50 Thanksgiving Cocktails

Skip the same three bottles of wine this year. Here are 50 Thanksgiving cocktails, from bourbon and cranberry classics to bubbly mocktails, so every single guest at your table has something worth raising a glass to.

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Classic Bourbon & Whiskey Cocktails

1. Maple Old Fashioned

This is the Old Fashioned that tastes like fall decided to grow up. The maple syrup rounds out the bourbon’s edges without turning it into dessert, and the orange oil from the twist hits your nose before the glass even touches your lips.

You’ll need: bourbon, pure maple syrup, Angostura bitters, orange peel, large ice cube

Add 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz maple syrup, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 20 seconds until well chilled and slightly diluted. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass. Express an orange peel over the top by holding it flame-side down and giving it a firm pinch, then drop it in.

2. Spiced Apple Whiskey Smash

Muddled fresh apple gives this smash a cloudy, rustic texture that feels like biting into an orchard. The cinnamon simple syrup ties it together so every sip tastes like caramel apple without the sugar crash.

You’ll need: rye whiskey, fresh apple, cinnamon simple syrup, lemon juice, apple slice, cinnamon stick

Muddle 4-5 chunks of fresh apple in the bottom of a shaker until juicy. Add 2 oz rye whiskey, 3/4 oz cinnamon simple syrup, and 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice. Fill with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with an apple slice fanned on the rim and a cinnamon stick pushed into the ice.

3. Bourbon Cranberry Smash

Fresh muddled cranberries turn this from a basic whiskey sour into something that tastes unmistakably like Thanksgiving. It’s tart, a little herbal from the rosemary, and just sweet enough to keep drinking.

You’ll need: bourbon, fresh cranberries, rosemary simple syrup, lemon juice, rosemary sprig

Muddle 10 fresh cranberries with 3/4 oz rosemary simple syrup in a shaker until crushed. Add 2 oz bourbon and 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, fill with ice, and shake for 15 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a few whole cranberries floated on top.

4. Fig and Rye Sour

Fig jam whisked into rye whiskey gives this sour a jammy, almost port-wine depth that pairs perfectly with a table full of savory food. The egg white foam makes it feel indulgent without adding much sweetness.

You’ll need: rye whiskey, fig jam, lemon juice, egg white, dried fig slice

Combine 2 oz rye whiskey, 1 tbsp fig jam, and 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice with the egg white in a shaker. Dry shake (no ice) for 15 seconds to build foam, then add ice and shake hard again for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a dried fig slice balanced on the rim.

5. Brown Butter Bourbon

Brown butter fat-washed into bourbon sounds fussy but tastes unreal, nutty and toasty with a silky texture that coats your tongue. This is the drink for the person who requests seconds on the mashed potatoes.

You’ll need: brown butter fat-washed bourbon, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, sea salt, orange peel

To fat-wash, melt 2 tbsp butter in a pan until browned and nutty, whisk into a 750ml bottle of bourbon, then freeze for 2 hours and strain through a coffee filter to remove the solidified fat. For each cocktail, stir 2 oz of the fat-washed bourbon with 1/4 oz maple syrup and 2 dashes bitters over ice for 20 seconds. Strain over one ice cube, add a pinch of sea salt, and garnish with an orange peel using a peeler.

6. Pecan Pie Old Fashioned

This one tastes like the last bite of pecan pie, if pecan pie could get you tipsy. Pecan-infused bourbon and a touch of brown sugar syrup make it rich without being cloying.

You’ll need: pecan-infused bourbon, brown sugar simple syrup, Angostura bitters, crushed pecans, whole pecan

To infuse, add 1 cup toasted pecans to a 750ml bottle of bourbon and let sit 24 hours, then strain. For each drink, stir 2 oz pecan bourbon, 1/4 oz brown sugar syrup, and 2 dashes bitters with ice for 20 seconds using a mixing glass. Wet the rim of a rocks glass and dip in crushed pecans. Strain the cocktail over one large ice cube and garnish with a whole pecan.

7. Sweet Potato Whiskey Sour

Roasted sweet potato puree blended into a whiskey sour sounds like a dare, but it works, giving the drink a velvety body that tastes like the inside of a Thanksgiving pie without any of the crust.

You’ll need: bourbon, roasted sweet potato puree, lemon juice, cinnamon simple syrup, orange wheel

Combine 2 oz bourbon, 1 tbsp roasted sweet potato puree, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice, and 1/2 oz cinnamon simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds until fully combined and frothy. Double strain into a chilled coupe to catch any fibrous bits. Dust the top with cinnamon and garnish with a thin orange wheel.

8. Rye and Chestnut Manhattan

Chestnut liqueur stands in for some of the sweet vermouth here, giving this Manhattan a roasted, nutty backbone that feels tailor-made for a holiday centered on roasted things.

You’ll need: rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, chestnut liqueur, Angostura bitters, brandied cherry

Add 2 oz rye whiskey, 1/2 oz sweet vermouth, 1/2 oz chestnut liqueur, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters to a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds until very cold. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with a brandied cherry dropped in using a cocktail pick.

9. Cider Whiskey Punch

This is the drink you make in a big bowl and let people serve themselves so you can actually sit down. Hot apple cider and bourbon simmered with whole spices smells like the whole house just got cozier.

You’ll need: bourbon, apple cider, orange, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise

Stud one orange with 15 whole cloves. Combine 8 cups apple cider, the clove-studded orange, 4 cinnamon sticks, and 3 star anise pods in a large pot. Simmer on low for 15 minutes to let the spices bloom, then remove from heat. Stir in 2 cups bourbon. Ladle from a glass beverage dispenser into mugs or heatproof glasses, making sure each gets a cinnamon stick and a piece of orange.

10. Bourbon Chai Cocktail

Chai concentrate shaken with bourbon and a splash of cream turns into something that tastes like a boozy dirty chai latte. It’s the drink for the guest who wants dessert and a nightcap in one glass.

You’ll need: bourbon, chai concentrate, heavy cream, maple syrup, cinnamon stick

Add 1.5 oz bourbon, 2 oz chai concentrate, 1/2 oz heavy cream, and 1/4 oz maple syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake for 15 seconds until frothy. Strain into a mug over fresh ice or serve warm by heating the chai concentrate first and stirring everything together. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

11. Smoked Maple Manhattan

If you own a smoking gun or a torch and a wood chip, this is your moment to show off. The smoke clings to the glass and hits you before the drink even touches your lips, playing beautifully against the maple sweetness.

You’ll need: rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, applewood chips, brandied cherry

Smoke a rocks glass by adding a pinch of applewood chips to a smoking gun, filling the glass with smoke, and covering it for 1 minute. Meanwhile, stir 2 oz rye whiskey, 1/2 oz sweet vermouth, 1/4 oz maple syrup, and 2 dashes bitters with ice in a mixing glass for 30 seconds. Uncover the smoked glass, strain the cocktail in over one large ice cube, and garnish with a brandied cherry.

12. Bourbon Pear Fizz

Pear puree and bourbon topped with soda water keeps this one light and fizzy, a good palate cleanser between rounds of a heavier drink. It tastes like biting into a ripe pear with a warm whiskey finish.

You’ll need: bourbon, pear puree, lemon juice, honey syrup, soda water, pear slice

Shake 1.5 oz bourbon, 1 oz pear puree, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz honey syrup with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice, then top with 2 oz soda water. Give it one gentle stir and garnish with a thin fanned pear slice on the rim.

13. Cranberry Old Fashioned

Cranberry syrup does the heavy lifting here, giving the classic Old Fashioned a tart, jewel-toned twist that looks as good on an Instagram story as it tastes.

You’ll need: bourbon, cranberry syrup, Angostura bitters, orange peel, sugared cranberries

Stir 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz cranberry syrup, and 2 dashes Angostura bitters with ice in a mixing glass for 20 seconds. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass. Express an orange peel over the top and drop it in, then skewer 3 sugared cranberries on a cocktail pick and rest them across the rim.

14. Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned

A torched marshmallow floated right on the ice cube adds a campfire sweetness that melts slightly into the drink as you sip. It’s playful, a little nostalgic, and genuinely delicious.

You’ll need: bourbon, vanilla simple syrup, Angostura bitters, marshmallow

Stir 2 oz bourbon, 1/4 oz vanilla simple syrup, and 2 dashes bitters with ice for 20 seconds in a mixing glass. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass. Skewer a marshmallow and torch it until golden and slightly charred on the outside, then rest it across the rim or drop it directly into the glass.

15. Bourbon Persimmon Sour

Fuyu persimmons blended into a sour add a honeyed, almost tropical sweetness you don’t expect from a fall cocktail. It’s the drink to make if you want to surprise your most well-traveled guest.

You’ll need: bourbon, ripe persimmon, lemon juice, honey syrup, egg white, persimmon slice

Puree 1/2 a ripe persimmon until smooth. Combine 2 oz bourbon, 2 tbsp persimmon puree, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz honey syrup, and the egg white in a shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds, add ice, and shake hard again for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe and garnish with a thin persimmon slice.

16. Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

This is the easiest showstopper on the whole list, a sugar cube soaked in cranberry liqueur that fizzes and dissolves as the champagne hits it. Guests will think you worked harder than you did.

You’ll need: sugar cube, cranberry liqueur, Angostura bitters, champagne, fresh cranberries

Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a champagne flute and saturate it with 1/2 oz cranberry liqueur and 2 dashes bitters. Top slowly with 4 oz chilled champagne, letting it fizz up the sugar cube. Drop in 3 fresh cranberries to finish.

17. Pomegranate Mimosa

A regular mimosa gets a jewel-box upgrade with pomegranate juice instead of orange, turning it a deep ruby red that looks incredible next to a white tablecloth.

You’ll need: pomegranate juice, champagne, pomegranate arils

Pour 2 oz chilled pomegranate juice into a champagne flute, or set up a mimosa bar sign so guests can build their own. Top slowly with 4 oz chilled champagne. Drop a spoonful of pomegranate arils on top to finish.

18. Maple Bourbon French 75

Swapping gin for bourbon and adding a hit of maple turns the classic French 75 into a fall-appropriate sipper that still keeps its bright, celebratory fizz.

You’ll need: bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, champagne, lemon twist

Shake 1 oz bourbon, 3/4 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz maple syrup with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into a champagne flute and top slowly with 3 oz chilled champagne. Garnish with a long lemon twist, cut with a peeler, spiraled over the rim.

19. Spiced Pear Bellini

Pear puree cooked down with warm spices and blended with prosecco makes a Bellini that tastes like autumn instead of a summer brunch. It’s velvety before the bubbles hit, then wonderfully light.

You’ll need: ripe pears, cinnamon stick, star anise, sugar, prosecco, pear slice

Simmer 2 peeled and chopped pears with 1/4 cup water, 2 tbsp sugar, one cinnamon stick, and one star anise pod for 8 minutes until soft. Cool slightly, remove the spices, and blend the pears until smooth. Spoon 2 oz of the puree into each champagne flute and top slowly with 4 oz chilled prosecco. Garnish each with a thin pear slice.

20. Apple Cider Mimosa

Fresh apple cider replaces orange juice for a mimosa that smells like a farmers market and drinks like the easiest crowd-pleaser at brunch.

You’ll need: apple cider, cinnamon, champagne, cinnamon stick

Pour 2 oz chilled apple cider into a champagne flute with a small pinch of ground cinnamon stirred in. Top slowly with 4 oz chilled champagne. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

21. Fig Prosecco Spritz

Fig liqueur and prosecco over ice makes a spritz that’s easy-drinking but still feels dressed up for the occasion, sweet without tipping into syrupy.

You’ll need: fig liqueur, prosecco, soda water, fresh fig, mint sprig

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add 1 oz fig liqueur, then top with 3 oz prosecco and 1 oz soda water. Give it one gentle stir. Garnish with a fresh fig half and a mint sprig.

22. Cranberry Rosemary Spritz

Rosemary simple syrup adds a savory, piney note that keeps this cranberry spritz from tasting like straight juice. It’s refreshing enough to drink through an entire dinner.

You’ll need: cranberry juice, rosemary simple syrup, prosecco, soda water, rosemary sprig

Fill a wine glass with ice. Add 1.5 oz cranberry juice and 1/2 oz rosemary simple syrup. Top with 2 oz prosecco and 1 oz soda water, stirring gently once. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and a few whole cranberries.

23. Ginger Pear Champagne Punch

This is your big-batch bubbly option, made for a crowd that wants to toast without you standing at the bar all night pouring individual mimosas. Our Harvest Punch is another good hands-off option if you want a second bowl going.

You’ll need: pear nectar, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, champagne, pear slices, fresh ginger

In a large glass beverage dispenser or punch bowl, combine 4 cups pear nectar, 1 cup ginger liqueur, and 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, and stir. Right before serving, add two chilled bottles of champagne and stir once gently to combine. Float thin pear slices and coins of fresh ginger on top. Ladle into glasses over ice.

24. Sage and Honey Champagne Fizz

A fried sage leaf floated on top of this fizz adds a crispy, savory garnish that smells incredible before you even take a sip, and the honey syrup keeps it from feeling too herbal.

You’ll need: gin, honey syrup, lemon juice, champagne, fresh sage leaves, neutral oil

Fry 2 sage leaves in 1/2 inch of hot neutral oil for 10 seconds until crisp, then drain on a paper towel. Shake 1 oz gin, 1/2 oz honey syrup, and 1/2 oz lemon juice with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into a champagne flute and top with 3 oz champagne. Float the fried sage leaves on top.

25. Blood Orange Sparkler

Blood orange juice turns this simple sparkler a dramatic ruby-orange that tastes bright and citrusy against a heavy Thanksgiving spread.

You’ll need: blood orange juice, orange liqueur, champagne, blood orange wheel

Add 1.5 oz fresh blood orange juice and 1/4 oz orange liqueur, measured with a jigger, to a champagne flute. Top slowly with 4 oz chilled champagne. Garnish with a thin blood orange wheel on the rim.

26. Classic Cranberry Vodka Cocktail

Sometimes the crowd just wants a good vodka cranberry, and this version, with fresh lime and a splash of orange liqueur, is the elevated version of that college go-to.

You’ll need: vodka, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, lime wheel

Fill a rocks glass with ice. Add 2 oz vodka, 3 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz lime juice, and 1/4 oz orange liqueur, measured with a jigger. Stir well for 10 seconds. Garnish with a lime wheel and a few floating cranberries.

27. Cranberry Sage Margarita

Cranberry juice and fresh sage push a regular margarita into full Thanksgiving territory without losing that tart, tequila-forward backbone that makes margaritas so drinkable.

You’ll need: tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, fresh sage, salt

Muddle 3 sage leaves in the bottom of a shaker. Add 2 oz tequila, 1.5 oz cranberry juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz orange liqueur. Fill with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Salt half the rim of a rocks glass, fill with fresh ice, and strain the cocktail in. Garnish with a fresh sage leaf.

28. Pomegranate Gin Fizz

Pomegranate juice and gin shaken with egg white make a fizz that’s tart, floral, and just a little dramatic looking with its cloud of foam on top.

You’ll need: gin, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, simple syrup, egg white, pomegranate arils

Combine 2 oz gin, 1 oz pomegranate juice, 1/2 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, and the egg white in a shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds, then add ice and shake hard again for 15 seconds. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice. Top with a few pomegranate arils.

29. Fresh Cranberry Mule

The classic Moscow Mule gets a Thanksgiving twist with muddled fresh cranberries, keeping all the spicy ginger beer bite but adding a tart, jammy depth.

You’ll need: vodka, fresh cranberries, lime juice, simple syrup, ginger beer, lime wheel

Muddle 10 fresh cranberries with 1/2 oz simple syrup in the bottom of a copper mug. Add 2 oz vodka and 1/2 oz lime juice, then fill the mug with crushed ice. Top with 3 oz ginger beer and stir once gently. Garnish with a lime wheel and a few whole cranberries.

30. Cranberry Orange Rum Punch

Dark rum gives this punch a warm backbone under all that bright cranberry and orange, making it the punch bowl option for a crowd that likes their drinks a little stronger.

You’ll need: dark rum, cranberry juice, orange juice, lime juice, orange wheels, cinnamon sticks

In a large drink pitcher or batch pitcher, combine 2 cups dark rum, 4 cups cranberry juice, 2 cups orange juice, and 1/2 cup fresh lime juice. Stir well. Add a large block of ice or a few cups of ice cubes. Float orange wheels and cinnamon sticks on top before serving.

31. Cranberry Jalapeño Margarita

A couple of jalapeño slices muddled in add a slow-building heat that plays surprisingly well against the tart cranberry, waking up the whole table before dessert.

You’ll need: tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, agave syrup, fresh jalapeño, salt

Muddle 2 slices of jalapeño in the bottom of a shaker (remove seeds first for less heat). Add 2 oz tequila, 1.5 oz cranberry juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz agave syrup. Fill with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Salt the rim of a rocks glass, fill with ice, and double strain the cocktail in. Garnish with a fresh jalapeño slice.

32. Cranberry Orange Old Fashioned

Orange bitters and a cranberry-infused simple syrup take the classic Old Fashioned exactly where it belongs on Thanksgiving without overcomplicating a drink that doesn’t need much help.

You’ll need: bourbon, cranberry simple syrup, orange bitters, orange peel, cranberry skewer

Stir 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz cranberry simple syrup, and 3 dashes orange bitters with ice in a mixing glass for 20 seconds. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Express an orange peel, cut with a peeler, over the top and drop it in. Garnish with a skewer of 3 cranberries on a cocktail pick.

33. Cranberry Elderflower Collins

Elderflower liqueur adds a soft floral note that keeps this Collins light and bright, making it a great option for anyone who finds most holiday drinks too heavy.

You’ll need: gin, cranberry juice, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, soda water, mint sprig

Shake 1.5 oz gin, 1 oz cranberry juice, 1/2 oz elderflower liqueur, and 1/2 oz lemon juice with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into a Collins glass filled with fresh ice and top with 2 oz soda water. Garnish with a mint sprig and lemon wheel.

34. Spiced Cranberry Margarita

A cinnamon-sugar rim and a splash of clove-infused syrup turn this margarita into something that tastes distinctly like a holiday, even though tequila is doing most of the talking.

You’ll need: tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, clove simple syrup, cinnamon sugar, cinnamon stick

Combine 2 oz tequila, 1.5 oz cranberry juice, 3/4 oz lime juice, and 1/2 oz clove simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds. Rim a rocks glass with cinnamon sugar, fill with fresh ice, and strain the cocktail in. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

35. Cranberry White Negroni

A cranberry-infused white vermouth swapped into a classic Negroni structure gives you all the bittersweet complexity of the original with a lighter, fruitier finish.

You’ll need: gin, Suze or Aperol, cranberry-infused white vermouth, grapefruit twist

To infuse the vermouth, steep 1/2 cup fresh cranberries in a bottle of dry white vermouth for 24 hours, then strain. Stir 1 oz gin, 1 oz Aperol, and 1 oz cranberry white vermouth with ice in a mixing glass for 20 seconds. Strain over one large ice cube in a rocks glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist cut with a peeler.

36. Salted Caramel Apple Martini

This is a caramel apple in cocktail form, sweet and salty in equal measure, with a real bite from the apple brandy that keeps it from tasting like candy. For a fizzier take on the same flavor combo, try our Caramel Apple Moscow Mule.

You’ll need: vodka, apple brandy, caramel sauce, apple juice, sea salt, apple slice

Drizzle caramel sauce around the inside of a martini glass and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt on the rim. Shake 1.5 oz vodka, 1/2 oz apple brandy, 1/2 oz caramel sauce, and 1 oz apple juice with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into the prepared glass and garnish with a thin apple slice on the rim.

37. Poached Pear Martini

Pear liqueur and vanilla vodka make this a smooth, sippable martini that tastes like dessert without needing a single garnish to prove it.

You’ll need: vanilla vodka, pear liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup, pear slice

Shake 1.5 oz vanilla vodka, 1 oz pear liqueur, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1/4 oz simple syrup with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a thin fanned pear slice.

38. Spiced Apple Cider Mule

Apple cider replaces the usual lime cordial in this mule, and the spiced simple syrup makes it taste like the mug itself is warm even when it’s served ice cold.

You’ll need: vodka, apple cider, lime juice, cinnamon simple syrup, ginger beer, apple fan

Fill a copper mug with crushed ice. Add 2 oz vodka, 2 oz apple cider, 1/2 oz lime juice, and 1/4 oz cinnamon simple syrup. Top with 2 oz ginger beer and stir gently. Garnish with a fanned apple slice and a cinnamon stick.

39. Pear Ginger Smash

Fresh ginger muddled with ripe pear gives this smash a spicy kick that cuts through its natural sweetness, making it dangerously easy to drink faster than you meant to.

You’ll need: vodka, ripe pear, fresh ginger, lemon juice, simple syrup, candied ginger

Muddle 3 chunks of ripe pear and a quarter-sized piece of fresh ginger in the bottom of a shaker until juicy. Add 2 oz vodka, 3/4 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz simple syrup. Fill with ice and shake hard for 15 seconds. Double strain into a rocks glass over crushed ice. Garnish with candied ginger and a pear slice.

40. Honeycrisp Sidecar

Fresh Honeycrisp apple juice softens the sharp citrus edge of a classic Sidecar, turning it into a fall-appropriate sipper that still has that same boozy backbone.

You’ll need: cognac, orange liqueur, lemon juice, fresh apple juice, sugar, apple slice

Shake 1.5 oz cognac, 3/4 oz orange liqueur, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz fresh apple juice with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Sugar the rim of a coupe glass, strain the cocktail in, and garnish with a thin apple slice.

41. Pear Rosemary Gin Fizz

Rosemary-infused gin and fresh pear puree topped with soda water make a fizz that tastes like walking through an orchard in November, crisp air and all.

You’ll need: gin, pear puree, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup, soda water, rosemary sprig

Shake 1.5 oz gin, 1 oz pear puree, 1/2 oz lemon juice, and 1/2 oz rosemary simple syrup with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice, top with 2 oz soda water, and stir once. Garnish with a rosemary sprig and pear slice.

42. Caramel Apple Old Fashioned

Caramel and apple brandy stirred into whiskey turns this Old Fashioned into a genuine dessert drink, best sipped slowly while someone cuts the pie.

You’ll need: bourbon, apple brandy, caramel syrup, Angostura bitters, apple slice

Stir 1.5 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz apple brandy, 1/4 oz caramel syrup, and 2 dashes bitters with ice in a mixing glass for 20 seconds. Drizzle a little caramel syrup inside a rocks glass before adding one large ice cube. Strain the cocktail in and garnish with an apple slice.

43. Apple Cider Sangria

This is the pitcher drink you make an hour before guests arrive and forget about until it’s time to pour. White wine and apple cider steeped with fruit turns genuinely better the longer it sits. If you love this one, check out our full Apple Cider Sangria recipe for more tips on getting the fruit ratio right.

You’ll need: dry white wine, apple cider, apple brandy, apples, orange, cinnamon sticks

In a large drink pitcher, combine one bottle of dry white wine, 2 cups apple cider, and 1/2 cup apple brandy. Add 2 sliced apples, 1 sliced orange, and 2 cinnamon sticks. Stir well and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld. Serve over ice in wine glasses, spooning some fruit into each glass.

44. Brown Sugar Pear Cocktail

Brown sugar syrup gives this pear cocktail a molasses depth that makes it taste older and richer than the five minutes it actually takes to make.

You’ll need: spiced rum, pear nectar, brown sugar syrup, lemon juice, dehydrated pear chip

Shake 2 oz spiced rum, 1.5 oz pear nectar, 1/4 oz brown sugar syrup, and 1/2 oz lemon juice with ice in a shaker for 15 seconds. Strain over a large ice cube in a rocks glass. Garnish with a dehydrated pear chip standing upright in the glass.

45. Apple Butter Whiskey Sour

A spoonful of real apple butter whisked into a whiskey sour gives it a jammy, spiced density that tastes like it was made specifically to go with pie for dessert.

You’ll need: bourbon, apple butter, lemon juice, egg white, nutmeg

Combine 2 oz bourbon, 1 tbsp apple butter, 3/4 oz lemon juice, and the egg white in a shaker. Dry shake for 15 seconds, then add ice and shake hard again for 15 seconds. Double strain into a chilled coupe glass. Grate fresh nutmeg over the foam to finish.

46. Hot Buttered Rum

This is the drink your grandparents were right about the whole time, rich, buttery, and warming from the first sip. It smells like the inside of a bakery in December.

You’ll need: dark rum, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, hot water, cinnamon stick

In a mug, mash together 1 tbsp softened butter, 1 tbsp brown sugar, a pinch of cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg until creamy. Add 2 oz dark rum and stir to combine. Top with 4 oz hot water and stir until the butter melts fully into the drink. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

47. Mulled Wine

This is the pot you keep simmering on the stove all afternoon so the whole house smells like cloves and orange peel before anyone even sits down to eat. Once the holidays roll on, our Christmas Punch is a great follow-up for the same crowd.

You’ll need: dry red wine, orange, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, honey, brandy

Stud an orange with 12 whole cloves. Combine one bottle of dry red wine, the clove-studded orange, 3 cinnamon sticks, 2 star anise pods, and 1/4 cup honey in a pot. Warm over low heat for 15 minutes without letting it boil. Stir in 1/4 cup brandy at the end. Ladle from a glass beverage dispenser into mugs, giving each a piece of orange and a cinnamon stick.

48. Spiked Chai Toddy

Real brewed chai tea with a shot of bourbon and honey is the drink for anyone who claims they don’t like cocktails but will absolutely drink this the whole night. If tequila is more your speed, our Tequila Hot Toddy uses the same warm, spiced base.

You’ll need: brewed chai tea, bourbon, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon stick

Brew a strong cup of chai tea and let it cool slightly for 2 minutes. In a mug, stir together 2 oz bourbon, 1 tbsp honey, and 1/2 oz lemon juice until the honey dissolves. Top with 4 oz of the hot chai tea and stir to combine. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

49. Cranberry Hot Toddy

Swapping the usual water for hot cranberry juice turns a plain Hot Toddy into a drink that looks and tastes unmistakably like Thanksgiving in a mug.

You’ll need: bourbon, cranberry juice, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon stick

Heat 4 oz cranberry juice in a small pot or microwave until steaming but not boiling, about 90 seconds. Pour into a mug with 2 oz bourbon, 1 tbsp honey, and 1/2 oz lemon juice. Stir until the honey dissolves. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

50. Spiced Pear Toddy

Pear nectar warmed with whole spices and a shot of brandy makes a toddy that tastes like drinking a warm slice of pear tart.

You’ll need: brandy, pear nectar, cinnamon stick, star anise, honey, pear slice

Heat 4 oz pear nectar with one cinnamon stick and one star anise pod in a small pot for 3 minutes until steaming and fragrant. Remove the spices. Pour into a mug with 2 oz brandy and 1 tsp honey, stirring to combine. Garnish with a thin pear slice and the reserved star anise.

The Bar Cart Essentials for This List

Fifty recipes lean on the same handful of tools over and over, so here’s everything worth having on hand before you start pouring. A cocktail shaker and a jigger cover almost every shaken drink on this list, while a mixing glass handles every stirred Old Fashioned and Manhattan. A large ice cube mold makes a real difference in anything served on the rocks, and a set of rocks glasses will get used constantly. For garnishes, a simple vegetable peeler makes clean citrus twists, and a set of cocktail picks keeps skewered fruit looking neat. Keep lemon juice and a bottle of simple syrup stocked, or make your own and store it in a glass syrup bottle so it’s ready whenever a recipe calls for it. For the spiced and warm drinks, stock up on cinnamon sticks and star anise, both used across more than a dozen recipes here.

Setting Up for a Crowd

For the punch and batch recipes, a drink pitcher or a batch pitcher makes portioning and pouring easy, and a glass beverage dispenser with a spigot lets guests serve themselves without you hovering by the punch bowl all afternoon. If you’re setting up a self-serve mimosa station, a printed mimosa bar sign and a clear acrylic drink dispenser stand keep things organized. A set of small mason jars works well for pre-batched single servings, and a copper serving tray makes the whole setup look pulled together. Finish the bar with a bundle of gold drink stirrers so people can mix their own garnishes in.

More Recipes You’ll Love

• Fall Cocktails, our full roundup of the season’s best drinks
• Harvest Punch, another easy big-batch option for a crowd
• Apple Cider Sangria, a single-recipe deep dive on the pitcher drink above
• Caramel Apple Moscow Mule, if you loved the Salted Caramel Apple Martini
• Spiced Apple Prosecco, another bubbly fall sipper
• Maple Old Fashioned with Tequila, a tequila spin on our bourbon classic
• Tequila Hot Toddy, for another take on a warm, spiced nightcap
• Christmas Punch, to keep the punch bowl going once the holidays roll on