Credit: Marisa Lynch

Thanksgiving Cocktails to Help You Survive the Holiday Chaos

8 Minute read

25 Nov 2025

Because the turkey is not the only thing that gets roasted. These bright, simple cocktails bring a little sanity and a lot of flavor to the big day.

Daylight Savings has arrived, the Halloween candy has mysteriously vanished (justice for the mini Twix), and the group chat is already sparking debates about canned cranberry versus freshly made. Thanksgiving deserves cocktails that feel festive without sending you into post-dinner melancholy, because tryptophan will take care of that on its own. These drinks bring the right mix of sparkle, spice, and all things nice.

Each recipe stars Sanpellegrino® CIAO! Flavored Sparkling Waters, which are bright, effervescent, and ready to balance all those heavier holiday dishes. Whether you’re hosting, guesting, or strategically hiding in the kitchen to “check on the gravy,” they’re a refreshing fit for every table this season.

Cran-Orange CIAO! Fizz

Cranberry tartness with a sun-kissed blood orange pop.

This one tastes like the moment the cranberry sauce hits the table, bright, ruby-toned, and unmistakably Thanksgiving. Sanpellegrino® CIAO! Blood Orange Flavored Sparkling Water adds juicy sparkle, while cranberry and a splash of orange liqueur give it that holiday-party energy.

Instructions:

Fill a shaker with ice.
Add 30 ml cranberry juice, 15 ml orange liqueur (or fresh orange juice), and 30 ml vodka.
Shake gently, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with 120 ml Sanpellegrino® CIAO! Blood Orange Flavored Sparkling Water.
Garnish with fresh cranberries on a cocktail pick

Apple Bourbon Smash

Apple-orchard warmth with a citrus lift.

If autumn had a signature scent, it would be this drink. Bourbon meets apple cider for a hit of cozy comfort, while Sanpellegrino® Limonata adds a clean citrus lift. It’s the kind of sip that lands perfectly after your third helping of mashed potatoes.

Instructions:

In a shaker filled with ice, combine 60 ml bourbon, 30 ml apple cider, 15 ml lemon juice, and 7 ml honey.
Shake to chill, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with 90–120 ml Sanpellegrino® Limonata.
Garnish with a fresh apple slice.

Spiced Maple Manhattan Spritz

A classic Manhattan gets the holiday treatment.

Consider this the “after dessert but before the leftovers” drink. Rye whiskey and sweet vermouth meet a touch of maple syrup for gentle sweetness, while Sanpellegrino® CIAO! Cherry Flavored Sparkling Water lightens the Manhattan’s usual intensity and adds a festive, fruit-forward glow.

Instructions:

Add 45 ml rye whiskey, 15 ml sweet vermouth, and 7 ml maple syrup to a mixing glass filled with ice.
Stir until well chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.
Top with 60–90 ml Sanpellegrino® CIAO! Cherry Flavored Sparkling Water.
Garnish with Maraschino cherries.