Make A Toast With These Five Festive Thanksgiving Cocktails

It's Thanksgiving week and if you are hosting a gathering of friends and family, we've got some ideas to help in the beverage department. Even if you are attending a gathering and tasked with contributing something, this might help. Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude. It's a time to break bread and raise a glass. Make a toast with these five festive Thanksgiving cocktails.

You might think whiskey and bourbon cocktails would be well suited for sipping before or after Thanksgiving dinners. They are. However, here you will find some different suggestions and ideas here. Both tequila and rum can have that same warm and rustic feeling that whiskey adds to adult beverages. Many are aged in barrels and have similar, comforting caramel, vanilla and smoky flavors.

The cocktail pictured above is from 21SEEDS Tequila. It's called Thanksgiving Punch. This one is a drink that would appear to be near perfect for Southwest Florida's weather as well as holiday fare. Here is the recipe:

1 bottle of 21SEEDS Valencia Orange Tequila
3 Cups Apple Cider
3 ounces lemon juice
2 ounces orange juice
3 ounces simply syrup

First, dry shake all ingredients together. Next, pour the mix over ice in a rocks glass. Last step, garnish the cocktail with  a dried orange slice, or a slice of fresh orange. One more thing, add a full cinnamon stick and then serve.

In addition to these unique holiday cocktails, if you are looking for some different wines to serve, here is one idea to try. Click here for yet another off the beaten path grape that is perfect for the flavors of the season.

I want to make this just because how gorgeous it looks in this glass. It also sounds good too. Another tequila based cocktail but it is one that is infused with flavor that once again, sounds really good.

1 oz 21SEEDS Valencia Orange Infused Tequila
1 oz Pumpkin Puree
0.5 oz Pumpkin Spice Syrup
0.5 oz Baileys Salted Caramel

Rim with Maple Syrup and crushed Graham Crackers and garnish with Whipped Cream, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and a Cinnamon Stick

You just can't go wrong with a mulled or spiced wine recipe for the holidays and into the winter months. This one is by Sarah Stephens – Foraging for Cocktails

1 (750ml) bottle Pinot Noir
12 oz Kōloa Kaua‘i Spice Rum
6 oz local honey
4 oz tangerine juice
20 cinnamon leaves
10 allspice leaves

Heat ingredients over medium heat in a saucepan until warm. Serve in a mug and garnish with tangerine
wheels, cinnamon leaves, and allspice.

This recipe is a riff on a the classic Old Fashioned. It uses tequila instead of bourbon. El Pueblo was created by Javier Ramirez.

2 parts Cantera Negra Reposado Tequila
0.25 part Ancho Reyes
0.5 part Brown sugar simple syrup
2 dashes of chocolate bitters
Garnish: Orange peel

Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass. Stir for about 20 seconds. Pour over a large ice cube. Garnish with a flamed orange peel.