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four thanksgiving cocktails displayed on a bar mat with a bar setup of shakers and bottles at Copper Top Ridge, with a Thanksgiving meal table softly blurred in the background.

Thanksgiving Cocktails: Cozy Drinks for a Perfect Holiday Weekend

Thanksgiving cocktails bring warmth, flavor, and a touch of festive comfort to the holiday season, and they’re especially perfect for a cozy getaway at Copper Top Ridge. Whether you’re starting the morning with a spiced coffee drink, enjoying a light wine spritz in the afternoon, or settling in with a soothing nightcap, these cocktails help set the tone for an unforgettable Thanksgiving weekend. Each recipe is crafted to complement the atmosphere of relaxation, connection, and rustic charm that make Copper Top Ridge such a special place to celebrate the holiday.

Thanksgiving at Copper Top Ridge has a feeling all its own — the quiet crunch of leaves underfoot, the smell of woodsmoke drifting from the fire pit, and the familiar rhythm of family and friends reconnecting. It’s the perfect setting for a long weekend getaway in Southwest Michigan — whether you’re here for wine country, lakeside serenity, or the comfort of a Thanksgiving vacation rental in Michigan that feels like home.

Guests love starting their stay with a stroll through Downtown New Buffalo or exploring the nearby wine trail before settling back into the cottage for cozy evenings. And with Copper Top Ridge’s warm lighting, modern cottage décor, and forest views, these seasonal cocktails feel right at home — crafted to carry you from a slow Thanksgiving morning to your first Christmas movie of the season.

So pour a glass, settle in, and enjoy this curated collection of Thanksgiving drinks designed for your modern cottage retreat in Southwest Michigan.

Maple Cinnamon Coffee Toddy

For watching the parade in pajamas

There’s nothing better than Thanksgiving morning at Copper Top Ridge — waking up slow, brewing fresh coffee,
and turning on the Macy’s Parade while the holiday spirit begins to build. This Maple Cinnamon Coffee Toddy
adds the perfect cozy kick using
Journeyman Distillery’s whiskey,
distilled just down the road in Three Oaks.

Ingredients

  • 6 oz hot brewed coffee
  • 1.5 oz Journeyman whiskey
  • 1 oz maple syrup
  • 1 oz heavy cream
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • Whipped cream (optional)
  • Cinnamon stick

Instructions

  1. Brew a strong, hot cup of coffee.
  2. Stir maple syrup and cinnamon into the mug until dissolved.
  3. Add whiskey and mix gently.
  4. Pour in cream for a marbled swirl effect.
  5. Top with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

Maple Cinnamon Coffee Toddy on a bar mat in the Copper Top Ridge kitchen with steam rising from the mug, surrounded by maple syrup, cream, cinnamon, and a Journeyman whiskey bottle.
Warm up your Thanksgiving morning with this Maple Cinnamon Coffee Toddy — a cozy, steam-topped coffee cocktail perfect for slow holiday mornings. Simple ingredients, big flavor, and a beautiful presentation that pairs perfectly with fall weekends, holiday hosting, or your getaway at Copper Top Ridge.

Solasta Harvest Spritz

A vineyard-inspired afternoon cocktail

If your Thanksgiving weekend includes a stop at
Solasta Winery — and it should —
bring that fresh, aromatic flavor back to the cottage with this elegant spritz. Solasta’s whites wine blend
shines beautifully when paired with soft pear and rosemary.

Ingredients

  • 4 oz Solasta White Wine Blend
  • 2 oz sparkling water or prosecco
  • 0.75 oz elderflower liqueur
  • Pear slices
  • Fresh rosemary
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Fill a wine glass with ice.
  2. Add wine and elderflower liqueur.
  3. Top with sparkling water or prosecco.
  4. Add pear slices and garnish with rosemary.

Solasta Harvest Spritz cocktail on the Copper Top Ridge kitchen island with pear slices, rosemary, elderflower liqueur, and a Solasta white wine bottle in the background; part of the Thanksgiving cocktails collection.
The Solasta Harvest Spritz — a vineyard-inspired addition to our Thanksgiving cocktails lineup, styled in the Copper Top Ridge kitchen.

Cranberry Sage Gin Sipper

The perfect cocktail to pair with Thanksgiving dinner

Cranberry and sage are Thanksgiving icons for a reason — and this cocktail highlights them in a bright,
balanced way that pairs beautifully with turkey, stuffing, roasted vegetables, and all the savory classics.

Cranberry Syrup

Simmer the following for 10 minutes, then strain and cool:

  • 1 cup cranberries
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup water

Cocktail Ingredients

  • 1.5 oz gin
  • 1 oz cranberry syrup
  • 0.75 oz lemon juice
  • 2 sage leaves
  • Soda water
  • Fresh cranberries and sage for garnish

Instructions

  1. Lightly muddle sage in a shaker.
  2. Add gin, cranberry syrup, lemon juice, and ice.
  3. Shake well and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice.
  4. Top with soda water.
  5. Garnish with cranberries and a sage leaf.

Perfect for anyone hosting Thanksgiving dinner in the Copper Top Ridge kitchen — especially if you’re exploring one of the

cooking classes in Southwest Michigan

while you’re here.

Cranberry Sage Gin Sipper Thanksgiving cocktail displayed in front of a soft-focus Thanksgiving dinner table, styled as a clean title-only Pinterest image.
The Cranberry Sage Gin Sipper — a bright, elegant Thanksgiving cocktail served with Thanksgiving dinner in the background.

Eggnog Moonshine Nightcap

A smooth, holiday-spiced sip after the feast

Once the table is cleared and everyone settles into the living room, this nightcap is exactly what the moment
calls for — smooth, lightly spiced, warming, and festive without being heavy.
Eggnog moonshine brings creamy holiday flavor without relying on traditional eggnog,
and the cold brew gives it a sophisticated edge.

Eggnog Moonshine Sources:
MI local:
https://twelvemilemarket.com/moonshine
National:
https://olesmoky.com/products/shine-nog

Ingredients

  • 2 oz eggnog moonshine
  • 1 oz vanilla vodka or white rum
  • 1 oz cold brew concentrate
  • 0.5 oz caramel syrup
  • Dash of nutmeg

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
  2. Shake vigorously until chilled and lightly frothy.
  3. Strain over a large ice cube.
  4. Finish with a dusting of nutmeg.

Smooth, sweet, and just festive enough — it’s the perfect companion for late-night conversation or a quiet November evening
described in our

storm-watching on Lake Michigan

feature.

Eggnog Moonshine Nightcap cocktail on a rustic coffee table at Copper Top Ridge, translucent caramel-ivory color with froth and nutmeg, cozy socks and a roaring fireplace softly blurred in the background; warm Thanksgiving and holiday atmosphere.
A warm and inviting Eggnog Moonshine Nightcap resting on the coffee table at Copper Top Ridge, captured with a glowing fireplace and cozy socks in the background.

Copper Top Hot Buttered Rum

For your first Christmas movie of the season

When the dishes are finally done and the house grows quiet, holiday movie night becomes the highlight of Thanksgiving weekend.
Whether you’re watching Elf, Home Alone, or the forever-classic Christmas Vacation,
this hot buttered rum makes the moment feel truly magical.

Butter Batter (makes about 8 servings)

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp nutmeg
  • Pinch of ginger
  • Pinch of salt

Mix together until smooth and refrigerate until ready to use.

Cocktail Ingredients (per drink)

  • 1.5 oz dark or spiced rum
  • 1 tbsp butter batter
  • 6–8 oz hot water
  • Cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Add butter batter to a mug.
  2. Pour in hot water and stir until fully melted.
  3. Add rum and stir again.
  4. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

It’s the perfect ending to a festive day — especially if you’re enjoying one of our

weekend getaways from Chicago with a hot tub

and settling in under the stars before movie time.

  

Copper Top Hot Buttered Rum cocktail on a rustic coffee table at Copper Top Ridge, warm golden color with steam rising, a glowing fireplace and blurred holiday movie scene in the background; part of our Thanksgiving cocktails collection.
The Copper Top Hot Buttered Rum — a warm, golden holiday classic — enjoyed fireside at Copper Top Ridge during the first Christmas movie of the season.

A Toast to a Cozy Southwest Michigan Thanksgiving

Whether you’re wine tasting, cooking together, strolling through accommodations near Notre Dame using our
Notre Dame places to stay guide or relaxing inside your forest-facing cottage, these cocktails add warmth and flavor to every moment.

The holiday season is one of the most magical times of year at Copper Top Ridge — from wildlife sightings along the
creek (explored in our Wildlife in Southwest Michigan guide), to slow scenic mornings and wine-inspired afternoons using our
Best Wineries & Tasting Rooms collection.

And if you’re staying for the long weekend, consider adding a little adventure — like sandboarding on the Lake Michigan dunes
— or beginning to dream about winter celebrations with our New Year’s Eve in New Buffalo guide.

From our cozy cottage in Harbor Country to wherever you’re celebrating —
cheers, and Happy Thanksgiving from Copper Top Ridge.

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