Wild Turkey Cocktails for Thanksgiving Day

Now, you don’t have to drink Wild Turkey on Thanksgiving, but it sure makes for an easy themed drink. At my house, I’m content to sip the stuff neat. No ice, no mixers, no problem. But should your guests want something that’s a little more, you know, elaborate… here you go: a trio of three old fashioneds, each made with Wild Turkey and fit for Thanksgiving drinking.

Old Fashioned 17 (Christopher Longoria, 1760)

2 oz Wild Turkey Rye
.75 oz Campari
2 tsp Cynar
.25 oz Cinzano Dry Vermouth
.25 oz simple syrup
4 dashes Angostura Bitters
2 dashes Fee Brothers Orange Bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain over one large ice cube. Garnish with a brandied cherry.

Old Fashioned Thanksgiving (Jon Gasparini, Rye)

2 oz Wild Turkey 81 Rye
1 tsp Pumpkin Spice Black Tea Syrup*
2 dashes Bar Keep Apple Bitters
1 dash Angostura Bitters

Combine ingredients in an old fashioned glass over a large ice cube and stir.

*Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup: mix two parts organic cane sugar with one part strong pumpkin spice tea (brewed). Bring to boil, stir as sugar dissolves. Let syrup cool completely before using.

The Old Fashioned Pilgrim (H. Joseph Ehrmann, Elixir)

2 oz Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Pilgrim Infusion*
.5 oz Clover Honey Syrup
2 dashes Orange Bitters
Orange twist and cranberry for garnish

In a glass, add the three ingredients and stir gently, top with ice and stir gently again. Express orange oils from a wide twist over the glass and then spear the orange twist with a cocktail cranberry in between for garnish.

*Wild Turkey Kentucky Pilgrim Infusion: In a wide-mouthed glass jar, place one liter of Wild Turkey 101 and two bar spoons of cardamom seeds. Close and leave in a dark cool place for one day. Strain out cardamom and add 1.5 cups of dried unsweetened cranberries and three sticks of cinnamon. Close and leave for an additional two days, agitating once per day. Strain solids and store in the original Wild Turkey bottle.