Deviate from Thanksgiving standards at the table, and face the wrath and whining from all ages. You don't mess with sacred dishes. But with cocktails, we will be taking total creative license. Here are 10 cocktails (with links to recipes), all tested by Gardenista editors. Here's to friends, to family, and to plenty more:
Above: The name couldn't be more apropos. The Mayflower, sipped at Vermont's Caledonia Distillery, made Justine a very happy pilgrim. A balanced mix of gin, cider, lime juice, simple syrup, and angostura bitters; in other words, it is a sip of New England in a glass.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Mayflower.
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Above: Taking a cue from the resourceful pilgrims, Marie transformed shiso grown in her Harlem garden into the Shisito, a mojito-inspired cocktail. With the herb's floral and cinnamon notes, it makes stuffing zestier and your gravy, more savory. Call it umami for Thanksgiving.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Shisito.
Above: It's cold outside, and Mulled Apple Cider is the perfect antidote to blizzards and polar vortexes. "To warm the heart cockles," Erin has the secret ingredient to mixing the perfect mug of spicy and sweet.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Mulled Apple Cider.
Above: A make-ahead cocktail keeps the good times rolling without forcing the host to break a sweat. This year, we give thanks to Sour Cherry Rickey. Mix the base—sour cherry bitters, simple syrup, lime, and gin—the night before. When guests arrive, all that's left to do is pour and top with soda.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Sour Cherry Rickey.
Above: Kendra finds a history lesson in The Apple Flip. Until the mid-19th century in America, the beverage was made with beer, rum, and egg, and given a frothy head by brawny colonial mixologists (who would aerate the drink by pouring it from container to container). The modern version, made with more refined booze—namely cider brandy and an apple aperitif—is still worth making a big batch as our forbears did.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Apple Flip.
Above: Winter is coming, and that means blood oranges have arrived. We will be spending the season with many flutes of Olivia's Blood Orange Campari Mimosa. It makes a sophisticated pre-feast tippler.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Blood Orange Campari Mimosa.
Above: Proof that you don't need an arsenal of mixers, bottles, and garnishes to be a fabulous host, Michelle cites the Tom Collins, a four-ingredient drink of gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and soda, as the "cornerstone of an instant holiday party." Photograph courtesy of Sweet and Bitters.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Tom Collins.
Above: Between hearty helpings, a gin and tonic is a Thanksgiving palate cleanser. Like a crisp salad but in liquid form, Erin finds a taste of the garden in the Mamani Gin & Tonic, muddled with cucumber and jalapeño, from Amy Stewart, otherwise known as the Drunken Botanist.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Mamani Gin & Tonic.
Above: Sangria Soda, not just a summer imbibe, celebrates the bounty of fall fruits, pomegranates, oranges, and apples. Plus, the fizz makes it extra festive. Photograph via Luxirare.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Sangria Soda.
Above: Thanksgiving on ice? If you're pouring Mint Juleps, Erin says yes, please. Serve them in julep cups for a fancy hint of silver at the table—no polishing required.
For step-by-step instructions, see Cocktail Recipe: Mint Julep.
Looking for more recipes, tips, and secrets to your best meal of the year? Browse our top Thanksgiving stories:
- Thanksgiving on a Budget: 7 Tips for Tabletop Decor from Stylist Beth Kirby.
- Recipe Roundup: 5 Favorites to Bring to a Holiday Potluck Party.
- A Thanksgiving Tabletop in White, Green, and Indigo.
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