A few years ago, my wife, Patricia, used cranberry juice and ginger ale to concoct a drink for everyone at the Thanksgiving table. She made it in a pitcher. We served it as our guests arrived, and they liked it so much, they drank it throughout the entire meal.
She subsequently refined it, and we’ve come up with a name: Nonna’s Rhody Mule Mocktail. It’s a two-step process. A couple of days before the holiday, make the simple syrup.
Cranberry-Ginger Simple Syrup
INGREDIENTS
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3-inch piece of fresh ginger sliced into rounds
¼ cup of fresh cranberries
INSTRUCTIONS
Put the ingredients into a stovetop pot and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat and let simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until the liquid looks clear. Let it cool to room temperature. Pour it into a container, and store in the refrigerator.
Nonna’s Rhody Mule Mocktail
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup cranberry juice
½ cup ginger ale
2 tbsp cranberry-ginger simple syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
Put a handful of ice into a cocktail shaker, followed by the ingredients. Stir. Strain into a champagne flute, and top off with seltzer. Add a few cranberries and a couple ginger slices as a garnish.
This recipe can fill 2 to 4 flutes, depending on their size.
Cranberry Aperol Spritz is another aperitif you can offer your guests. Here’s the recipe, courtesy of Delish.com.
INGREDIENTS
12 oz Aperol
12 oz cranberry juice cocktail
½ orange, juiced
20 oz Prosecco
Fresh cranberries, orange slices, and rosemary sprigs for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
In a pitcher, combine the Aperol, cranberry juice, and orange juice. Add Prosecco, and stir. Fill wine glasses with ice, then pour the spritz. Garnish with cranberries, an orange slice, and a rosemary sprig.
Cranberry Collins is as colorful as it is refreshing. Here’s the Delish.com recipe.
INGREDIENTS
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz gin
½ oz fresh lemon juice
club soda
thyme sprigs and fresh cranberries for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
In a Collins glass, combine the cranberry juice, gin, and lemon juice. Top off with club soda. Add ice. Garnish with thyme sprigs and skewered cranberries.
Apple Cider Margarita is a fitting autumnal cocktail. Here’s how to make it, thanks to Delish.com.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups apple cider
½ cup silver tequila
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
In a pitcher, combine cider, tequila, and lemon juice. If desired, dip coupe glasses in water, then into a mixture of sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Fill the glasses with Margarita. Garnish with an apple slice, and a cinnamon stick.
Pumpkin Pie Martini likewise shouts autumn. Delish.com provides the how-to.
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp sugar
¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice
4 oz vodka
3 tbsp half-and-half
3 tbsp pumpkin puree
2 tbsp maple syrup
lemon wedge
whipped topping and cinnamon sticks for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine sugar and pumpkin pie spice in a shallow dish. Using a lemon wedge, wet the rim of the martini glasses, then dip them into the mixture.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add the vodka, pumpkin puree, half-and-half, and maple syrup. Shake vigorously until well chilled. Strain into the glasses, top with whipped cream, sprinkle some pumpkin pie spice, and garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Turkeytini answers the question: What’s in a name? Delish.com provides the recipe.
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup chocolate syrup
1 ½ oz Baileys Irish Cream
1 ½ oz bourbon
1 oz chocolate liqueur
½ oz Kahlúa
½ oz milk
grated fresh nutmeg for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Drizzle chocolate syrup to form a swirling design inside a martini glass. Freeze until ready to use.
In a cocktail shaker, combine Baileys, bourbon, chocolate liqueur, Kahlúa, and milk. Fill the shaker with ice, cover, and shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Strain into the prepared glasses. Grate nutmeg over the cocktail. (Saying “gobble-gobble” instead of “cheers” is optional.)