In the rush of the holidays and planning the perfect feast, it can be easy to place beverages for the meal at the bottom of the priorities list. While the drinks may not be the highlight of the day, there’s no reason why you can’t try!

One of the most memorable Thanksgivings since Jody and I got married was a few Novembers ago when his family somehow ended up with several bottles of Dom Perignon – definitely not the norm! That Thanksgiving, we went through not one, not two, but three bottles of bubbly! As fun as that was, I’m not sure how much of a regular occurrence that will be, so instead I rounded up a few cocktails that I think would pair nicely for turkey day and are incredibly easy to make!

One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. I don’t think I’ve ever missed it, even if that mean mixing up the green bean casserole while standing in front of the TV! It’s a holiday, after all, so why don’t start your day with a festive Apple Cider Mimosa. I think the cinnamon sugar rim may be my new favorite garnish.

To me, Thanksgiving is also the official kickoff to the holiday season and nothing says happy holidays like a little spice! Mix up a batch of the Spiced Pear Cocktails and enjoy with your guests as the start to arrive. With a touch of sweet, and a dash of spice, this simple cocktail is bound to be a crowd favorite!

Truthfully, wine will always be my favorite spirit to pair with a Thanksgiving turkey, but y’all know I love my whiskey too! The Cranberry Whiskey Spritz is the perfect cocktail to take you from Thanksgiving all the way through Christmas Day.

Apple Cider Mimosa

Apple Cider

Champagne or Prosecco

Cinnamon for the rim

Sugar for the rim

Mix cinnamon and sugar to taste in a shallow bowl. Wet the rim of champagne glass and dip into cinnamon sugar mixture. Fill half of champagne glass with champagne or prosecco. Fill the rest of glass with apple cider.

Spiced Pear Cocktail

12 oz of Pear Nectar

6 oz of Vodka

Dash of Cinnamon

Sliced pear for garnish

Combine pear nectar, vodka, and cinnamon. Blend and pour over ice. Garnish with a sliced pear. Makes 4 cocktails.

Cranberry Whiskey Spritz

1 oz Whiskey

1 oz Ginger Ale

1 oz Cranberry Juice

Fresh Cranberries for garnish

In a cocktail with ice, combine liquids and stir. Strain over ice into glass and garnish with fresh cranberries. Cheers!