Thanksgiving is a food holiday first, and the drinks should make the day easier, not turn the host into a full-time bartender. The best plan is a short menu, one big batch that guests can serve themselves, and a zero-proof option that’s every bit as festive as the cocktails.
Here’s a simple way to plan Thanksgiving drinks at home. Everything with alcohol is for guests 21 and over, and the plan below makes sure the kids, the drivers and anyone who isn’t drinking has something good in their glass too.
Keep the menu short
Three drinks is plenty for most Thanksgiving tables:
- One big batch, such as a cider punch, that sits on the counter and serves itself.
- One stirred or shaken cocktail for guests who want something made to order before dinner.
- One zero-proof drink with the same care, glassware and garnish as the others.
Add wine and beer for the meal if you like, and plenty of water. A short menu means you can shop once, prep the night before and spend the afternoon with your guests.
The centerpiece: a sparkling cider punch
A punch bowl or large pitcher does most of the work on Thanksgiving. Build it so the base is alcohol-free, then let adults add a spirit by the glass. That way one batch serves everyone.
Zero-proof base (about 12 servings)
- 2 quarts fresh apple cider, chilled
- 2 cups unsweetened cranberry juice, chilled
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Simple syrup to taste, if the cranberry is tart
- 1 liter chilled sparkling water or ginger ale, added just before serving
- Thin apple slices, a few fresh cranberries and a cinnamon stick for garnish
Stir the cider, cranberry and lemon together in the bowl, taste, and sweeten only if needed. Add the bubbles right before guests arrive so the punch stays lively, and float the fruit on top.
Making it a cocktail by the glass
Set a bottle of bourbon or aged rum next to the bowl with a jigger and a small card: “Adults: add 1 ounce to your glass if you like.” Measuring by the glass keeps every serving the same strength, unlike a spiked bowl where nobody knows how strong a ladle is.
For ice, use one large block or a ring made in a cake pan instead of small cubes, which melt fast and water the punch down. Our guide to ice molds for cocktails explains how to make big, slow-melting ice at home. For more batch ideas, see our holiday party bartending tips.
Two easy fall cocktails
Offer these before dinner while people arrive, then let the punch and wine carry the meal.
Maple Old Fashioned
- 2 oz bourbon or rye
- 1 barspoon maple syrup
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Orange peel
Stir the whiskey, maple and bitters with ice until very cold, strain over a large cube and express the orange peel over the top. Zero-proof version: stir strong chilled black tea with a little maple and a squeeze of orange, and serve it in the same glass with the same peel.
Cranberry Gin Fizz
- 1.5 oz gin
- 1 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
- 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Soda water to top
Shake everything but the soda with ice, strain into a tall glass with fresh ice, and top with soda. Zero-proof version: skip the gin, add a little more cranberry and top with ginger beer.
Both use ingredients already on the punch shopping list. For more ideas, our zero-proof and low-ABV holiday drinks has a full shelf of non-alcoholic options.
Matching drinks to the meal
Thanksgiving food is rich, salty and a little sweet, so drinks that are bright and not too heavy work best at the table:
- Sparkling drinks (the punch, a dry sparkling wine, or sparkling cider) cut through gravy and buttery sides.
- Lighter red or white wines suit turkey better than big, heavy ones.
- Save stirred, spirit-forward drinks for before dinner or a small nightcap with dessert, rather than with the meal.
For dessert, a warm drink is a nice finish. Our guide to setting up a warm winter drinks bar has cider, cocoa and tea ideas that work with or without alcohol.
Timing the day
- The night before: juice the lemons, make simple syrup, freeze the ice block, chill the cider and cranberry, and set out the bowl, jigger and glasses.
- An hour before guests arrive: build the punch base and keep it cold. Set up the water station.
- As guests arrive: add the bubbles and ice, offer the two cocktails and point people to the punch.
- With dinner: switch to wine, punch and water. Close the made-to-order bar so the host can sit down and eat.
- After dessert: offer coffee, tea or a warm drink, and stop serving alcohol well before people head home.
Pace the drinks and plan the ride home
Thanksgiving is a long day, and the drinks add up. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a standard drink in the U.S. contains about 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, the amount in 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirit. A cocktail made with 2 ounces of whiskey is more than one standard drink, which is a good reason to keep the pours measured and the water flowing.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration encourages hosts to make sure guests leave with a sober driver. Ask who’s driving early in the day, keep the zero-proof drinks easy to grab for them, offer a ride-share or a spare bed, and never pressure anyone to have “just one more.”
Our picks
A recipe book for the whole table
Cocktails Illustrated from America’s Test Kitchen has more than 400 kitchen-tested recipes, from spirit-forward classics to non-alcoholic drinks, with technique notes and photos.
Tools with a fall look
The Vibhsa 4-Piece Bar Tool Set (Copper Hammered) includes a shaker, jigger, stirring spoon and flat opener with a hammered copper-look finish. The jigger is the tool that matters most at the punch bowl, and the set comes in a gift box if you’d rather bring it as a hostess gift.
Ideas for next year’s menu
The Madrusan Cocktail Companion by Michael and Zara Madrusan collects more than 2,800 drinks with contributions from bartenders around the world, so you’ll never run out of seasonal ideas.
Shop the gear
Please drink responsibly; alcohol is for adults 21 and over.
FAQ
How much punch should I make for Thanksgiving?
A rough rule of thumb is two to three servings per guest over a long afternoon, plus plenty of water. The base recipe above makes about 12 servings, so double it for a big table.
Should I spike the punch bowl?
It’s easier and safer to keep the bowl alcohol-free and let adults add a measured pour to their own glass. Everyone can share one punch, and nobody wonders how strong it is.
We run the NicheStuff store; some links in this post go to products we sell.
Top image: “Awesome autumn cocktails including pear cranberry sparkling win or champagne pumpkin martini and apple sangria” by Personal Creations, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.