Thanksgiving is around the corner and it’s time to bust out the sweet seasonal drinks and cocktails recipes reserved for the holiday season. From champagne and appetizers to pies and dessert wine, we’re sharing some of our favorite wine and cocktail options to pair with your Thanksgiving meal.
Of course, we don’t suggest mixing different kinds of alcohol throughout the meal unless you’re completely okay with not moving from your bed all of Black Friday.
Thanksgiving Appetizers & Champagne
A bottle of bubbly is hands down the best option to bring to any gathering. When was the last time you heard of someone hating champagne? Truly never.
Though after a few flutes you may feel a bit bloated, champagne is quite light which makes it a great match with most appetizer dishes. Personally, we believe you can never go wrong with a bottle of Clicquot. Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne mixes nodes of fruit with discreet aromas of brioche and vanilla and delivers and sweet and soft finish.
For an option that is a bit lighter on the pockets, you may want to turn to Charles de Fère Brut Blanc de Blancs France Cuvée Jean-Louis. The aromas are fresh and fruity with a light and crispy taste. Remember: just because a bottle is cheap, does not mean it’s not delicious!
Main Course Cocktails
Holiday Negroni
Negroni’s sweet vermouth pairs perfectly with the fruity, savory flavors brought to the Thanksgiving dinner table. The gin brings a warm winter flavor, while the orange peel garnish compliments the cranberries on your dinner plate. The combination tastes like Christmas and is bound to put you in the holiday spirit. Sweet vermouth is a fortified wine that contains delicious spices that traditionally pair well with Thanksgiving dinner.
Ingredients:
- 1 oz Spiced Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Gin
- 1 oz Dry Vermouth
- 1 oz Campari
- Orange Slice
- Fresh Sage for Garnish
Directions:
Combine 1 cup of sugar, ⅕ cup of water, 2 cinnamon sticks, 3-star anise stars, and 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then remove it from heat while slowly stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let the mixture sit (removed from heat) for about 15 minutes until the mixture is cool.
Combine the ingredients into a glass of ice and stir carefully. Garnish with an orange slice, fresh sage, and enjoy your Thanksgiving Negroni!
Cranberry Spice Cocktail
What goes better with a turkey dinner than a cranberry cocktail? This delicious concoction is full of spice, hard cider, and the refreshing taste of Aperol.
Ingredients:
- 1 orange wedge
- 13 cranberries
- Three 1-inch pieces crystallized ginger— 2 minced and 1 whole for garnish
- 2 ounces Aperol
- 1 ounce Lillet Blanc
- Ice
- 4 ounces hard cider
- 4 dashes Cranberry-Anise Bitters
Directions:
Mix the orange wedge, minced ginger, and 10 cranberries in a cocktail shaker. Then, add the Aperol, Lillet Blanc, bitters, and ice. Shake well, then double-strain the mix into a glass of ice. Top it all off with the hard cider, and do not forget to garnish your Cranberry Spice Cocktail with the last three ruminating cranberries and the slice of ginger.
Thanksgiving Dessert Wines
Dessert wines are traditionally sugary, sweet, and an acquired taste to some! The strong flavors contain a higher alcohol content (typically more than 15% alcohol by volume) and pair nicely with sweets and desserts. However, there are some wines with less ABV such as Moscato, Muscadet, and Brachetto d’Acqui. Common dessert wines you may have heard of are Port, Madeira, Sherry, and late-harvest wines.
G.D. Vajra di Aldo – Rosso Langhe
Vajra Langhe Rosso is a great and safe option to bring to the dessert table. The wine is affordable, but still delicious and liked by many. Vajra Langhe Rosso contains traces of fruity strawberry, cherry, and blueberry flavors that pair nicely with a fresh-out-the-oven pumpkin pie.
More Information
Producer – G.D. Vajra di Aldo
Country – Italy
Region: Piedmont
Subregion: Barolo
Varietal: Nebbiolo
1975 Fonseca – Bin 27 Finest Reserva Port
Thick but smooth, 1975 Fonseca Bin 27 Finest Reserva Port pairs perfectly with warm and crispy holiday desserts flavors. If you’re bringing Port to the Thanksgiving gathering this year, please ensure you bring a backup option as well. While many find Port delicious, it is very much an acquired taste and not for the faint of heart!
More Information
Producer: Fonseca
Country: Portugal
Region: Porto
Varietal: Port Blend
Vintage: 1975
Get Your Holiday Drink Pairing From Grizzly Liquor
Missoula’s very own Grizzly Liquor has a wide variety of wine and spirits to make you even more excited about the holiday season. Browse our full inventory online and have your order ready before you arrive at the store. We even deliver to Missoula addresses.
From the Grizzly Liquor team to you, we wish you a happy holiday season!
