5 Simple Thanksgiving Tequila Cocktails:

Shake Up This Holiday

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When the air turns crisp, and leaves begin to flutter, most reach for the familiar comfort of bourbon or mulled wine. Thanksgiving tequila cocktails take an unexpected journey south of the border, where premium tequila proves it’s more than just a summer spirit. These five easy cocktails merge the warmth of traditional fall flavors with the complexity of fine tequila, creating innovative and wonderfully familiar drinks.

Imagine the bright notes of fresh apple cider mingling with smooth reposado in our Autumn Apple Margarita or how aged añejo mingles with spiced pear in a silky-smooth cocktail that could rival any bourbon-based drink. From the ruby-red brilliance of our Cranberry Harvest Paloma to the warming embrace of our Maple Spice Mule, each recipe has been crafted to complement your holiday celebration while offering something delightfully unexpected.

Ready to shake up tradition? Your new favorite fall cocktail awaits.

Autumn Apple Margarita

Yield: Single Serving

Autumn Apple Margarita

A seasonal twist that brings orchard freshness to your holiday table.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz reposado tequila
• 2 oz fresh apple cider
• ¾ oz lime juice
• ½ oz brown sugar syrup*
• Dash of ground cinnamon
• Garnish: Apple slice, cinnamon sugar rim
• *Brown Sugar Syrup: Mix equal parts brown sugar and hot water, stir until dissolved

Instructions

For the rim: Mix 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon on a small plate

Rub lime wedge around the rim of the glass, then dip in cinnamon sugar mixture

In a shaker, combine tequila, apple cider, lime juice, and brown sugar syrup

Add a dash of ground cinnamon

Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds

Double strain into a prepared glass filled with fresh ice

Garnish with a fanned apple slice and cinnamon stick

Cranberry Harvest Paloma

This ruby-hued refresher is perfect for those who appreciate a beautiful and balanced drink. The traditional grapefruit-forward Paloma gets a seasonal makeover with cranberry juice, creating a sophisticated sweet-tart profile that pairs beautifully with Thanksgiving dinner. The honey syrup adds depth and body while smoothing out cranberry’s natural tartness. Topped with effervescent club soda and garnished with fresh cranberries and aromatic rosemary, it’s a conversation starter that keeps you coming back for another sip.

Yield: one serving

Cranberry Harvest Paloma

A ruby-hued refresher perfect for the holiday table

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Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1 oz fresh grapefruit juice
• 1 oz cranberry juice (100% juice)
• ½ oz honey syrup*
• Club soda to top
• Fresh cranberries and rosemary sprig for garnish
• *Honey Syrup:
• 2 parts honey
• 1 part hot water
• Stir until combined

Instructions

In a shaker, combine tequila, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and honey syrup

Add ice and shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds

Strain into a tall glass filled with fresh ice

Top with club soda (approximately 2 oz)

Gently stir to combine

Garnish with skewered fresh cranberries and rosemary sprig

Lightly slap the rosemary sprig before adding it to release aromatics

Maple Spice Mule

The Maple Spice Mule is for adventurous souls who love the kick of a Moscow Mule but want something more seasonal and nuanced. This cocktail combines the warmth of maple syrup with the complexity of reposado tequila, while apple cider adds authentic fall character. The ginger beer provides that spicy finish, enhanced by pumpkin pie spices that make every sip taste like autumn in a copper mug. It’s familiar enough to be comfortable but unique enough to be memorable.

Yield: One Mule

Maple Spice Mule

Warming fall spices meet the bright kick of ginger.

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Ingredients

• 2 oz reposado tequila
• 2 oz apple cider
• ½ oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz pure maple syrup
• ¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice
• Ginger beer to top
• Apple slice and cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions

In a shaker, combine tequila, apple cider, lime juice, and maple syrup

Add pumpkin pie spice

Fill with ice and shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds

Strain into a copper mug filled with crushed ice

Top with ginger beer (approximately 2-3 oz)

Stir gently to combine

Garnish with a fanned apple slice and cinnamon stick

Fall Holiday Cranberry Margarita

This cocktail is for those who want to bridge summer’s brightness with winter’s warming flavors. The combination of blanco tequila and cranberry creates a perfectly balanced cocktail that’s neither too sweet nor too tart. Orange juice adds subtle complexity, while honey syrup provides a silky texture. Garnished with sugared cranberries, it’s as beautiful as it is delicious – the kind of drink that makes people stop and ask, “What’s that?” before ordering one themselves.

Yield: One Serving

Fall Holiday Cranberry Margarita

A festive take on the classic that doubles as décor

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Ingredients

• 2 oz blanco tequila
• 1½ oz cranberry juice
• ¾ oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz orange juice
• ½ oz honey syrup
• Sugared cranberries for garnish*
• *Sugared Cranberries:
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 cup simple syrup
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• Dip cranberries in syrup, then roll in sugar

Instructions

Prepare sugared cranberries at least 1 hour ahead

In a shaker, combine tequila, cranberry juice, lime juice, orange juice, and honey syrup

Add ice and shake vigorously for 10-12 seconds

Double strain into a coupe glass

Garnish with skewered sugared cranberries

Spiced Pear Añejo Sour

The Spiced Pear Añejo Sour is our most advanced recipe, designed for sophisticated palates that appreciate layers of flavor and texture. The aged tequila provides a complex base of vanilla and oak notes that balances beautifully with subtle pear and warming cinnamon. The egg white creates a luxurious, silky mouthfeel while adding a canvas for the artistic bitters design. It’s a cocktail that feels special—something you’d expect at a high-end cocktail bar but can now create at home. It’s perfect when you want to slow down and savor something extraordinary (and impress!)

Yield: One Sour

Spiced Pear Añejo Sour

A sophisticated sipper combining fall fruit with smooth-aged tequila

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Ingredients

• 2 oz añejo tequila
• 1 oz pear nectar
• ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz cinnamon syrup*
• 1 egg white (or 1 oz aquafaba for vegan version)
• 2 dashes Angostura bitters
• Fresh nutmeg and dehydrated pear for garnish
• *Cinnamon Syrup:
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• Simmer for 10 minutes, cool, strain

Instructions

Add all ingredients except bitters to shaker

Dry shake (without ice) for 30 seconds to emulsify

Add ice and shake vigorously for 15 seconds

Double strain into a chilled coupe glass

Add bitters in a circular pattern

Use a pick to create a decorative swirl pattern

Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and dehydrated pear

Egg White Technique:

• Use fresh, cold eggs
• Dry shake thoroughly
• Double strain for smoothness
• Add garnish gently to preserve the foam
• Consider aquafaba as an alternative

Safety Notes:

• Use pasteurized eggs when possible
• Keep eggs refrigerated until use
• Discard any drinks with broken shells

Elevate Your Holiday Season with Tequila

As the autumn leaves give way to winter frost, your cocktail journey doesn’t have to end here. These Thanksgiving tequila creations are just the beginning of a season filled with unexpected spirits and delightful discoveries. From the warming Autumn Apple Margarita to the sophisticated Spiced Pear Añejo Sour, each recipe proves that tequila’s versatility extends far beyond summer sunsets.

Ready to explore more holiday-inspired tequila cocktails? Our seasonal collection will take you through the entire holiday season:

🍁 Spooky Tequila Cocktails: Transform your Halloween gathering with eerily delicious concoctions.

🦃 Thanksgiving Tequila Guide: The complete collection you’ve just explored.

🎄 Christmas Tequila Cocktails: Reimagine holiday classics with Mexican spirits.

🎊 New Year’s Eve Tequila Sparklers: Ring in the new year with agave-based elegance.