Have a Wild Turkey Thanksgiving

For our readers in the United States, Thanksgiving is the time for gathering with family and friends to give thanks for the many blessings that we have in our lives.  Usually, the Thanksgiving feast is marked by the serving of turkey, the honorary bird of the holiday.  We are encouraging you aspiring hosts and hostesses to make turkey the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving celebration—Wild Turkey®, to be exact.

According to Wikipedia, Wild Turkey® is a popular brand of Bourbon Whiskey.  Bourbon whiskey is a barrel aged distilled spirit, made primarily of corn.  The frequent use of Bourbon Whiskey in Southern cooking reflects the versatility of the flavor profiles that are infused into the spirit via the wooden aging casks.  These flavors include hints of molasses, caramel, vanilla, pecans, cinnamon, licorice and brown sugar.  Since these flavor profiles inhabit many of the favorite dishes associated with and consumed at Thanksgiving, we have assembled some Wild Turkey® infused beverages to serve with your holiday feasts:

Cherry Gobbler

• 2 oz Wild Turkey® bourbon whiskey
• 3/4 oz grenadine syrup 
• 3 1/2 oz Mello Yello® citrus soda

Pour the Wild Turkey® bourbon whiskey and grenadine into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, and strain into a highball glass filled with ice cubes. Add Mello Yellow®, and serve.

Thanksgiving Cocktail

• 1/2 oz. Brandy, apple
• 1 1/2 oz. Bourbon (Wild Turkey®)
• 4 oz. Cranberry Juice
• 1 tsp. Lime Juice
• 1 wedge Lime

Build over ice in a collins glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

 Golden Schnoozeberry

• 1/2 oz. Rumple Minze
• 1 1/2 oz. Bourbon (Wild Turkey®)
• Fill with 7-up®
• 1 wedge Lime

Fill glass with ice. Pour Wild Turkey® and Schnapps® over ice. Squeeze lime wedge in drink and drop in. Fill with 7-up®.

As always, we encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone to see what this spirit will do in varied cocktails.  Get creative, go wild!  However, if you need to seek the skills of a professional, keep in mind that you can always look to a mixologist, like SMS Mixology, for something unique, and services that allow you to mix and mingle with your guests, not stuck in the background mixing drinks.  Enjoy responsibly, and remember to entertain this Thanksgiving with the spirits of style!

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