You have probably already decided where you’re going to spend Thanksgiving this year. Maybe you’ll show up at your parents’ house just in time to eat, carrying some thrown-together slop of a casserole. Or maybe you’ll be playing host and preparing Thanksgiving dinner yourself, in which case I wish you the best of luck. Either way, you’re going to be eating turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and all the good warm and toasty foods that hang out in your stomach until you fall asleep.
But have you thought about what you will be drinking? No? Well, here’s a line-up of the best Thanksgiving cocktails to get you through a stressful Turkey Day. Recipes for dishes will come later—priorities, people. Whatever you do, don’t try these terrible-looking pumpkin cocktail concoctions.
Hot Mulled Cider
Heat up a batch of this traditional mulled cider (it serves 12!) and encourage your family to keep it classy this Thanksgiving. Find the recipe at Food Network.
Toasted Cider
I know what you’re thinking: More cider? Yes, but this cider is toasted. It’s totally different. Plus it has rum in it. Find the recipe at Food Network.
Perfect Turkey
After you overcook your turkey and everyone is at the table struggling to choke it down and grumbling about how your sister’s turkey is always so golden and moist, sneak away into the kitchen and make yourself the Perfect Turkey, just for you. Find the recipe at Epicurious.
Harvest Margarita
Margaritas in the Fall? Yes. Why are you judging? They’ve got allspice in them so it’s okay. Find the recipe at Food Network.
Easy Cranberry Margaritas
Let’s get cranberry sauced, guys. Get it? Find the recipe at Gimme Some Oven.
Apple Pie Punch
Who wants to bake an apple pie? Who actually wants to go through all that trouble? Just don’t. Pour a bunch of alcohol and apples into a pitcher and drink a pie instead. Find the recipe at The Cookie Rookie.
Hard Cider Sangria
Skip the wine with this sangria. It calls for hard cider instead, because Fall. Find the recipe at Food and Wine.
Spiced Bourbon, Beer, and Maple Martinis
This is one of the more complex drinks on the list, because it has several layers of flavor. One of those flavors is maple syrup. ‘Nuff said. Find the recipe at Food Network.
Apple Toddy
More cider! Cider with brandy! And cream! Find the recipe at Food Network.
Hoppin’ Hot Scotch
This is some good ol’ hot chocolate with butterscotch schnapps, because you’ll need to keep warm when you head outside to escape your family walk off dinner. Find the recipe at Food Network.
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This article appears in Go Spurs Show.