Holiday Drinks: Thanksgiving Cocktails

The holidays are steadily approaching. Soon you will be bombarded with party planning, guest invites, and cooking details. Thanksgiving is a holiday that friends and family gather together, break bread, and watch never-ending football games on television. Why not liven up your Thanksgiving party with a few appropriate cocktails?

A Turkey Shooter

¾ oz. 101-proof Wild Turkey
¼ oz. White Crème de Menthe

This shooter is quite easy to mix. In a liqueur glass, brandy snifter, or if you do not want you good glassware broken, a disposable clear plastic cocktail cup (sold in discount stores). Pour the Wild Turkey in first and float the White Crème de Menthe on top.

To float or layer a liqueur on top of another, tilt your glass slightly and slowly pour the liqueur down the inside of the glass. Pouring the liqueur over the back of a spoon will achieve the same results. The trick is to pour slowly to achieve the layered look.

Want to serve many but avoid purchasing overly expensive liquor? Try concocting a punch. Here's a tip for you: punches should not have several small cubes of ice floating around. Cubes melt quickly and water down your punch. To avoid this, freeze a block of ice in a large and tall plastic storage container. To remove the block easily, place the container in hot water for a minute.

Cranberry-Vodka Punch

2 quarts of chilled cranberry juice cocktail
1 750 ml bottle of chilled vodka (the cheap stuff is fine)
2 cups chilled ginger ale
2 cups chilled club soda

You should mix together the cranberry juice cocktail and vodka in a large punch bowl, stir well. Add your block of ice to the mixture. Pour the club soda and ginger ale on top. Garnish with slices of fresh fruit--pineapple, whole grapes, and kiwi are nice choices for this punch.

You can make this punch non-alcoholic for the kiddos by eliminating the vodka. Be sure to place the children's version in a special spot, and inform all of your adult guests of the difference, so the youngsters are not mistakenly served a loaded beverage. If you fear middle kids may try to sneak a drink, serve an entirely different punch for the youngsters.

Rainbow Sherbet Punch

8 oz. Orange juice
8 oz. pineapple juice
8 oz. Hawaiian Punch
1 qt rainbow sherbet
1 bottle club soda
1 bottle ginger ale

For this punch you mix the juices, including the Hawaiian Punch, in a punch bowl, stir well. Add a block of ice. Just before serving add your club soda, ginger ale, and plop in scoops of rainbow sherbet.

Your punches can be served in those nice little plastic cocktail cups. If you want to differentiate kiddy drinks from adult beverages, you can serve them in different glasses or colored verses clear. Be sure to have a serving ladle handy so guests are not tempted to dip their used cups into the bowl.

Shooters and punches are great for the younger crowd, but what should you serve to your distinguished older guests? These guests enjoy traditional cocktails with status appeal. Cocktails of this nature should be served in the real glass glasses.

Thanksgiving Cocktail

1 oz. Gin (get the good stuff for this, like Beefeater, it tastes better)
1 oz dry vermouth
1 oz apricot brandy
½ tsp. lemon juice

For this cocktail you will need a mixing glass shaker set. See "Bartender Basics for Holiday Parties" for tips on shakers and using them properly. Fill the mixing glass with ice. Add the gin, dry vermouth, apricot brandy, and lemon juice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a cherry.

Serving drinks comes with responsibility. Please be sure to serve food along with your cocktails. Observe how much your guests are drinking and cut them off if necessary. Remember drinking and driving does not mix.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Recipe source:
Feller, Robyn M. The Complete Bartender. New York: Berkley Books, 1990.