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What Spirits Pair Best With Holiday Turkey Dinners?
You’ve gotta love Thanksgiving dinner. When else can your plate contain turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, tamales, sweet potatoes, and green bean casserole all at one time? (And when else is it not just acceptable, but expected, to have slices of both apple pie and pumpkin pie for dessert?)
The Thanksgiving table is all about diversity of flavors. That means you’ll need beverages that are versatile enough to pair with all the side dishes, yet still flavorful enough to stand up to the thanksgiving feast.
Wine and beer, of course, are likely the most popular choices. And it’s true that a few bottles of red wine and some sparkling wines can take you most of the way through Thanksgiving dinner. But pre- and post-dinner? That’s when the Thanksgiving cocktail comes into its own.
Need a little inspiration? Here are some rum- and whiskey-based thanksgiving drinks that are perfect for sipping while the turkey roasts, or alongside as many slices of pie as you can manage. (Our goal this year is three.)
Pre-Dinner
Nothing says “celebration” quite like a pre-dinner cocktail. This year, we’re excited to make friends and family a festive riff on the whiskey sour. This tangerine whiskey sour is bright, refreshing, and pairs perfectly with those candied pecans your aunt always makes.
Tangerine Whiskey Sour
1.5 ounces bourbon, such as Black Button Distilling Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey, or Rabbit Hole Bourbon Heigold
½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ ounce freshly squeezed tangerine juice
½ ounce simple syrup
Tangerine wedge, for garnish
Shake all ingredients except garnish in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass filled with ice, garnish with the tangerine wedge, and serve.
If whiskey’s not your thing, kick off your celebrations with a rum-based Stone Fence cocktail. This tart, juicy long drink features dark rum and apple cider for a fruity, uber-autumnal sipper. Plus, it’s so simple to make you won’t even need a cocktail shaker.
Stone Fence
2 ounces dark rum, like Ten to One Caribbean Dark Rum or Kasama Rum
5 ounces apple cider
1 dash angostura bitters
Mint sprig and/or lemon peel, for garnish
Add rum and bitters to an ice-filled rocks glass. Stir, then top with apple cider and stir again. Garnish with the mint sprig and/or lemon peel.
Post-Dinner
In the mood for something warmer? You could make a hot toddy, but there’s just something about Thanksgiving that calls for a little extra indulgence.
Enter the hot buttered rum. This fleece-pajamas-in-a-mug is the ultimate cozy concoction. You can pair it with dessert, or you can let it be dessert. No judgement here.
Maple Hot Buttered Rum
Butter base
½ cup room-temperature unsalted butter
¼ cup maple syrup
¼ cup brown sugar
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
In a mixer, cream together all ingredients. Can be stored in refrigerator up to one week.
Cocktail
2 Tablespoons butter base
2 ounces dark rum, like Zafra Master Reserve Rum 21 Year or Brugal 1888
¼ cup hot water
Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Add butter mixture to a mug, and top with hot water. Stir to dissolve, then add rum and stir once more. Garnish with cinnamon stick.
Need more inspiration? Visit Mash & Grape’s website for a fully stocked selection of some of the world’s best premium spirits. From bourbon, rye, and Tennessee whiskey to Caribbean rum and French brandy, you’ll find everything you need to concoct the perfect Thanksgiving cocktail. (And if it all feels like too much, well, we’ve got a pretty slick collection of canned cocktails, too.)