Thanksgiving: Cocktail Inspiration

Thanksgiving is such a fun time for friends and family to come together and celebrate their blessings. Inevitably, delicious libations become involved as you are making the Thanksgiving meal, eating around the dining table, or sitting in the living room reminiscing about old family stories. Thanks to Pinterest, beautifully crafted holiday cocktails have become the newest staple for the Thanksgiving kitchen. So I'm here to help you weed through the throngs of cocktail recipes to figure out the perfect ones for your family celebration!

Image via GimmeSomeOven

The recipe I really want to highlight is my absolute favorite and a staple for holiday gatherings. It is Mulled Wine and my recipe comes from England (not to be confused with the Australian or German versions). I was first introduced to the drink in Oxford, England when I attended a Christmas party at the Oxford Union Clubhouse. I remember sitting in the candlelit room with a finely dressed choir sang Christmas carols and sipping the steaming drink for the first time. It has this delightful combination of sweet wine, bright orange acidity, and a winter spice mix that conjures images of quintessential Christmas memories. Think of it as a warm winter sangria. 

So here's the super simple recipe! All you need is to add these ingredients together in a pot and warm it over the stove. Make sure not to boil the wine, just slowly heat it!

Looking for something a little different? I've found some of my favorite Pinterest cocktail inspirations for you to use if you want another drink to serve!

Sparkling Pumpkin Cider Beertail from Brit + Co - This looks like the perfect cocktail to get the men involved who may think fancy drinks are too girly. The mixture of pumpkin beer (my favorite) and sparkling cider sounds fantastic! If you wanted to up the alcohol content, you could definitely add some vodka! This also would be so easy to make in larger batches for your Friendsgiving! P.S. If you haven't checked out Brit + Co's site, use this as your opportunity to do so! They have so much fun content!

Vanilla Pear and Vodka Cocktail from Two Tarts - This drink mixes two complimentary flavors, vanilla and pear, for one stunning cocktail that is so different from anything I've seen before. The colors are beautiful, especially with the black vanilla beans peeking through. This is sure to satisfy your oddly picky, pear-obsessed Aunt Edith. 

Pomegranate Orange Sangria from Completely Delicious - When I ran across this on Pinterest, I just had to share. It's such a unique combination as I don't usually associate pomegranate with cocktails, but it really looks delicious. It's almost like a new take on the Mulled Wine, but a cold version. So fun!

Fizzy Ginger Cranberry Punch from Betty Crocker - Now this is one I definitely want to try this winter! The zing of the ginger with the tartness of the cranberry would be a winning combination for any party. This cocktail is a little more involved and calls for angostura bitters. If you don't have those, use this as your opportunity to buy some! They are a staple for any bar cart.

I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving holiday with friends and family. As for me, I'm thankful for you, my readers who keep me motivated to continue this blog and keep it ad-free! I'm currently figuring out the logistics of my Working Wardrobe series. The early sunsets are causing problems with my pictures. So I'll be resuming those ASAP!