29 Best Bourbon Cocktails for Thanksgiving and Beyond
These bourbon cocktails for Thanksgiving are festive and full of warm fall flavors. With the holiday just around the corner, it’s time to start planning your menu. From timeless classics to unique drink ideas, these drinks with bourbon are celebratory and almost foolproof. They pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving meal and family stress (kidding…).
Bourbon Cocktails Perfect for Fall
Bourbon cocktails are fun to make a go beyond the traditional beer and wine that are often served at Thanksgiving dinner. With a blend of subtle vanilla, caramel, and oak flavors, bourbon complements the savory elements of many Thanksgiving dishes.
Bourbon is complex and adds a layer of sophistication to your Thanksgiving gathering. It provides a robust foundation for delectable cocktails, ensuring that every sip is super flavorful.
Related post: Bourbon Cocktails for Christmas
Whether you’re enjoying a cocktail with loved ones this holiday season or sipping it solo, bourbon cocktails add a touch of warmth and relaxation to the festivities.
Cheers to a Thanksgiving (or Friendsgiving) filled with delightful sips and great company! Now grab your cocktail shaker and get mixing!
These easy cocktails are great for your Friendsgiving menu too!
Thanksgiving Cocktails with Bourbon
If you're a fan of bourbon drinks, this collection of bourbon cocktails for Thanksgiving is worthy of a peak. I'm sure you'll find at least one favorite boozy bourbon beverage!
Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade
Fresh muddled blackberries and tangerine lemonade create a fruity and refreshing base for this Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade cocktail.
Ingredients: whiskey, lemonade, blackberries, rosemary, lime juice, cinnamon
Bourbon Cocktail with Champagne
This Bourbon Champagne Cocktail recipe is a great way to show people just how delicious Bourbon can be especially if they're a little afraid of it! With a little sparkling wine and some fresh blueberries, this easy cocktail is celebratory and perfect for enjoying with friends.
Ingredients: sparkling wine, bourbon whiskey, sugar, mint leaves, blueberries
Bourbon Mule
This Bourbon Mule is a great twist on one of my favorite cocktails ! Like the original, it's super refreshing and ridiculously easy to make.
Ingredients: bourbon, ginger beer, lime, sage, bitters
Brown Derby Cocktail
The Brown Derby Cocktail is a delicious mix of bourbon, grapefruit, and honey. This classic drink is complex but sweet and refreshing!
Ingredients: bourbon whiskey, grapefruit juice, honey syrup, ice, grapefruit zest
Cynar Toronto (Amaro Old Fashioned)
This Cynar Toronto is an old-fashioned style cocktail made with an Italian amaro. This stirred drink is a perfectly balanced sweet and bitter sipper!
Ingredients: whiskey, cynar, simple syrup, bitters, orange twist, ice
Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
This Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail is my favorite fall-inspired twist on the classic Old Fashioned. Bourbon, bitters, and homemade apple cider syrup garnished with slices of dried apples and a fresh sprig of rosemary.
Ingredients: apple cider, orange, spices, apple cider syrup, bourbon, bitters, apple slice, orange slice, rosemary
Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Blackberry Bourbon Smash is a refreshing blend of juicy blackberries and smoky bourbon with a touch of sweetness. A modern update of a classic fruity cocktail.
Ingredients: bourbon, blackberries, simple syrup, seltzer water, fresh mint, lemon wedge, ice
Not Your Father's Old Fashioned
This is our take on the ordinary Old Fashioned...it's kicked up a couple of notches! Not Your Father's Old Fashioned has some of the ingredients that you would expect like bourbon and bitters....but adds in some spectacular ingredients like fresh oranges and grapefruits and an amazing thyme simple syrup!
Ingredients: thyme simple syrup, orange, grapefruit, bourbon, bitters, orange twist, thyme, ice
Coffee Old Fashioned is a Delicious Nightcap
Coffee and bourbon are the perfect pair in this Coffee Old Fashioned, a twist on a classic bourbon cocktail. This one is a good one to serve with Thanksgiving dessert.
Ingredients: bourbon, coffee, brown sugar syrup, orange juice, chocolate bitters
Rosemary Brown Derby (Bourbon and Grapefruit Cocktail)
This smooth and refreshing bourbon and grapefruit cocktail is made with bourbon, honey, fresh grapefruit juice, and fresh rosemary.
Ingredients: ice, bourbon, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, honey, rosemary, soda water, sliced grapefruit
Hot Buttered Bourbon
This old-fashioned Hot Buttered Bourbon cocktail is a delicious way to warm up. It is rich and creamy with hints of apple and cinnamon, and then there is the bourbon!
Ingredients: bourbon, apple cider, cinnamon sticks, butter, nutmeg
Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour
This Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour is perfectly smoky, tart, and sweet. This has all my favorite fall flavors!
Ingredients: bourbon, lemon juice, rosemary maple syrup, lemon slice
Cranberry Old Fashioned Recipe Cocktail
This Cranberry Old Fashioned puts a delicious spin on a classic cocktail! Homemade cranberry-orange simple syrup is easy to make and adds a beautiful flavor that is balanced with the spice of bourbon.
Ingredients: cranberry simple syrup, bitters, bourbon, ice
Sassy Sangria (Bourbon White Sangria)
This Sassy Sangria starts with a Marlboro Sauvignon Blanc, bold Kentucky Bourbon and finished off with refreshing Ginger Beer. The best Thanksgiving cocktails serve a crowd and this sangria does just that. It's smooth, and crisp with a wonderful depth of flavor.
Ingredients: Sauvignon Blanc Wine, Bourbon, Minced Ginger, Ginger Beer, Orange, White grapes, Blueberries/Blackberries, Split fresh figs
Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar
If you want simple elegance in a glass, this cocktail Blackberry Bourbon Sidecar recipe is for you! A classic cocktail with fresh herbs and berries makes an amazing and simple drink.
Ingredients: blackberries, bourbon, Cointreau, lemon juice, fresh thyme
Smoked Old Fashioned
There are very few things in life that bring me more pleasure than a smoked old fashioned cocktail. It's the perfect cocktail to elicit warm and cozy feelings on cool nights.
Ingredients: whiskey, sugar cube, Angostura bitters, smoke, orange peel, bourbon cherry
A Sparkling Bourbon & Ginger Cocktail Recipe
A bubbly bourbon cocktail recipe with a simple-to-make spicy ginger syrup. It’s the perfect blend of spicy, sour, sweet and bubbly.
Ingredients: ginger syrup, bourbon, lemon, sparkling water
A Boozy Bourbon Root Beer Float
If you love bourbon and root beer, then this Boozy Bourbon Root Beer Float with vanilla caramel gelato is for you.
Ingredients: Bourbon Cream, Vodka, Root Beer, Vanilla Caramel Gelato
Sparkling Bourbon Peach Punch
This sparkling bourbon peach punch features sweet bourbon mixed with ginger beer and a bounty of fresh fruit including peaches and pomegranate. It would be an amazing signature drink to make a Thanksgiving tradition.
Ingredients: lemon, ginger beer, bourbon, pomegranate seeds, sugar cane syrup, water, peaches
Kentucky Buck Cocktail
The Kentucky Buck is a delicious bourbon cocktail you’ll be drinking all season long.
Ingredients: strawberry, bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters, ice, ginger beer
Home Made Bourbon Cream Recipe
Five Simple ingredients are all it takes to create the perfect Bourbon Cream drink for the end of any day. Creamy with a hint of sweetness and a strong bourbon flavor.
Ingredients: bourbon whiskey, sweetened condensed milk (one can), heavy cream, milk, vanilla
Apple Cider Bourbon Slushies
Apple cider bourbon slushies are going to quickly become your favorite fall cocktail! The sweet apple cider, fall spices, and firey bourbon are an incredible trio of flavors in these refreshing sippers.
Ingredients: apple cider, maple syrup, spices, vanilla, bourbon
Refreshing Basil Peach Bourbon Smash Recipe
This delightful concoction combines ripe peaches, fresh basil, lemon juice, simple syrup, and smooth bourbon whiskey, creating a tasty cocktail that is similar to a whiskey sour. You'll love this Basil Peach Bourbon Smash.
Ingredients: peaches, basil, simple syrup, lemon juice, bourbon whiskey
Pickleback Cocktail
Combine the popular shot and chaser combo for a fun pickle juice cocktail! Garnish your pickleback cocktail with fresh dill and pickle spear.
Ingredients: bourbon, pickle juice, lime juice, simple syrup, pickle spear, fresh dill
Toasty Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail
You are only 5 ingredients away from your next go-to fall cocktail! This Toasty Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail is warm, full of flavors, and completely satisfying.
Ingredients: apple cider, cranberry juice, apices, bourbon
Pumpkin Bourbon Apple Cider
This sweet and savory Pumpkin Bourbon Apple Cider cocktail is ready to become the next staple in your Thanksgiving spread!
Ingredients: apple cider, pumpkin pie vodka, pumpkin spiced bourbon, ginger ale, apple slices
Ginger Pear Bourbon Cocktail
This spiced ginger pear bourbon drink is a perfect Thanksgiving cocktail. With pear and lemon, this drink is refreshing and great for Thanksgiving day in a warmish climate.
Ingredients: pear juice bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, ginger beer
Bourbon Coffee
Bourbon coffee is a delicious bourbon-spiked coffee sweetened with maple syrup and topped with whipped cream. It is basically Irish coffee but made with bourbon. It will surely be a treat for all bourbon drinkers!
Ingredients: coffee, maple syrup, bourbon, whipped cream, chocolate
Tips for making bourbon cocktails
Making a festive Thanksgiving cocktail with bourbon doesn’t have to be intimidating or require a fully stocked bar.
Choose a Quality Bourbon
The foundation of a great bourbon cocktail starts with selecting a good-quality bourbon. This doesn’t mean it has to be expensive but it should be something that you like the taste of.
Whether you prefer something smooth and mellow or bold and spicy. Remember, the flavors of the bourbon will be prominent in the cocktail, so choose wisely.
If you need a few suggestions for brands try Bulleit, Four Roses, Knob Creek or Hudson.
Experiment with Flavors
While classic bourbon cocktails like the Old Fashioned are timeless, don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with flavors. Add a splash of citrus or a dash of bitters, infuse your bourbon with herbs or spices, or try incorporating seasonal fruits for a unique twist.
Balance the Sweet and Sour
Achieving the right balance of sweetness and acidity is crucial in any cocktail. Consider using simple syrup, honey, or flavored liqueurs to add sweetness, while fresh citrus juices (lemon and bourbon pair really well together) contribute to the essential tartness.
Ice Matters
Large ice cubes are ideal for slow dilution, preventing the drink from becoming watered down too quickly. These ice cube trays make 6 large cubes which is great for serving bourbon cocktails at Thanksgiving.
Garnish with Care
Garnishes not only enhance the presentation but also add aromatic and visual components to the cocktail. Fun garnishes for bourbon cocktails are orange twists or piece of orange peel, Luxardo cherries, fresh herbs, or a cinnamon stick.
Enhance the Glassware
Presentation is key when it comes to serving cocktails. Opt for crystal-cut highball glasses, a rocks glass, or a classic coupe to add an elegant touch to your bourbon creations. I don’t typically think that you need to use the “right” glassware but it can enhance the overall drinking experience and make your guests feel extra special.
Frequently Asked Questions
Thanksgiving can be a busy time, so being able to prepare some elements of the cocktails ahead of time can be a game-changer. Prepare components of the cocktail ahead of time to streamline the process. Make simple syrup, juice citrus fruits, or chop garnishes in advance and store them properly. This way, when you’re ready to mix the cocktails, you’ll have all the necessary ingredients readily available.
Or you can use the recipe card serving size multiplier and make a larger batch of a cocktail recipe. You can mix everything except for anything carbonated.
As I mentioned before, you can use whiskey if you don’t have bourbon. If you want to make these into mocktails you can use a zero-proof whiskey. Although it would change the flavor some, you can use another type of aged liquor like anejo tequila, an aged rum etc.
Thanksgiving gatherings often include guests with different preferences, including those who may not typically drink bourbon. Offering options for bourbon cocktails that can appeal to different tastes, such as a fruity bourbon punch or a creamy bourbon eggnog, would be beneficial.
Bourbon drinks that are a little bit sweeter and balanced with fresh citrus are great for beginners. Also, cranberry juice is a great pairing with bourbon and is generally easy to drink.
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