If you’re not cooking, you should be drinking
Thanksgiving is finally here! Whether you are making the stuffing or planning on just getting stuffed, there is always time to pair the holiday meal with a delicious cocktail or glass of wine. And if you aren’t preparing any food this year, the least you can do is make sure everyone is tipsy during the festivities. Check out our list of recipes and favorite brands to get some ideas for this coming holiday!
Tequila
Mi Campo Toddy
Recipe:
- 5 oz. Mi Campo Reposado
- ¾ oz. Honey
- ¾ oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
- 4 oz. Hot Water
- Lemons
- Cinnamon Sticks
Method: Measure and pour Tequila Mi CAMPO Reposado, lemon, and bitters into a mug. Add hot water and honey, then stir with a cinnamon stick. Garnish with lemon wedge and cinnamon stick.
Don Coco
Recipe:
- 5 oz. Mi Campo Reposado
- Cocoa Liqueur
- 1 oz. Coconut Liqueur
Method: Measure and pour ingredients into a mixing glass, add ice and stir gently. Strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a speared piece of amaranth.
Jericalla
Recipe:
- 5 oz. Mi Campo Reposado
- ½ oz. Vanilla Syrup
- ½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 Egg White
- Grated Nutmeg
Method: Measure and pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Add ice and shake vigorously again. Fine strain into chilled glass and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Jamaica Rosa
Recipe:
- 1 ½ oz. Mi Campo Tequila Blanco
- ½ oz. Hibiscus (Jamaica) Syrup
- ½ oz Rose Water
- ½ oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- ¼ tsp Ground Cardamom
Method: Measure and pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, add ice, and shake. Strain into chilled glass and garnish with a spear of expressed orange peel and hibiscus
Gran Coramino – The Gift
Ingredients:
- 2oz Gran Coramino Cristalino
- 75oz Pear Nectar
- 5oz Lemon Juice
- 25oz Honey
- 1/4″” knob of Ginger
- 1 Pinch of Cinnamon
- Rocks Glass
Directions:
- Muddle Ginger in Cocktail Shaker
- Add Fresh Ice, Cristalino, Pear Nectar, Lemon Juice, Honey & Cinnamon to Shaker
- Shake then strain into rocks glass over Fresh Ice
- Garnish with Cinnamon Stick, Sage Sprig & Pomegranate Seeds
Ingredients:
-
1.5 parts Codigo 1530 Blanco
-
2 teaspoon pumpkin puree
-
1/8 teaspoon Pumpkin Spice
-
1 part Kahlua
-
1.5 parts hot espresso
-
1 part creamer of choice (both dairy free or regular work well)
-
1 part Codigo 1530 Mezcal
-
1 part Kahlua
-
1 part Espresso or Cold Brew
-
3–4 parts Eggnog
-
1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
-
Pinch of salt
-
Dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to garnish
-
2 parts Codigo 1530 mezcal
-
1 parts lime juice
-
0.5 parts agave syrup
-
5 slices yellow bell pepper
-
10 fresh sage leaves (reserve one for garnish)
-
2 parts Codigo 1530 Anejo
-
2 dashes chocolate butters
-
2 dashes Orange bitters
-
0.5 parts agave nectar
-
Marshmallow and orange garnish*
Whiskey
Holiday Horchata
Ingredients:
- 2 parts The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
- 4 parts Spiced Horchata
Method: Build in glass or pitcher with ice for large glass. Garnish: Sprinkle cinnamon. Glass: Single rocks
Hive Fashioned
Ingredients:
- 60ml The Hive Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
- 10ml of sugar syrup
- 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
- orange zest to garnish
Method: Stir The Hive, sugar syrup and bitters over ice in a mixing glass. Pour into an ice-filled rocks glass. Garnish with fresh mint and a twist of orange zest.
Boulard Calvados on the Rocks
Ingredients:
Method: Pour over ice in a favorite glass.
Mercer + Prince – Apple Spice
Ingredients:
- 2oz Mercer + Prince
- .5oz Apple Jack Brandy
- .5oz All Spice Dram
- Dash of Bitters
Directions:
- Add ingredients into a mixing glass filled with ice + store together to combine/chill
- Strain into a chilled coupe glass and garnish with apple slices + a blackberry
Busker Paloma
Ingredients
- 1 oz The Busker
- Grapefruit Soda
- Fresh Mint Sprig
Method: Fill a highball glass with ice, pour The Busker Irish Whiskey and top up with grapefruit soda. Stir and garnish with fresh mint sprig.
Busk & Ginger
Ingredients:
- 1 oz The Busker
- 2 oz Ginger Beer
- Lime wedge
Method: Fill a highball glass with ice, pour The Busker Irish Whiskey and top up with ginger beer. Stir and garnish with lime wedge.
Buskerball
Ingredients:
- 1 oz The Busker
- 2 oz Club Soda
Method: Fill a highball glass with ice, pour The Busker Irish Whiskey and top up with soda. Stir and garnish with lemon wheel.
St-Rémy Signature Home for the Holidays Cocktail Kit
This holiday season, create memorable experiences with St-Rémy Signature. Curated to compliment any holiday festivity or serve as the perfect gift for your holiday host, this kit features the ingredients to make delicious Old Fashioned cocktails with a signature brandy twist and all the essential tools you need to enjoy. Available for purchase https://www.cocktailcourier.com/product/st-remy-signature-home-for-the-holidays-cocktail-kit from November 1 through December 1.
In Your Classic Kit
- 1 St-Rémy Signature (750ml) Bottle
- 2 Amaro Montenegro (50ml) Bottles
- 1 Simple Syrup (2oz) Bottle
- 1 Cocktail Courier Aromatic Bitters (0.5oz bottle)
- 1 Cocktail Courier Orange Bitters (0.50oz bottle)
- 2 Oranges
- 1 Set of Slate Coasters
- 2 Old Fashioned Rocks Glasses
- 1 Mast Chocolate Bar
- 1 Cocktail Recipe Card for the St-Rémy Signature Old Fashioned
Gin
Tommyrotter High Altitude
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. Tommyrotter Cask Strength Bourbon-Barrel Gin
- 75 oz. Amaro Nonino
- 75 oz. Dry Vermouth
- 2 Dashes Grapefruit Bitters
- Orange Peel for Garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Strain and fine strain UP into coupe glass. Garnish with an orange peel.
- 1 to 3 parts Tulchan Gin
- 3 parts tonic
- Orange wedge
- Pour the gin and tonic into a glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a wedge of orange. Orange is sweeter and less acidic than lemon allowing the elegant character of Tulchan to shine.
Rum
Dos Maderas Hot Buttered Rum
Ingredients:
- 5 oz. Dos Maderas 5+5 Rum
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 tsp. Demerara sugar
- 1 pinch of cinnamon
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
Method: Build in a heated mug or Toddy glass. Add your butter, sugar and spices. Fill halfway with boiling water. Add your Dos Maderas 5+5 Rum. Top with hot water. Garnish with an orange peel studded with several cloves and some freshly grated nutmeg.
Ten To One – Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients:
- 5oz Ten To One White Rum
- 5oz Ten To One Dark Rum
- 4oz Apple Cider
- 75oz Hot Honey
- 5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Garnish
- Apple Slice and Grated Cinnamon
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a mug and warm up.
- Top with apple slice and grated cinnamon.
Ten To One – Thanksgiving Rum Punch
Ingredients:
- 1 Bottle Ten To One White Rum
- 17oz Fresh Apple Juice
- 5oz Cinnamon Syrup
- 5oz Lemon Juice
- 5oz Water
- 10 dashes of Angostura Bitters
- Coupe or Punch Glass
Garnish
- Thinly Sliced Apples and Freshly Grated Cinnamon
Directions:
- Add all ingredients to a punch bowl or pitcher.
- Add a large block of ice. Garnish with apple slices and grated cinnamon.
Wine and Champagne
CHANDON By The Bay ($29.50): Composed of 100% Chardonnay, By The Bay is the elevated pairing for creamy and rich holiday dishes or a token of appreciation that your hostess will love to receive.
CHANDON Étoile Brut ($50): Étoile Brut showcases our ultimate effervescent expression of CHANDON. Enjoy it on its own for a holiday toast or with festive seafood dishes like fresh oysters, grilled scallops in brown butter, and poached salmon.
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc + Baked Goat Cheese with Roasted Cranberries
The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is zesty & vibrant, gently balanced by stony saline notes. Serve it alongside a warm baked goat cheese appetizer for an dreamy start to your holiday meal
SRP: $34.99
Cloudy Bay Te Wahi + Roasted Carrots with Thyme
The complex, sophisticated and powerful flavors of Te Wahi serves as the perfect counterpart to a rich vegetable side dish, like roasted carrots with thyme
SRP: $84.99
Cloudy Bay 2021 Pinot Noir + Thanksgiving Turkey
Versatility is the calling card for Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir, and it’s silky tannins and fine acidity mean it pairs especially well with meat. Concentrated yet elegant, Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir will not only complement your Thanksgiving turkey, but elevates it for a truly mouthwatering combination
SRP: $59.99
Cloudy Bay Te Koko + Apple Tart
Layered with fruit notes and a refreshing acidity, Cloudy Bay’s Te Koko an ideal match to an apple tart or similar fruity-filled dessert
SRP: $64.99
Donnafugata Sedàra – Sicilia DOC Rosso – SRP $19.50
- STYLE & BLEND: Red; Nero d’Avola, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and others
- PRODUCTION AREA: Sicily
- STORY: Dedicated to the irresistible and ambitious Angelica Sedàra with green eyes, the fascinating Claudia Cardinale, protagonist of the film “Il Gattopardo” (The Leopard) directed by Luchino Visconti. The label, also in the new version, refers to the Contessa Entellina winery.
- TASTING NOTES: Ruby red in color, Sedàra offers a fruity bouquet with scents of blackberries and blueberries combined with a light spicy note of black pepper. The palate displays good structure with suave tannins and pleasant freshness. A soft red, versatile for food pairing, perfect for every day.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Serve with Lasagne, chicken cacciatore, BBQ, seared tuna, savory pies. Serve it in goblets of medium size; uncorked at the time of serving; excellent at 16-18°C (61-64°F).
- SCORES: 90 points James Suckling (2020 vintage)
Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé of Pinot Noir 2022 ($25; 11.9% ABV)
Sonoma-Cutrer has been crafting wines since 1981 in the esteemed Russian River Valley growing region of Sonoma County, California. Today, their female-led winemaking team produces sustainable certified wines. The 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir is a beautiful and delicate example of why Russian River Valley Pinot Noir makes a wonderful rosé. The wine reveals a beautiful, light salmon color that catches the light in the glass and opens up to aromas of tangerine, wild strawberry, raspberry, a light touch of watermelon and perfumed rose petals. A crisp, refreshing mouthfeel accentuates the fresh fruit flavors of red berry fruit and a tropical twist that leads to a long, juicy and tangy finish.
Halter Ranch
Halter Ranch’s exceptional wines are crafted with state-of-the-art, sustainable techniques that highlight the terroir and pay homage to centuries of past winemaking. The current portfolio includes a wide selection of wines (found here) including:
- Ancestor ($85) Halter Ranch’s flagship, a structured finish with integrated tannins complemented by flavors of the French oak.
- Block 22 Syrah ($92) Aromas of blueberry, blackberry, cassis, wet slate and a touch of cedar. Balanced, pristine, with gentle tannins, a canvas awaiting the perfect culinary duet.
- Cabernet Sauvignon ($65) Soft and rich, exuding flavors of raspberry, blueberry and a hint of cocoa.
- Carignan ($50) Flavors of pomegranate, Bing cherry and a touch of plum with soft tannins, perfect for pairing with Thanksgiving meals.
- CDP ($55) A fruit-forward, easy-drinking, great food pairing wine with aromas of raspberry, ripe plum and a touch of Herbes de Provence.
- Cuvée Alice ($96) Reserve blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Tannat, honoring Alice Halter, mother of proprietor Hansjörg Wyss.
- Effervescent Rosé ($50) Peppered with bubbles, followed by a smooth mid palate with flavors of pear, white peach and raspberry.
- Grenache Blanc ($42.50) Aromas of white peach, stone fruit and white flowers. Rich and weighty, layered with finishing flavors of honey and cream.
- Malbec ($82) Standalone offering notoriously low in tannins, creating a soft, approachable wine that has great intensity and aging potential, but can also be enjoyed early on.
- Rosé ($35) Flavors bursting with dried mango, watermelon and a hint of citrus. A juicy texture segues into a clean, refreshing finish.
- Syrah ($55) Soft, rich, supple, layered with flavors of blueberry, raspberry and baking spices.
- Tannat ($92) Juicy and textured, driven by flavors of blackberry, black currant and a mix of baking spices.
- Tempranillo ($80) A varietal indigenous to Spain, well-structured with long, integrated tannins making for a spectacular bottle to lay down for extended aging.
- Vermentino ($45) Fresh and vibrant with a touch of minerality that comes from limestone-rich soils.
- Vin de Paille ($45) A unique offering with aromas of orange marmalade and honey leading to a silky and velvety palate that dances on your tongue with flavors of pear and white peach.
Mocktails
Nirvana Super – Melon-Cello Spritz
Ingredients:
- 4 oz Carrot Juice
- 1-inch Piece of Ginger (finely grated or juiced)
- 4 oz Orange Juice
- 12 oz Melon Cello Seltzer
- 2 Tablespoons Agave Syrup
- Melon ball or thin orange slice (optional)
- Sprig of mint or basil (optional)
Directions:
- Combine carrot juice, orange juice and freshly grated or juiced ginger
- Add agave syrup and shake mixture well until ingredients are combined
- Divide mixer between two 12 oz glasses
- Fill each glass with the melon cello seltzer
- Place a melon ball or thin slice of orange halved onto the rim of glass
- Rub a sprig of mint of basil between fingers to release aromatics, place inside the drink
- Stir gently before sipping