Wine is great and all, and sure, you could just pop open your favorite bottle this Thanksgiving, but why not add a little excitement? We believe serving a delightful cocktail as well will elevate your dinner to the next level. From fall-inspired cocktails to those that remind you of pecan or apple pie, as well as classic drinks that pair wonderfully with turkey, these 49 Thanksgiving cocktails are far more festive than just a traditional bottle of red.

The holidays present the perfect opportunity to refine your home bartending skills. Mixing a signature cocktail to enhance our Thanksgiving feast adds that unique something to the table. Fortunately, some of the most classic cocktails are also among the easiest to create. Our recipes for the Big Apple Manhattans, brown sugar old-fashioneds, and amaretto sours only require about five ingredients from your bar cart, can you believe it? If you’re seeking something with a unique twist for the holiday, consider our apple cider spritz, pumpkin spice mules, pecan pie martinis, pumpkin margaritas, or our cranberry apple sangria to meet your festive needs.

Feeling like you need a cozy nightcap? We have a variety of drinks that will keep you warm on a chilly evening, such as our mulled wine, spiked pumpkin chai lattes, hot toddies, or Irish coffee. We also provide a wealth of tips from bartenders on how to craft the best holiday cocktails, so you can spread cheer all season long.

Pro tip: These delightful fall cocktails pair exceptionally well with our favorite Thanksgiving apps or a slice of pumpkin or apple pie. If your guests are still thirsty, try our wonderful Thanksgiving punch ideas and fall sangrias for even more festive options.

Cranberries bring a festive, deep red hue to your favorite cocktail, the Aperol spritz. If you prefer a less sweet option, consider using 100% cranberry juice instead of cranberry juice cocktail.

Discover the Cranberry Aperol Spritz recipe.

We transform classic summer sangria into a fall delight by incorporating sparkling apple cider, white wine, and Fireball. Our apple cider sangria is a beloved choice, but this bubbly rendition offers a touch of elegance, perfect for your holiday gathering.

Check out the Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria recipe.

We appreciate a big-batch cocktail not only because it makes bartending at home more efficient but also due to how simple they are to create. This elevated, festive version of jungle juice is ideal for when you’re ready to play the role of the fun-loving uncle at Thanksgiving.

Get the Thanksgiving Jungle Juice recipe.

The fusion of pumpkin pie filling, pumpkin spice syrup (optional; see below for method), and reposado tequila results in a delightful autumnal concoction. The aged tequila introduces a deep brown sugar essence that complements the pumpkin components seamlessly, while the vibrant acidity of lime balances the drink and delivers that signature margarita zest.

Discover the Pumpkin Margaritas recipe.

Although pumpkin spice, in its various iterations, may reign as the quintessential fall beverage, we believe there’s a compelling argument for all things apple cider as well: these indulgently sweet hot toddies are the ultimate testament.

Explore the Apple Cider Hot Toddies recipe.

We took a beloved chai latte and elevated it with a delightful twist by creating a spiked pumpkin variation. This beverage combines freshly brewed chai and a splash of whiskey, mixed with milk, pumpkin puree, and maple syrup, all finished off with a dollop of whipped cream. It is an ideal drink to enjoy after dinner on a chilly Thanksgiving evening.

Discover the Spiked Pumpkin Chai Latte recipe.

Calling all enthusiasts of the whiskey sour! The Gold Rush cocktail is a whiskey concoction you are sure to adore, just tweaked slightly. 1) It uses honey in place of simple syrup and does not require any egg whites.

Check out the Gold Rush Cocktail recipe.

Your pumpkin spice latte has matured! Whether you’re looking for a delightful nightcap or wish to impress your guests with a signature cocktail at Thanksgiving, these white Russians are bound to be a hit.

Discover the Pumpkin Spice White Russians recipe.

This cocktail is ideal for those evenings when you’ve been cooking all day and can’t decide between red or white wine—opt for the apple cider and tequila instead! The hot honey provides the perfect blend of sweetness and spice, while Calvados infuses hints of caramel apple and kettle corn.

Check out the Spicy Apple Cider Margaritas recipe.

Fewer cocktails have such a rich history (or are as easy to make!) as the Manhattan. Created in 1894 by a bartender at New York City’s Waldorf Astoria, its signature feature is the use of Scotch whiskey. For a unique twist, try varying your bitters with a few dashes of walnut, lavender, or black cherry.

Find the Classic Manhattan recipe.

Moscow mules are a favorite among many drink enthusiasts. As the leaves begin to fall and thoughts of pumpkin spice fill the air, we opt for this delightful variation on the traditional recipe. If pumpkin pie vodka happens to be elusive, don’t worry—regular vodka will serve just as well!

Check out the Pumpkin Spice Mules recipe.

If you’re eager to elevate your celebrations this season or you’re a fan of bourbon, then these apple pie bourbon shots are essential for your next get-together. With just a handful of ingredients—apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg—you’ll be all set!

Explore the Apple Pie Bourbon Shots recipe.

<pDuring autumn, we love kickstarting our mornings with a pumpkin spice latte, so it seems only fitting to end the day with a similar cozy flavor. Now you can savor these pumpkin spice martinis as well.

Don’t miss the Pumpkin Pie Martini recipe.

Sangria makes for an ideal holiday drink as it’s easy to prepare in a large pitcher ahead of time. Your guests can serve themselves a festive cocktail while you wrap up your cooking tasks. This recipe holds traditional elements but adds a holiday flair with ingredients such as tart cranberries and aromatic cinnamon.

Don’t miss the Cranberry-Apple Sangria recipe.

Mimosas are widely regarded as the quintessential brunch cocktail. However, with the chill in the air, our taste shifts to cozier, autumn-inspired flavors. This is a delightful twist on the classic, perfect for Thanksgiving morning celebrations.

Check out the Apple Cider Mimosas recipe.

If you’re a fan of tiramisu, which often features amaretto like this drink, you’re sure to enjoy this bourbon cocktail. It’s akin to a whiskey sour but with a nuttier twist.

Discover the details in the Amaretto Sour recipe.

Embracing the autumn spirit, this apple cider spritz presents a delightful variation of the popular summer drink, the Aperol spritz. Transitioning into the new season, the blend of spiced cider paired with a hint of pumpkin spice perfectly complements Aperol’s citrusy and herbal notes, enhancing the apple flavors.

Discover the Apple Cider Spritz recipe.

Transform the beloved winter indulgence of frozen hot chocolate into a refreshing martini. By adding a splash of vodka and Baileys, this drink is bound to become your new go-to cocktail. The frozen hot chocolate is effortlessly made with a premade hot chocolate mix, and everything is blended together for an easy festive cocktail that will surely impress as a post-Thanksgiving nightcap!

Check out the Frozen Hot Chocolate Martini recipe.

If you’re a fan of Moscato sangria, prepare to meet your new favorite communal cocktail. This copycat green apple moscato sangria draws inspiration from Olive Garden’s previously available signature sangria, offering a delightful autumn twist on the traditional summer cocktail.

Discover the Green Apple Moscato Sangria recipe.

This drink is more reminiscent of a cosmopolitan than a traditional martini, as it substitutes the usual cranberry juice for pomegranate. To elevate your presentation, add a sugar rim and a sprig of fresh rosemary, making it an ideal choice for your autumn and winter celebrations.

Find the Pomegranate Martini recipe.

I can’t wait for fall and all the delightful activities it brings—like pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving, and apple picking. These cocktails are perfect for these occasions! They combine the essence of summer with refreshing margaritas and warm, seasonal apple cider.

Don’t miss out on the Apple Cider Margaritas recipe.

While the traditional mix of four parts champagne and one part fresh orange juice is undeniably delightful, this recipe introduces a festive twist by replacing orange juice with fresh cranberries, cranberry juice, rosemary, and a splash of lime.

Discover the Cranberry Mimosas recipe.

This seasonal take on a whiskey sour showcases a vibrant ginger flavor paired with zesty cranberry juice. Despite needing just a few ingredients, it is packed with bold, bright tastes that pair beautifully with luxurious holiday appetizers such as baked brie and bacon-wrapped dates.

Check out the Ginger-Cranberry Whiskey Sour recipe.

Cider combined with ginger beer may sound unusual, but when infused with fresh fruits and a hint of cinnamon (and a splash of bubbly!), it truly harmonizes beautifully. For a lively yet intimate brunch, consider serving our caramel apple mimosas instead.

Discover the Harvest Punch recipe.

Creating this mulled wine is incredibly simple: Just mix a bottle of red wine with orange slices, aromatic spices, honey, and brandy, and let it simmer for ten minutes. It’s that easy.

Check out the Mulled Wine recipe.

During this season, we can’t get enough of cranberry cocktails, and this one is our favorite for the holidays. It brings a warm and spicy kick from the whiskey and ginger beer, while also being refreshingly tart thanks to the cranberry and citrus notes.

Try the Cranberry Orange Whiskey Sour recipe.

This Manhattan offers a fruity twist with the inclusion of apple brandy. It’s a robust cocktail that can keep up with all your holiday activities and pairs wonderfully with your turkey or any of our delicious apple desserts.

Don’t miss the Big Apple Manhattan recipe.

Make your celebration truly memorable by creating your own candied ginger garnish, elevate the experience with a sharper ginger beer or a bold ginger ale, or simply use whatever whiskey and ginger ale you have on hand. Regardless of your choice, it will pair wonderfully with your Turkey Day dishes.

Discover the Whiskey Ginger recipe.

If you’re hosting a more relaxed Friendsgiving this year, let your Crockpot handle the drink preparations! The mix of chocolate and red wine may sound unusual, but believe us, it’s delicious.

Check out the Crockpot Red Wine Hot Cocoa recipe.

This festive holiday punch skips the added sugar and draws its delightful sweetness from apple cider. With a touch of spice from ginger beer and a bit of tang from unsweetened cranberry juice, it creates a sophisticated and cheerful drink that’s ideal for any gathering from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Check out the Holiday Punch recipe.

A pinch of brown sugar enhances this classic cocktail, offering a warm and cozy touch with a hint of caramel, transforming the drink into something far from the traditional old-fashioned. This is now our preferred method of preparation!

Discover the Brown Sugar Old-Fashioned recipe.

The delightful sweetness and subtle hints of nuttiness from Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur, blend beautifully with the richness of Irish cream. The inevitable mustache of whipped cream that appears afterwards is definitely a treat worth indulging in.

Discover the Nutty Irishman recipe.

We adore how the oaky, vanilla notes from your favorite whiskey harmonize perfectly with the fresh zing of ginger and lime in a traditional Moscow Mule. This slight twist on the classic will surely delight your guests and earn you their gratitude this Thanksgiving.

Check out the Irish Mule recipe.

The Washington Apple Shot is a variant of the Washington Apple Cocktail, typically made with Canadian-style whiskey, apple schnapps, and cranberry juice. We’ve added pomegranate to enhance its flavor, making it extra crisp and refreshing.

Try the Washington Apple Shot recipe.

Hot buttered rum is the original butter beer. Just mix in rum, butter, sugar, ice cream, and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, and you’ve conjured up cozy wintertime bliss in a glass.

Discover the Hot Buttered Rum recipe.

Sangria, with its fruity and refreshing profile, is the ideal choice for entertaining. This delightful cocktail shines any time of year, combining a classic medley of fruits, spices, and wine. We’ve compiled our top tips to customize this wine cocktail to suit your personal taste.

Check out the Red Sangria recipe.

These martinis may appear harmless, but they are deceptively delightful. They taste just like your favorite pecan pie, yet hold a surprising kick.

Find the Pecan Pie Martini recipe.

Pumpkin pie and pudding shots? They are a match made in dessert heaven! With the addition of Fireball, these shots gain a delightful cinnamon kick, though you can replace it with all vodka if that suits your taste better. If you’re a fan of Fireball, enjoy these shots alongside a delicious Fireball pumpkin pie.

Discover the Pumpkin Pie Pudding Shots recipe.

This charming cocktail not only looks festive, but it also evokes the nostalgic flavor of gingerbread cookies when you take a sip. The secret lies in the handmade gingerbread simple syrup, which is the true highlight of this martini. Similar to the quintessential cookies, the syrup melds together sugar with warm winter spices to create a delightful concoction that you may find yourself wanting to use well beyond this drink.

Check out the Gingerbread Martini recipe.

For a punch of flavor, apple schnapps brings a sweet-tart twist of green apple, while a dash of Calvados (apple brandy) adds an adventurous kick. A word of caution: these delightful drinks pack a serious punch, so be mindful of your plans after indulging! 😂

Try out the Appletini recipe.

Coffee cocktails like this one offer an invigorating combination of caffeine and spirits, ideal for kicking off or winding down your night. They are cozy, tasty, and best of all, super simple to prepare.

Check out the Irish Coffee recipe.

A hot toddy is one of our beloved drinks to enjoy after dinner. The best part? You likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Why not switch things up and try an apple cider version topped off with caramel that’s perfect for the fall season as well.

Discover the Hot Toddy recipe.

Sangria may remind you of warm summer nights and tropical fruits, but this apple-infused cocktail is just what you need to welcome fall. In this recipe, we opted for a white wine sangria, enhanced with spicy ginger beer and sweet apple cider.

Check out the Apple Cider Sangria recipe.

Cranberry sauce? We thought you meant “cranberry shots.” We adore these tart-sweet Jell-O shots, especially with the sugar-coated cranberries. Though optional, they are highly recommended—they serve as a fantastic chaser after the shot.

Find the Cranberry Jell-O Shots recipe.

A hot toddy is an ideal beverage for a cool and breezy Thanksgiving evening. Enhance your next cup by adding a Werther’s candy for an added touch of caramel flavor; it will make your drink even cozier for snuggling up with.

Check out the Werther’s Hot Toddies recipe.

We have come up with a variety of mixers for sparkling beverages that extend far beyond orange juice, but sweet apple cider is perhaps our favorite. Elevate the presentation by rimming glasses with caramel and cinnamon sugar—your guests will be amazed!

Discover the Caramel Apple Mimosas recipe.

Add some flair to your red wine sangria by mixing in some Fireball! The cinnamon whiskey offers a perfect segue into fall cocktails. If blood oranges are unavailable, you can substitute with cara cara or additional navel oranges.

Check out the Fireball Sangria recipe.

We’re excited to share this Thanksgiving variation of the classic Moscow Mule. This truly embodies the spirit of the season!

Check out the Cranberry Mules recipe.

We can’t quite explain why pumpkin pairs so well with various flavors, but we’re certainly not complaining. Especially since it allows us to create a delightful sangria infused with pumpkin pie vodka.

Discover the Pumpkin Pie Sangria recipe.

The flavor-packed martinis capture the essence of your beloved snickerdoodle cookie, enhanced with a delightful kick. Featuring caramel vodka and a caramel-coated rim, this drink is sure to impress, yet it’s incredibly simple to prepare.

Try the Caramel Snickerdoodle Martini recipe.

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For your next happy hour, consider trying out these charming miniature cocktails instead of your regular drink order.

Dudits / Getty Images

It’s widely acknowledged that miniature versions of things are simply cuter, whether we’re talking about desserts, houseplants, or even sunny-side up eggs. This trend has now made its way into cocktail bars and happy hours all around the nation, highlighting miniature versions of beloved drinks served in tiny glasses. These little cocktails, typically just a few ounces each, are becoming a fashionable choice for celebrating the conclusion of a meal while keeping an eye on portion sizes.

Before raising your glass to these delightful drinks, let’s dive into the origins of this trend.

Related: Stock the Perfect High-End Home Bar with These Under-$10 Glassware and Beverage Finds

Though gaining fresh attention, mini drinks have a history spanning several decades. Per reporting from The New York Times, most cocktails before World War II were just 1 or 2 ounces in size. It wasn’t until the 1940s and 1950s that larger versions, such as martinis, which usually measure 3 ounces, started to gain traction.

These smaller servings are also linked to a traditional practice known as the bartender’s handshake. This custom entails offering a modest 1- or 2-ounce drink or shot as a gesture of welcome to another bartender. Furthermore, it provides bartenders with a chance to sample and share their new cocktail creations, showcasing their friendliness through this ritual.

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While smaller cocktails have been part of the drinking scene for many years, their presence has surged on menus and social media in recent times. This trend aligns with the increasing popularity of low-ABV and non-alcoholic beverages, offering a way to enjoy an adult drink without the common aftereffects. Much like low-ABV options, these smaller cocktails contain minimal alcohol, making them perfectly suitable for enjoying during lunch or happy hour.

Additionally, tiny cocktails provide patrons with the opportunity to explore a variety of flavors without the need to order standard-sized drinks. Instead of struggling to choose just one, you can have a few sips of mini cocktails, either in a flight or as part of a tasting experience. They’re ideal for a quick toast during a festive dinner and are often a more economical choice.

Moreover, these miniatures enhance the enjoyment of certain larger cocktails, ensuring that the final sip is just as delightful as the first.

Enjoy delightful mini versions of beloved cocktails such as martinis and Manhattans at your next happy hour gathering. The snaquiri, a compact version of the daiquiri, has gained such popularity that it has its own distinctive name. If this trend hasn’t reached your preferred bar yet, you can easily make one at home.

The secret to creating mini cocktails lies in having the perfect glassware. Typically, these drinks are served in small glasses, such as coupe or Nick and Nora glasses, that hold just a few ounces. Pick a recipe you love—perhaps one designed for smaller servings, like a Bee’s Knees cocktail—and get ready to mix.

To make your mini cocktail visually appealing for social media, consider garnishing it with an olive or a lemon twist.

Related: Is the Carajillo the Next Espresso Martini?