Make one or two pitchers ahead, plus one stirred cocktail if you want a bartender moment, and keep a non-alcoholic pitcher on the same table. A cranberry-orange punch, a maple-bourbon sour pitcher, and a simple stirred whiskey cocktail cover most Thanksgiving tastes without turning the kitchen into a bar. Offer water, and do not push drinks on drivers or guests who decline. See the Thanksgiving table, drinks and activities guide and the Thanksgiving guide.
Two pitchers and one stirred drink
For a crowd pitcher, stir cranberry juice, orange juice and a modest amount of vodka or gin with orange slices and cranberries, then chill. A second pitcher can be bourbon, lemon, a little maple syrup and soda water added just before serving. For one stirred cocktail, combine rye or bourbon with sweet vermouth and bitters over ice, then strain into a small glass. Keep the ratios written on a card so a helper can refill without guessing.
Make the fruit and spirit base a few hours ahead and keep it cold. Add ice and sparkling water only when you pour, so the punch does not go watery. Set out a clearly labeled non-alcoholic pitcher with the same fruit, so no one has to ask. A mocktail, cider and punch guide will also live in this group; until those pages are up, use the Thanksgiving table, drinks and activities hub. Please drink responsibly, and have a non-drinking ride plan.
Timing around dinner
Put drinks out with the appetizers, not an hour before guests are hungry enough to overdo it. Soften the bar once dinner is served, and keep leftovers of mixed drinks refrigerated. Related: how to say grace and how to watch the parade, both in this cluster, and the {HUB}.
If you are also cooking, finish the pitchers before the turkey needs the counter. A wet bar next to raw poultry is a food-safety problem, so pick a separate table, and wash glasses that sat out through dinner before you refill them. Leftover punch should be refrigerated and used within a day or two, or discarded if it sat at room temperature too long.
Frequently asked questions
What Thanksgiving cocktails can I make ahead?
Pitcher punches and batched sours hold well in the refrigerator. Add ice and sparkling mixers only when you serve.
How do I include guests who are not drinking?
Serve a fruit-forward non-alcoholic pitcher in the same glasses, labeled clearly, and do not make a toast that requires alcohol.
How much should I make?
Start with one modest pitcher per six to eight adults who drink, plus a full non-alcoholic pitcher. It is easier to mix a second batch than to overserve.
Helpful kitchen tools
- OXO Good Grips 2-Cup and 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup Set — For juice, syrup and consistent pitcher ratios.
- OXO Good Grips 11-Pound Digital Kitchen Food Scale — Weigh fruit or ice if you are scaling a recipe up.
- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Precision Digital Instant Read Thermometer — Not for cocktails; keep it for the turkey at 165°F.
- Cuisinart Stainless 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack and Deluxe Basting Set — The roast and the bar should not compete for the same counter space.
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