It starts with low-ABV drinks in the early afternoon followed by some pre-dinner cocktails and a couple of things that are pretty much pure whiskey.
10am: Yes, it’s a holiday, but it’s still just 10am. Have a mimosa, or try a Cold Brew Negroni without the rum.
11am: If you haven’t started cooking yet, you should probably get on that. Grab an apron or that old shirt you spilled wine on the last time you fell asleep watching Moesha on Netflix, then get to work. For an accompanying drink, do the responsible thing, and stick to low-ABV stuff for now. An Americano (Campari, vermouth, and seltzer) is exactly what you need.
12pm: It’s officially the afternoon, so you can have yourself a proper cocktail. Try a Boulevardier. It can withstand a little extra dilution - so it’s perfect for when you're cutting bread cubes for stuffing and forget about the fact that you just poured yourself a drink.
4pm: How’s that turkey looking? More like a cooked turkey and less like a raw turkey? That’s a great sign. Celebrate with a French 75, one of the most iconic Champagne cocktails of all time. Don’t forget the lemon twist, and don’t forget to cheers anyone in your immediate vicinity.
5pm: Right about now, guests should start arriving. Or maybe it’s just one guest who happens to live with you. Whoever arrives, hopefully they brought some red wine, because that’s exactly what you need for New York Sours. Make a few for yourself and your guests, and save the rest of your wine for dinner.
6pm: Alright, let’s make some assessments. How much did you burn? Did you get into any arguments about the proper way to boil potatoes? How many times did you just space out and eat cranberry sauce? Regardless of your answers, you’ve earned a drink. Try something ginger-y and palate-cleansing like a Moscow Mule or a Penicillin. And don’t forget to set the table.
6:15pm: Your table is looking great, but you still need a drink to go with dinner. This should, of course, be a Maple Old Fashioned. This cocktail is incredibly straightforward, and it’ll go great with everything from candied yams to glazed ham. Actually, if you have some ham on your table, go ahead and garnish your drink with a slice of that.
8pm: It feels like midnight already, and your life has turned into a Robert Frost poem in which two roads have diverged. One leads toward bed, the other toward a nightcap. Thanksgiving 2020 only happens once, however, so you’re leaning toward the latter. An Espresso Martini is ideal if you’re trying to stay awake long enough to enjoy a few additional slices of pie, but a Vodka Stinger is a little more stylish, and it’s probably what people drank after Thanksgiving dinner in the 1950s.
10pm: Drink some water before you go to bed. This step is non-negotiable.
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