Ah, Thanksgiving. That special day when family and friends gather for food, drinks and polite discourse. A day where all the world’s problems are solved at the dinner table… we wish. Whether you’re offering mocktails to keep the peace, cutting calories from the edges of a gluttonous week, or relying solely on tryptophan for a pleasant early-evening snooze, there are so many reasons to offer alcohol free and low abv cocktails at your Thanksgiving feast. And with these vibrant and flavorful choices, you can dial back the alcohol, show your body some gratitude, and still enjoy a beverage that doesn’t compromise on flavor.
First up, a warming holiday beverage that is as fun to say as it is to drink. The citrus-y notes from the orange and lemon meld perfectly with the spice of the cinnamon and clove. It will bring you back to life after that family football game outside, or simply warm you up post-meal. We make ours zero alcohol by substituting Ritual Whiskey Alternative for the liquor. That way you can keep the toddies flowing well into the evening and still wake up early for Black Friday shopping.
Ingredients:
2 oz. Ritual Whiskey Alternative
.5 oz orange juice
2 oz hot water
1 oz lemon juice
.5 oz honey
Cinnamon stick, orange wheel and clove for garnish
Instructions:
Squeeze orange juice and lemon juice into a warm glass (pour hot water into glass then discard)
Add Ritual Whiskey Alternative
Add honey and stir
Garnish with cinnamon stick, orange wheel and clove.
Prep Time:
5 Minutes
Difficulty:
Easy
RITUAL ZERO PROOF WHISKEY BOURBON SMASH
Next, a festive low abv option. This is the perfect cocktail if you want to give your Thanksgiving a mild kick, or simply taper down after a few strong drinks. Use any preserves you like—even cranberry, if you want the taste of Thanksgiving in a glass. We make ours low abv by substituting our whiskey replacement for the hard stuff, but leaving in the triple sec. You can also make it zero proof by swapping in more orange juice for the triple sec. Either way, you can enjoy a few without turning your turkey coma turning into an all-afternoon event.
Ingredients:
3/4 c. Ritual Zero Proof Whiskey Alternative
1/2 cup ice (plus more for serving)
2 Tbsp preserves or jam of choice (we went with organic raspberry)
2 Tbsp bourbon
1 Tbsp triple sec
2-3 Tbsp orange juice
Orange segments
A splash of club soda
Instructions:
Add ice, preserves, bourbon, triple sec and orange juice to a shaker and shake vigorously for 15 seconds. Pour into serving glass with a few ice cubes and top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with orange slices and enjoy. Repeat for more drinks.
Prep Time:
5 minutes
Difficulty:
Easy/Medium
RITUAL ZERO PROOF POMEGRANATE GINGER PALOMA
And finally, a crisp, fragrant drink that captures the taste of fall. The fresh ginger invigorates the senses and complements the tartness of the pomegranate and grapefruit. We make ours zero proof by swapping our tequila substitute for the booze, without losing the burn of liquor. Now you can indulge at meal time and still have some gas in the tank for that after-dinner turkey trot.
GINGER SYRUP INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup honey
1 inch fresh ginger chopped
Mint leaves
PALOMA INGREDIENTS
Crushed ice
1.5 oz. Ritual Tequila Alternative
1.5 oz. pomegranate juice
1.5 oz. grapefruit juice
.5 oz lime juice
2-4 tablespoons ginger syrup
Ginger beer or sparkling water to top
Instructions:
GINGER SYRUP
Boil water, honey and ginger over heat. Simmer 1-2 minutes, remove from heat and add mint. Wait 10 minutes. Strain out the ginger and mint.
PALOMA
Fill your glass halfway with ice. Add the pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, syrup, and Ritual Tequila Alternative. Stir to combine and then top with ginger beer. Garnish with mint. enjoy!
Prep Time:
10 Minutes
Difficulty:
Medium
