dark rum, plenty of fresh lemons and the spiciest ginger beer you can find come together for a tart, spiced and subtly sweet masterpiece. 

You can always pop open a bottle of your favorite wine, but with so many delicious and festive Thanksgiving cocktails and mocktails out there, it’s fun to go the extra mile. Colors and flavors of Fall abound with notes of apple, pear, cranberry and ginger. Take it a step further and make some fun ice cubes in an ice tray for a garnish and cooling source in one. Add cranberries, orange slices, sprigs of rosemary and more. Don’t forget the old trick of making a giant ice cube with your bundt cake pan for a punch bowl.

For even more fun Thanksgiving ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!