Easy Holiday Cocktails for Thanksgiving Day - Made the New England Way

A Toast to Simplicity

Thanksgiving is about good food, family, and the kind of laughter that comes from shared stories — not about spending hours behind the bar.

That’s why Flag Hill Winery & Distillery in Lee, New Hampshire created a lineup of spirits that make simple cocktails feel special. Each one can be pre-batched or mixed with just a few ingredients so you can focus on the people around your table — not the shaker.

From the first guest’s arrival to the final slice of pie, here are four easy ways to serve something local, delicious, and unmistakably New England this Thanksgiving.

Looking for the best wines to pair with your meal instead? We tackled that last week! Check it out here!

The Wicked Easy — Classic Made Easy...Wicked Easy.

Featured Spirit: Flag Hill Maple Whiskey

Rich, smooth, and naturally sweet, our Maple Whiskey is pure New Hampshire in a glass. This Old Fashioned can be made one at a time or mixed by the pitcher before your guests arrive.

Batch Directions (serves 6):

• Flag Hill Maple Whiskey – 2 oz (12 oz for 6 servings)

• Bitters – 2–3 dashes (8–10 dashes for 6 servings)

• Orange peel, for garnish

Stir together in a pitcher and refrigerate. When ready to serve, pour over ice and garnish with an orange peel.

Spiced Cranberry Mule — Fresh and Festive

Featured Spirit: General Stark Vodka

Bright, fizzy, and perfect for a crowd, this Spiced Cranberry Mule adds a seasonal twist to a classic. The tart cranberry and ginger spice play beautifully against the clean character of General Stark Vodka.

How to Prebatch (serves 6):

• General Stark Vodka – 2 oz (12 oz for 6 servings)

• Cranberry juice – 1 oz (1½ cups for 6 servings)

• Fresh lime juice – ½ oz (¾ cup for 6 servings)

• Ginger beer – 3 oz (18 oz for 6 servings, added when serving)

• Cranberries or lime wedges, for garnish

Refrigerate until serving time. When guests arrive, pour 3 oz of the mix into each glass with ice and top with chilled ginger beer. Garnish with cranberries or lime wheels.

Spiced Rum Cider — Warm and Comforting

Featured Spirit: Flag Hill Spiced Rum

For when the kitchen smells like cinnamon and everyone drifts toward the fire — this one practically makes itself. Flag Hill Spiced Rum adds depth and warmth to fresh apple cider, turning it into a crowd-pleasing comfort drink.

To Prepare (serves 8):

• Flag Hill Spiced Rum – 1½ oz (9 oz for 6 servings)

• Apple cider – 4 oz (1½ quarts for 6 servings)

• Cinnamon stick and apple slices, for garnish

Warm gently in a pot or slow cooker — don’t boil. Serve with a ladle and cinnamon stick garnish.

18-Year Niagara Brandy — The Simplest Pour of All

Featured Spirit: Flag Hill 18-Year Niagara Brandy

When the dishes are cleared and everyone’s too full for another bite, there’s no need to complicate things. Our 18-Year Niagara Brandy is distilled from New Hampshire-grown Niagara grapes and aged for nearly two decades in toasted oak barrels. Smooth, refined, and quietly luxurious — it’s your zero-effort showstopper.

Just pour it into a snifter, take a seat, and enjoy. No garnish. No mixing. Just craftsmanship in a glass.

Make Thanksgiving Effortless with Flag Hill Spirits

All of these spirits are handcrafted at Flag Hill Winery & Distillery in Lee, NH, using New England ingredients and time-honored techniques.

Before the holiday, visit our tasting room to sample and pick up your Maple Whiskey, General Stark Vodka, Spiced Rum, and the 18-Year Brandy.

From the first toast to the final pour, make this Thanksgiving simple, local, and unmistakably Flag Hill.

Cheers to a holiday well done — without the stress.