Looking to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner this long weekend with ease and style? Why not ditch the pie or forgo the ho-hum cheese plate and wow your guests with class? Thanksgiving is the perfect time to explore cocktail creations and practice your mixology skills to debut your deceptively easy signature cocktail!
There are nearly endless seasonal options available these days to pair with your dinner feast. And, you don’t break the bank! Choose one to two offerings to suit your entire crowd. Unsure where to start? Reach-out to the host as soon as possible to discuss what is on the menu and number of guests to best curate the cocktail list.
Classic fall flavours are plentiful this Thanksgiving and lucky for you, so too is inspiration. If your dinner companions are the type to enjoy snapping pics of their cozy coffees, consider creating a pumpkin spice spiked coffee as a liquid dessert! Invest in a milk frother and a bottle of Baileys Pumpkin Spice Irish Cream Liqueur. Brew a pot of coffee and throw a shot of liquor in each mug. Top-off with freshly frothed warm milk and sprinkle with cinnamon for a perfect post-dinner sip. Consider offering decaf coffee for the folks who are planning a full and restful sleep! Cream liqueur is also great served in a small whisky dram poured over an ice cube with a splash of milk.
Sometimes, the simplest sips are the most satisfying. Pass-around champagne flutes filled with the ultra-Fall flavours of Pear or Apple Cider! Choose a Canadian brand, such as Okanagan Harvest Pear and enjoy the sparkling beauty that is a fresh Canadian cider. Have nondrinkers or mothers-to-be in the group? Don’t leave them out of all the bubbly fall-harvest fun! Fill half of the champagne flute with peach juice, add one quarter pear juice and top-off with club soda to ensure all can join in a toast to friends and family! Salut!
If you are short on time or doubt your skills, grab a bottle of JP Wiser’s Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail. This ready-to-drink cocktail is made of Canadian Whisky and all the tasting notes you would hope from an expertly mixed Old Fashioned. Simply pour over large ice cubes and add an orange rind twist. Or, use the bottle as a launching point and get creative! Pour hot water over 2 oz of the prepared cocktail and a small cinnamon stick for a warming, hot-toddy-like fall drink. Get creative with garnishes and glasses for the most impactful cocktail experience!
No matter what you choose to share for your liquid dessert, ensure this is a Thanksgiving long weekend to remember! Please be sure not to overindulge and keep a close eye on guests who choose to imbibe — homemade hot cocoa and flavoured sparkling waters are a wonderful way to round-out the spiked desserts!
No matter your beverage of choice, I hope you have much to be thankful for this long weekend!
Amanda Bibeau is a Winnipeg-based food blogger who is passionate about affordable food for all and ‘food without judgment.’ Amanda enjoys hiking, exploring Winnipeg's craft beer scene and working her 9 to 5 as a sr. recruiter with RBC.
