Drinksgiving: A Survival Guide

Whether your Thanksgiving festivities are full of joy or look more like a war zone, one thing remains certain: the right drink makes any celebration better.

We'd never leave you high and dry in this time of need, so here's our survival guide to making a bad Thanksgiving good, and a good Thanksgiving great.

For the Early Planner:

Cranberry + Sage Infused Moonshine

Already have your whole feast planned out and place settings ready? This delicious concoction takes some wait time to achieve perfection, making it the right pick for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle Belle Isle Premium Moonshine
• 6 oz. cranberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 10-20 sprigs of fresh sage

Serving suggestion:

Pour 1.5 - 2 oz. of the cranberry and sage infusion over ice and top with soda water. 1 infused bottle yields 10-15 cocktails.

Preparation:

1. Place cranberries and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and stir.
2. Simmer the cranberry mixture until the berries burst, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat and allow the cranberry mixture to cool completely.
3. Place sage leaves in the bottle of Belle Isle Premium Moonshine, and add the cranberry mixture once it has cooled.
4. Store in a cool, dark spot for 3 to 5 days.
5. Strain the spirit and save the cranberries for a garnish.

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FOR THE CROWD-PLEASER:

Honey Habanero Cider

Got the entire family coming over for dinner? This easy big-batch recipe will help keep the peace while you focus on feeding a full house.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle Belle Isle Honey Habanero
• 1 cup Grand Marnier (or your choice of orange-flavored liqueur) 
• 2 liters apple cider (store-bought or your favorite homemade recipe)
• 2 oranges, cut into wedges
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Preparation:

1. In a 4 liter+ beverage dispenser, combine the apple cider and Grand Marnier.
2. Add the orange wedges and cinnamon sticks, then stir to combine. Let the mix stand and infuse for as long as desired.
3. Right before serving add the Belle Isle Honey Habanero and stir again.
4. Serve over ice in a rocks glass.

1 batch yields approximately 15-20 cocktails.

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FOR THE SIDELINER:

Livin' On A Pear

Notorious for always burning the stuffing? Reclaim your place in the kitchen with our simple but satisfying recipe. Trust us - you can't mess this one up.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Belle Isle Premium Moonshine
• 1/2 oz. pecan-walnut simple syrup*
• 3 oz. Crispin Pacific Pear Cider

Preparation:

1. In either a chilled glass or a over a big rocks cube, combine the Belle Isle Premium Moonshine and pecan-walnut simple syrup.
2. Top with Crispin Pear Cider, stir lightly, and garnish with a dash of cinnamon.

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*Pecan-Walnut Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks

Yields 1 cup of simple syrup.

Preparation:

1. Place pecans & walnuts into a saucepan, then top with 1/4 cup of sugar & cinnamon. Toast on medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Add the rest of the sugar & 1/2 cup of water. Turn the heat to high, bring to a boil and stir.
3. Once the mixture has come to boil, remove from heat and continue stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Let the simple syrup cool, then seal in a container and refrigerate.