Turkey Time Tipples

Hosting Thanksgiving is a beatdown. There’s a reason I try to be out of the country in November. But this year, it’s fallen on my husband and me to host both sets of parents. He and I even agreed to give up our primary bedroom in favor of the guest room, the one that doubles as my hubs’ home office and has a full-size mattress we bought for our first apartment. It’s gonna be great.

Obviously, we’re going to need some alcohol to make it through this week. Thankfully, we both know our way around a bar cart. If you also find yourself needing a bevvy or two to make all that family time more enjoyable (“bearable”?), see below for some ideas.

Pre-Dinner Drinking

Around here, Thanksgiving Day kicks off with mimosas as soon as the turkey hits the oven. To make it more holiday-friendly, I like to replace the traditional orange juice with spiced apple cider, which you can find at any grocery store, though I prefer the one from Trader Joe’s (2701 S Hulen St, Fort Worth, 817-922-9107). Simply pour about an ounce or two of cider into a glass, then top with a reasonably priced, not-at-all-fancy sparkling wine (might as well pick up some Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blanc when you buy the cider). Fancify it by serving it with a cinnamon-sugar rim and a sliced apple or cinnamon stick garnish. This is a surefire way to impress your mother-in-law (unless she’s a teetotaler).

During Dinner

Growing up, I’m pretty sure the only beverage on the table during Thanksgiving dinner was Lipton TM Sweet Tea served in my mom’s nicest wine glasses. Nowadays we like to use them for actual wine, and we have a few go-to varietals that pair well with turkey and all the fixin’s. White wine generally goes best with white meat, and we like to play on the savory quality of Thanksgiving dinner by serving a dry Riesling, like the one made by Napa Valley’s Trefethen Family Vineyards and served on tap at local wine bar WineHaus (1628 Park Place Av, Fort Worth, 817-887-9101). Stop by ahead of time to pick up a growler or two when you’re out buying other last-minute ingredients.

There are some reds suitable for the Thanksgiving table as well. A fruity Oregon Pinot Noir is great for washing down all that dry turkey breast, but for the past few years, our personal favorite has been a French Beaujolais made from the gamay grape, like Louis Jadot Villages, which will run you only about $12 at Total Wine & More (various locations). Red or white, these wines will be sure to keep the dinner discussion light and friendly. If someone makes the fatal error of bringing up politics, just pour yourself another glass.

After Dinner

I can see it now: The dishes are done, and you’re settling into the couch for some football or maybe a classic Christmas movie. Then someone suggests a board game. It’s time for another cocktail.

At our gatherings, we always have cranberry sauce on the table, but no one in the family really eats it. As a result, we always have a lot left over, and I like to use it to add a twist on my favorite cocktail, the whiskey sour. Replacing some of the tart lemon juice with a scoop of cranberry sauce (from the can is fine) creates another layer of complexity to this deliciously sweet-and-sour beverage, and it looks pretty in the glass. Plus, cranberries are healthy or whatever.

Now you’re equipped to cope with whatever this week has in store for you. Happy Thanksgiving, and don’t forget to hydrate!

Apple Cider Mimosa

Ingredients

• Apple cider:1 to 3 ounces per glass, depending on preference
• Sparkling wine:Champagne, prosecco, or a similar dry sparkling wine (Brut is a popular choice), well-chilled
• Optional rim:a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, or brown sugar, for the rim of the glass
• Optional garnish:an apple slice, a cinnamon stick, or a sprig of fresh rosemary or thyme

Instructions

1. Prepare the glass (optional):If rimming the glass, dip the rim in a shallow bowl of water, corn syrup, or caramel sauce to wet it, then roll it in a separate shallow dish of the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
2. Pour the cider:Pour the chilled apple cider into a Champagne flute, filling it about one-third to one-half of the way.
3. Top with sparkling wine:Gently top the cider with the chilled sparkling wine. The natural carbonation will mix the drink.
4. Garnish and serve:Add your chosen garnish, such as an apple slice or a cinnamon stick, and serve immediately to enjoy the bubbles.

Cranberry Sauce Whiskey Sour

Ingredients

(listed in parts so you can batch up or down as necessary)

• 2 parts lemon juice
• 2 parts simple syrup (equal parts sugar dissolved in hot water, then cooled)
• 4 parts whiskey, such as Four Roses bourbon or Jameson Irish whiskey
• 1 part cranberry sauce, homemade or out of the can
• Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
• Egg white (optional but makes for a velvety texture)

Instructions 

• Combine whiskey, lemon juice, leftover cranberry sauce, simple syrup, and optional egg white in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
• Serve straight up into a rocks glass or coupe through a strainer or mesh sieve.
• Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a slice of lemon. You can also garnish with sugared cranberries if you like.