Holiday & Seasonal · Fall & Thanksgiving
Six Thanksgiving cocktails that go with turkey, not against it: a cranberry bourbon smash, apple cider mimosas, a big-batch sangria, and more, each with a zero-proof twin.
Good Thanksgiving cocktails do two jobs: they taste like the season, and they don’t fight a plate of turkey, stuffing, and gravy. These six lean on cranberry, apple, pear, and warm spice, most can be made ahead, and every one has a zero-proof twin so the kids, the drivers, and anyone who’s pregnant or skipping alcohol can raise the same glass. Tap 🌿 Mocktails at the top to flip every recipe.
The host’s plan: mix the Harvest Sangria in the morning, set up an Apple Cider Mimosa bar for arrivals, and shake Cranberry Orange Bourbon Smashes to order if you enjoy a little bartending.
A smash is a sour with muddled fruit and lots of crushed ice. Here, a couple of orange wedges get muddled with spiced cranberry syrup, then shaken with bourbon and lemon. It’s tart, warm, and very Thanksgiving.
Muddle the orange properly: the oils in the peel are half the flavor. Make the spiced cranberry syrup a few days ahead; it keeps for two weeks.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Muddled orange, spiced cranberry syrup, and bourbon over crushed ice.
Garnish: Orange wheel, sugared cranberries, rosemary sprig
Garnish: Orange wheel, sugared cranberries, rosemary sprig
How the swap works: Bourbon brings oak and a little grip; strong black tea gives the same drying tannin, and a couple of dashes of alcohol-free bitters add the spice.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Two ingredients and a cinnamon-sugar rim that makes it taste like apple pie. It’s ideal for a Thanksgiving brunch or for greeting guests at the door.
Set out cider, a bottle of dry sparkling wine, and a bottle of sparkling apple cider, and let people build their own. The zero-proof version gets a squeeze of lemon to stop it tasting too sweet.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Fresh cider and dry bubbles with a cinnamon-sugar rim.
Garnish: Cinnamon-sugar rim, thin apple slice
Garnish: Cinnamon-sugar rim, thin apple slice
How the swap works: Sparkling cider is sweeter than dry sparkling wine, so a splash of lemon brings back the crisp finish.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Tart 100% cranberry juice makes a margarita taste festive without making it sugary. A half-salt, half-sugar rim lets each guest choose.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
A classic margarita with tart cranberry juice.
Garnish: Half salt, half sugar rim; lime wheel; fresh cranberries
Garnish: Half salt, half sugar rim; lime wheel; fresh cranberries
How the swap works: Black tea gives back tequila's dry backbone, orange juice replaces the liqueur, and a pinch of salt in the shaker makes it taste like a margarita instead of cranberry juice.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
This is the after-dinner drink, basically dessert in a rocks glass. Build the vodka and coffee liqueur over ice, then spoon a pumpkin-maple cream on top and watch it swirl down.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Coffee liqueur and vodka under a pumpkin-maple cream.
Garnish: Cinnamon stick, grated nutmeg
Garnish: Cinnamon stick, grated nutmeg
How the swap works: Cold brew stands in for the coffee liqueur and vodka together; extra maple replaces the liqueur's sweetness.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
The best Thanksgiving drink is the one you make before the turkey goes in. This sangria is fruity red wine, a splash of brandy, apple cider, and diced fall fruit, rested for at least four hours so the fruit soaks it all up.
Dice the fruit small so it fits on a spoon; people love eating the boozy (or not-boozy) apples at the end. The zero-proof Harvest Punch uses black tea and pomegranate for the tannin that makes wine taste like wine.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Red wine, apple cider, brandy, and fall fruit, made in the morning.
Garnish: The soaked fruit
Garnish: The soaked fruit
How the swap works: Red wine brings tannin and dark fruit. Black tea and pomegranate together recreate both, so this tastes like sangria rather than fruit punch.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
Most Thanksgiving drinks are rich. This one is light, crisp, and gently spicy, and it goes with the whole meal. Pear nectar gives body, fresh ginger syrup gives warmth, and the bubbles lift it.
Its twin swaps the vodka and prosecco for dry club soda. Side by side, they look identical.
Cocktail recipeZero-proof recipe
Pear nectar, fresh ginger syrup, and bubbles. Light enough for dinner.
Garnish: Thin pear slice, candied ginger
Garnish: Thin pear slice, candied ginger
How the swap works: Fresh ginger syrup brings the heat that alcohol usually adds, and dry club soda (not sweet soda) keeps it as crisp as the prosecco version.
Enjoy responsibly, of legal drinking age only ·Zero-proof twin ·
A host who bartends all day doesn’t get to eat. Put the sangria and the Harvest Punch in pitchers on a sideboard with a bucket of ice, glasses, and a bowl of garnishes, and label which is which. Keep the mimosa ingredients cold nearby, and make only the shaken drinks to order.
Want more autumn ideas? See our fall cocktails, or skip straight to Christmas cocktails if you’re planning ahead. For big numbers, the batch cocktail guide walks through the math.
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A batchable drink that suits the food: the Harvest Sangria or the Cranberry Orange Bourbon Smash. Both can be mixed ahead, and both have zero-proof twins, so the whole table drinks the same thing.
Pick drinks that are built, not shaken, like the sangria and cider mimosas, or pre-batch shaken drinks and add the dilution water yourself. Tap Pitcher or Punch bowl on any batchable card for exact quantities.
The batch cocktail guide →Lighter, fruit-forward drinks with some acidity cut through a rich meal: the Pear Ginger Sparkler, apple cider mimosas, or the sangria. Save creamy drinks like the Pumpkin Spice White Russian for dessert.
Yes, and you should. Spiced cranberry syrup keeps for about 2 weeks in the fridge. Simmer fresh cranberries with equal parts sugar and water, orange peel, and a cinnamon stick, then strain.
Cranberry and other cocktail syrups →Yes. Look for cloudy, unfiltered, non-alcoholic cider in the refrigerated section; it has far more flavor than clear apple juice.
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