This Champagne Hunni is the perfect match for your annoyingly fancy cousin.
All photos by Kate Magee. All cocktail garnishes by Dress the Drink.
It’s almost that time again. On one hand, Thanksgiving is the absolute best holiday. It’s the only day of the year during which you’re encouraged to gorge yourself on carbs and desserts, drink wine at 2 p.m., and fall into a tryptophan-induced coma before dusk. But there is something standing in the way of all this pure, unadulterated gluttony: your family. Sure, you love them–but how are you supposed to concentrate on getting the best stuffing-to-turkey ratio while they’re bombarding you with questions about your career, bad habits, or (worst of all) love life?
The bad news: you’ll never beat them. The good news: you can temporarily distract them with cocktails! We here at Belle Isle Moonshine have provided you with a guide to get your nosy relatives happily tipsy and out of your business before the turkey hits the table. You may have to play bartender, but, hey, at least you won’t have to field any political or personal questions!
For Your Mom
who won’t stop asking about your 401k
This sweet (and boozy!) little stunner will make your mom forget all about your finances and realize that just being together makes you rich enough…or whatever. But beware: give her one too many and she might to that weird dance she did back on Christmas 2008.
Pear Necessities
Ingredients:
2 oz. Belle Isle Black Label
½ oz. St. Germain
¾ oz. lemon juice
¾ oz. pear nectar
Preparation:
Add all ingredients to a mixing tin over ice. Shake and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
For Your Sister
who really thinks you should try pilates and a raw diet
Who wants to talk about intermittent fasting and yoga retreats while you’re stuffing your face with turkey? Your health nut sister, apparently. This antioxidant-packed, juice-based cocktail may quench her appetite for nagging you to come to spin class with her.
24-Carrot magic
Ingredients:
1 oz. carrot juice
½ oz. honey syrup
½ oz. lemon juice
¼ oz. ginger paste
2-3 dashes orange bitters
Preparation:
Add all ingredients to a mixing tin over ice. Shake and double strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
FOR YOUR UNCLE
Who WON’t stop baiting you into political fights
There’s no use arguing over who’s right or wrong (although he’s definitely wrong). Let’s find an easy compromise–like this awesome cocktail! Half cider, half mule, and 100% amazing, this drink doesn’t force anyone to choose sides.
50/50 Mule
Ingredients:
2 oz. apple cider (non-alcoholic)
2 oz. ginger beer (non-alcoholic)
Preparation:
Build in glass or mule mug over ice and enjoy!
For Your Grandma
Who just wants you to watch the damn parade
There’s no trickery involved for this one. Just whip up a few of these blood orange bloodies (I know–it sounds weird, but it works!) and go watch the damn parade with your grandma! Your grandma rules.
Bloody Bloody
Ingredients:
2 oz. Belle Isle Blood Orange
4 oz. bloody mary mix (pick your favorite!)
Preparation:
Mix ingredients in glass over ice, then tumble back and forth in a shaker a few times.
Need more Thanksgiving help?
Belle Isle Moonshine is a premium, handcrafted spirit proudly hailing from Richmond, Virginia.
We take the name Belle Isle from a small, 540-acre island located smack dab in the middle of the James River where Civil War soldiers used surplus corn rations to make moonshine in copper kettles.
Belle Isle Moonshine is distilled from 100% organic corn, grown by three family farms and responsibly sourced. Once triple-distilled, we charcoal filter Belle Isle four times over. Then, we cut it with purified water right from the James River. Our infusions are made with 100% real ingredients, never artificial flavors or color. We use real grapefruits sourced from Texas and California, local honey from the Shenandoah Valley, organic habaneros grown an hour away, and freshly roasted coffee beans from the most socially conscious roastery in Richmond, Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co.
From there, each bottle of Belle Isle Moonshine is filled, corked, labeled, and packed by hand by our Production team, who check each bottle and batch for quality assurance. Since Belle Isle is made in small batches, you can find the batch number handwritten in the bottom right corner of each bottle.
Distilled from good times and 100% organic corn.