Thanksgiving Cocktails and Cheers from Serious Eats Team

It's Thanksgiving week, and I'm right there with you—missing deadlines, grabbing last-minute ingredients, and feeling that gentle frenzy behind every coordinating text. The Serious Eats team is running around with family and friends, plenty of good food in the works, and honestly, your stress is our stress. This week's Mise en Place is short, sweet, and hopefully comforting because we're all in it together!

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Last week, I shared the play-by-play of our Thanksgiving tablescapes. This week? I'm focusing on the liquid courage that gets us through ten-step recipes and awkward dinner table pauses. What will everyone be filling their glasses with? Let me share our team's festive picks—and yes, I'll admit it (even though earnestness pains me), I'm genuinely appreciative for another year of the Serious Eats fandom. You guys are wild, but you're also great. Cheers!

What We're Drinking This Thanksgiving

Daniel Gritzer, our senior culinary director, says: "Big-batch NOLA-origin cocktails. Probably sazerac, maaaaaybe hurricane—and no, I haven't figured out how to batch the recipes yet... maybe I'll slack our friends at Liquor."

Grace Kelly, associate commerce editor, shares: "My batch whiskey sour is infamous (let's just say everyone was feeling, erm, lots of things the day after my backyard wedding last year), so I'll be making that. But also this low ABV recipe I can't get enough of—it's basically a sherry- and amaro-based cocktail with cider, lime juice, and pear shrub. It's so good!"

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Here's a quick look at what the rest of the team is sipping:

• Jesse Raub, commerce writer: "This Nero d'Avola from Martha Stoumen."

• Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm, senior commerce editor: "WINE. Lots of it."

• Leah Colins, senior culinary editor: "My mother makes a fabulous porto tonico. I have big plans to sip one on a quiet beach stroll. People usually think of it as a summer cocktail, but with fresh orange and fresh sage, oh-my-festive-holiday-goodness!"

• Yasmine Maggio, associate editor: "Lots of Martinelli's sparkling apple cider for my Muslim family!! Halal wine, as we like to call it."

Quick Whiskey Sour Recipe

If you're like me and need a reliable cocktail, here's my go-to:

• Cook time: 5 mins

• Serves: 1

• Ingredients: Fresh lemon juice, a spoonful of sugar, and plenty of whiskey.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Post-Thanksgiving Plans

While we're all focused on Thanksgiving, the Serious Eats Commerce Team is already gearing up for Black Friday. They'll be taking over our Instagram stories all Friday, Saturday, and Monday with hand-picked deals to deck out your kitchen. Keep an eye out—because who doesn't love a good deal after turkey-induced naps?

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So, what am I most excited about? Honestly, it's the camaraderie. Whether it's Daniel's big-batch cocktails, Grace's whiskey sours, or Yasmine's Martinelli's, we're all finding our own ways to celebrate. And isn't that what Thanksgiving is really about? Good food, good drinks, and good company—even if there are a few awkward pauses at the dinner table.