This list favors warmth. It favors the spiced and the mulled—crowd pleasers that prompt the question: “Do we need more star anise?” It favors the cocktails we exclusively sip on the fourth weekend of November. It favors bourbon, tequila, and everything that can occasionally taste like the inside of a bonfire. On this list, convenience isn’t required, only spice drawer exploration. This is about drinks that taste like how gourds look. This is about leaning in, committing to the bit, and embracing Thanksgiving, The Brand.
In the spirit of giving, this list will start with our champion and then work down to our fifth favorite. To be clear, any cocktail on this list is worth the requisite time, effort, and ice. In the top tier of Thanksgiving cocktails, there are no skips. As for how we ranked these, you needn’t know more than that we developed a Highly Complex criteria based on personal consumption, visual appeal, spice drawer-reliance, and vibes. Mainly vibes.
1. Mezcal Amaro
Has been described as what the dark and stormy wants to be. Sips are cyclones of warmth, acidity, and ginger. An easy sell (each ingredient is delicious on its own), you’ll make this in batches. Poured over the rocks in a tall glass, it radiates.
2. Rosemary Grapefruit Margarita
Make a pitcher for whoever’s in the kitchen and morale will skyrocket. The rosemary threads the needle between functional and dramatic, flavorful and self-important. It keeps things fun, while setting a clear tone that today, we’re doing the Thanksgiving thing.
3. The Mountainside Cocktail
Created by known drinks genius John deBary, the Mountainside Cocktail is an old-fashioned with more spice and subtlety. If you like Japanese whisky, fennel, or anything that's enjoyable, make this.
4. Spey Cider
We’ll pass the mic to our editors, who once described this cider as “a warm and cozy whisky-cocktail” that “you want to sip curled up next to a fire.” Even if they knew the answers to our test, the truth remains: this spiced cider does not disappoint.
5. Dirty Chai Toddy
For the bonfires, tailgates, and pre-meal strolls with your closest companions, you need something that feels warm, drinks hot, and tastes like the symphony of a gazillion spices. Also, if you’re seeking something sans-booze, this doubles as a more-than-adequate chai recipe.
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