Delicious Drink Pairings For Thanksgiving Dinner

The Thanksgiving Day meal is one of the central pleasures of the holiday occasion. Every element is perfectly orchestrated to complement and incorporate the entire seasonal theme. But many people tend to overlook the importance of a Thanksgiving dinner beverage. A variety of liquors, beers, and wines improve the flavor profiles of roast turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and more.

Whether you are hosting, attending, or going out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving this year, be sure to enhance the holiday pleasure with these deliciously-fitting Thanksgiving dinner drink pairings!

Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Indianapolis 317-822-5070
Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Indianapolis 317-822-5070

How to Pair a Perfect Drink With Thanksgiving Dinner

Wine

It doesn’t matter if you prefer red or white, you have many options for a perfect Thanksgiving dinner pairing. If you are a red wine drinker, opt for a Pinot Noir, Syrah, or even a Zinfandel. The low tannin, impugning the war is a delicate palate-pleaser that won’t overshadow the rest of your meal. Syrah and Zinfandel offer deep, complex flavors that are cozy for the fall season and complement the richness of a Thanksgiving dinner.

White wines recommended for Thanksgiving menus include Sauvignon Blancs, Rieslings, and Gewürztraminer. These whites perfectly complement the traditional herbs and seasonings used in a Thanksgiving dinner spread. They also pair well with potatoes. If you prefer sparkling wine, pour yourself a glass of anything labeled Brut; a sparkling rosé is a great pairing for smoked turkey.

Beer

If you are someone that loves a frosty cold beer to wash down your Thanksgiving dinner, direct your selection towards a Belgian style brew, preferably a Saison, which also happens to be an excellent palate cleanser. This rich and complex spiced ale pairs well with the seasonal flavors of Thanksgiving entrées and side dishes. If a yeasty Saison is not your first choice, any dark beer pairs well with a Thanksgiving dinner spread. If you are smoking your turkey, pour yourself a Scotch-style ale for an enhanced flavor profile.

Cocktails and Liquor

If wine and beer won’t cut it, you must be a cocktail drinker. Or perhaps you just like your whiskey neat. Either way, you have a load of options in store for you this holiday season. Gin and whiskey are two of the top-recommended liquors, either alone or in cocktails, for Thanksgiving dinner. The botanicals and herb base in gin brings out the flavor profiles in turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.

Both bourbon and scotch are rich and slightly sweet, which are attributes complementary to many traditional Thanksgiving menu options like stuffing and candied yams. Opt for a Glenlivet of any kind, or a Tennessee whiskey that offers notes of dried fruit and caramel, like Gentleman Jack. You can never go wrong with a traditional Old Fashioned! Just avoid whiskeys that are overly smoky.

Not hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? You are so lucky! Looking for a place that will serve you a memorable and traditional holiday meal you will absolutely love? Visit English Ivy’s Pub and Eatery in Downtown Indianapolis for Thanksgiving dinner this year! We are open this Thanksgiving from 5PM to 12AM, kitchen closing at 10PM. No reservations required!

Related Posts:

Festive Thanksgiving Day Inspired Cocktails
Easy Leftover Thanksgiving Day Turkey Ideas
Recommended Grocery Store Wine and Cheese Pairings

Downtown Indianapolis Bar Restaurant
317-822-5070

Festive Thanksgiving Day Inspired Cocktails

If you are planning a holiday party for this year’s Thanksgiving Day, add some seasonal delight to your catering spread with these creative and tasty cocktail inspirations!

Indianapolis Thanksgiving Day Specials
Indianapolis Thanksgiving Day Specials 317-822-5070

Thanksgiving Day Cravings

When you think of Thanksgiving, you might imagine the luxurious aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon, the creamy flavors of pumpkin and other seasonal squashes, and even the cooling sensations of a strong, fall breeze. So why not incorporate these charming seasonal elements into your Holiday cocktails? Here are some of the trending 2019 Thanksgiving Day cocktail recipes you might want to consider!

Pumpkin Latte Martini

1.5 oz. Pumpkin Pie Vodka
1 oz. RumChata
8 oz. Coffee
0.5 oz. Cream or Milk
1 tbsp. Sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon

Optional: Crushed Graham Crackers

Fill shaker with ice. Add all ingredients. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds. Strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a dash of cinnamon and sugar. Optional: graham cracker rim

Cranberry Moscow Mule

8 oz. Ginger Beer
1 Lime, Squeezed
1 oz. Vodka
1 tbsp. Cranberry Cocktail Juice
1 oz. Raw Cranberries
Lime Slices

Fill copper mug with ice. Add vodka, lime juice, and cranberry cocktail juice. Stir. Top with ginger beer. Wipe rim of mug with lime wedge. Garnish with raw cranberries and lime wedge.

Bourbon Pecan Pie

1.5 oz. Pecan Praline Liqueur
1 oz. Bourbon
0.5 oz. Vodka
Roasted or Candied Pecans

Fill rocks glass with ice. Add all ingredients. Garnish with pecans.

Spiced Apple Cider Toddy

1.5 oz. Spiced Rum
3.0 oz. Apple Cider
1 Orange wheel
1 Cinnamon Stick

Warm your apple cider up. Fill glass coffee mug with rum. Top with warm apple cider. Garnish with orange peel and cinnamon stick.

Get a Seasonal Thanksgiving Day Cocktail at English Ivy’s!

English Ivy’s is open on Thanksgiving Day from 5PM and Midnight this year! Call 317-822-5070 to ask about our dinner and drink holiday specials we are offering this season. We offer a seasonal-inspired, multi-cuisine menu that is locally-sourced and curated by our chef. From classics like wings and burgers, to specialty entrees like prime rib and baked scallops, and everything in between, you will find exactly what your taste buds crave this Thanksgiving on our exclusive holiday menus. With neighborhood prices and the nicest service around, you will enjoy every minute you spend at our Downtown Indianapolis bar and restaurant!

317-822-5070