Thanksgiving Cocktails

Twelve cocktails have been selected as excellent fall cocktails to enjoy during Thanksgiving get-togethers. Some, like the Moscow Mule, French Harvest, Paloma and Absinthe Martini are good companions with a heavy meal. Some, like the Pumpkin-Bourbon Old-Fashioned and Fussfungle are fun dessert-type drinks. Others, like the Applejack Sour and Woodstock are simply good cocktails that incorporate the fall flavors of apple or maple syrup. Unlike many other cocktail sites, none of the cocktails below are overly infused with fruit purees, berries or massive sweeteners that add unnecessary sugar. Simply click on the link of any cocktail to get the complete details.

Absinthe Martini –takes the classic gin martini and adds a touch of Absinthe, making it anise-fresh, icy-smooth and clean. It can accompany a heavy meal, acting as a more neutral backup to also cleanse the palate between bites. https://keetscocktails.com/absinthe-martini/

Applejack No.1 & 2 — an original American apple brandy liquor derivative of apple cider and mixed with either demerara syrup or vermouth. Drinking this for Thanksgiving is appropriate given that applejack was a favorite of George Washington. https://keetscocktails.com/applejack-no-1/

Applejack Sour –hits the mark for Thanksgiving. Apple brandy (Laird’s Applejack) provides the distilled apple flavor, lemon the sour, and orange juice & maple syrup the sweetening. https://keetscocktails.com/applejack-sour/

French Harvest –fall’s version of the French 75 using sparkling apple cider with gin instead of Prosecco and gin. The bubbles from sparkling apple cider give this a nice autumn/winter flavor to suit the season and will go nicely with a heavy meal. https://keetscocktails.com/french-harvest/

Fussfungle — sweetens a rye Old-Fashioned with a special recipe of burnt brown sugar and molasses. Fussfungle is a tasty two-ingredient holiday cocktail to serve and quickly prepare when the syrup is in hand. https://keetscocktails.com/fussfungle/

Gold Rush (Chapel Hill) — a very smooth straight-up bourbon drink similar to the lesser-known Chapel Hill, but with added orange juice and sweetened with simple syrup. It’s a rich pre-dinner football-watching cocktail. https://keetscocktails.com/gold-rush-cocktail-a-k-a-chapel-hill-3/

Manhattan Sweet w/ Bitter Chocolate –Bourbon and vermouth are complimented to perfection with the hint of chocolate and cherry. Though “sweet” is in the name, it’s more dry than sweet and therefore is not really a dessert drink. https://keetscocktails.com/manhattan-sweet-w-bitter-chocolate/

Paloma — Grapefruit soda is added to tequila and lime juice with a pinch of salt to create a delightfully refreshing drink to accompany a heavy meal. It’s simple, easy to prepare and no bar tools are required.https://keetscocktails.com/paloma-2/

Pumpkin-Bourbon Old-Fashioned –a fall-themed bourbon-based drink with the sweetness of pumpkin puree, maple syrup and Grand Marnier. https://keetscocktails.com/pumpkin-bourbon-old-fashioned/

Pumpkin Pie Old-Fashioned — Torani Pumpkin Pie syrup is added to an applejack brandy or bourbon Old-Fashioned in place of the standard brown sugar or other sugar item and results in a delicious fall-inspired cocktail https://keetscocktails.com/pumpkin-pie-old-fashioned-2/

Vodka (Moscow) Mule — a classic mix of ginger beer, vodka and lime juice. The ginger and bubbles make this a good digestive cocktail companion for a heavy meal. https://keetscocktails.com/vodka-mule-moscow-mule/

Woodstock — If you have a good dry gin at home, some orange bitters, a fresh lemon and maple syrup, the Woodstock cocktail is a delicious sweet & sour option for the fall/winter season. https://keetscocktails.com/woodstock/

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!