by Eileen Thai

Created on: November 15, 2009   Last Updated: November 16, 2009

The holidays are fast approaching. Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Most people prefer a traditional Thanksgiving, with turkey as the main attraction, and the usual side dishes from green bean casserole to sweet potatoes to pumpkin or pecan pie. But why not spice up the party a little by introducing some Thanksgiving cocktails? It's even more fun to have your guests mix their own!

Assign a section for the bar, and set it up with glasses, ice, garnishes and all the spirits and juices for the Thanksgiving cocktails that you will be serving. Place step-by-step recipes there as well. This will keep your guests busy as they mingle and chat while you attend to the last minute details. Here are some simple cocktail recipes that your guests will have fun mixing:

Vodka with Cranberry and Pineapple Mango Juice
(This is a tropical version of the Cape Codder)

1 oz vodka
Cranberry Juice
Pineapple-Mango Juice

Fill tall glass with ice.
Pour in vodka
Slowly fill up with half Cranberry Juice and half Pineapple-Mango Juice
Garnish with lime wedge

Cranberry Orange Iced Tea with Rum
5 cups water
3 bags Orange-flavored spiced herbal tea
1/2 cup sugar
Cranberry Juice
Gold Rum (optional)

Bring 3 cups water to a boil; add tea bags. Remove from heat and steep 10 minutes.
Discard tea bags. Add sugar and stir until dissolved. Let it cool before pouring into
a 1-gallon container. Add the remaining 2 cups of water, and fill up with cranberry juice.
To serve, fill a highball glass with ice. Add 1 oz rum, if using.
Fill up with cranberry tea mixture.

Island Sunrise
1 oz Midori
1/2 cup Pineapple Juice

Fill a tall glass with ice.
Add Midori
Float pineapple juice over the back of a spoon
Garnish with a wedge of pineapple or a lime wheel

Berry Cosmopolitan
1 1/2 ounce Vodka
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1 ounce cranberry juice

Fill shaker with ice.
Add Vodka and Grand Marnier and cranberry juice. Shake well
Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with fresh cranberries

Wild Turkey Cider
1 ounce Wild Turkey bourbon
hot apple cider
Cinnamon sticks

To a mug, add Wild Turkey bourbon. Top off with hot apple cider.
Stir with cinnamon stick, and leave as a garnish.

Cheers, and have a happy and safe holiday!

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