Best Bourbon for Thanksgiving: Bottles, Pairings & Cocktails

Prepping for Thanksgiving day? This is your guide for the best bottles under $50, what to pair with turkey and pie, and 3 easy fall cocktails.

10/21/20263 min read

poring bourbon from a shaker into a glass for thanksgiving
poring bourbon from a shaker into a glass for thanksgiving

The Best Bourbon for Thanksgiving: What to Pour, Pair, and Mix

Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays for bourbon. The flavors of the meal (caramelized sweet potatoes, roasted turkey, pecan pie) already share notes with what’s in the glass: caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, toasted oak, baking spice. Here’s how to pick a bottle, pair it with the meal, and mix a few easy cocktails, whether you’re hosting or bringing a bottle.

Not sure what you like? Take the Bourbon Matchmaker Quiz and we'll point you to a bottle that fits your taste and budget.

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  • Crowd-pleaser or sipper? Guests who rarely drink bourbon do best with something smooth and slightly sweet. Save high-proof or heavily oaked bottles for the enthusiasts.

  • Neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails? A bottle at 90 to 100 proof holds up in cocktails. A softer, lower-proof bottle is better for sipping.

  • Budget: You don’t need to spend a lot. Plenty of great bourbons cost under $50. See our recommended list of the best bourbons under $50.

How to Choose a Thanksgiving Bourbon

What to Pair With Each Dish

  • Roast turkey: A balanced, medium-bodied bourbon with light vanilla and oak.

  • Ham or glazed dishes: A sweeter, caramel-heavy bourbon that echoes the glaze.

  • Stuffing and gravy: A spicier, rye-forward bourbon that cuts through the richness.

  • Sweet potatoes: Brown sugar and baking-spice notes will match the dish.

  • Pecan pie: Pour a high-quality bourbon neat alongside it. The flavors mirror each other.

  • Pumpkin pie: Try a spiced or cinnamon-forward bourbon, or add a splash to whipped cream.

3 Easy Thanksgiving Bourbon Cocktails

  • 1. Maple Old Fashioned
    2 oz bourbon, ¼ oz maple syrup, 2 dashes Angostura bitters, orange peel. Stir over ice and strain over a large cube.

    2. Cranberry Bourbon Smash
    1.5 oz bourbon, 1 oz cranberry juice, ½ oz lemon juice, ½ oz simple syrup, rosemary sprig. Shake and serve over ice.

    3. Warm Bourbon Cider
    1.5 oz bourbon in 5 oz hot apple cider, with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice. Easy to batch for a crowd.

Bourbon That Tastes Like Thanksgiving

Pecan, Nutty and Toasted

  • Baker’s 7 Year: Known for pecan and roasted-nut notes with vanilla and caramel. At 107 proof it’s rich and bold, a natural match for pecan pie.

  • Knob Creek 9 Year: Sweet maple and toasted nuts. It’s widely available and priced fairly.

  • Booker’s: Barrel proof, with nutty, vanilla and caramel character. It’s strong, so serve it with water or a large cube. It costs more, so position it as a splurge.

Baking spice, cinnamon and nutmeg (pumpkin pie territory)

  • Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with extra French oak staves, giving baking-spice and vanilla notes.

  • Rittenhouse Rye: A rye, so it’s spicier, with cinnamon and baking-spice notes. It’s low-priced, and bold enough to stand up in cocktails.

  • Four Roses Small Batch: Soft fruit, spice and caramel. A safe crowd-pleaser.

Caramel, maple and brown sugar (sweet potatoes, glazed ham)

  • Elijah Craig Small Batch: Caramel, vanilla and toasted oak.

  • Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond: 100 proof with caramel, toffee and oak.

  • Wild Turkey 101: Bold vanilla, caramel and spice, and a good bottle for batch cocktails.

Pie crust, bread and butter (wheated bourbons)

  • Larceny Small Batch: A wheated bourbon, softer and sweeter, with bread and honey notes. Good for guests who don’t love “hot” bourbon.

  • Maker’s Mark: The classic wheated, easy-drinking choice.

Colorful cocktails decorated with flowers
Colorful cocktails decorated with flowers

FAQs

  • What bourbon goes best with turkey?
    A medium-bodied bourbon with caramel and light oak, like Four Roses Small Batch or Maker’s Mark.

  • What’s a good bourbon for people who don’t like whiskey?
    Look for a softer, sweeter bottle, serve it with a bit of ice, or use it in a cider or smash cocktail.

  • What bourbon should I bring as a host gift?
    A widely loved bottle under $50, such as Buffalo Trace or Elijah Craig Small Batch.