Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like Champagne. Kathleen learned this her first November in New York City, when one roommate worked at a fancy restaurant whose chef extended an unforgettable invitation: a lavish Thanksgiving dinner in an Upper East Side apartment with its own elevator, a turkey stuffed with chestnuts and foie gras, and rosé Champagne that cost more than Kathleen made in a week.
We can’t promise you the elevator or foie gras, but we can agree that Champagne belongs on the Thanksgiving bar cart (in an ice bucket, please). The bubbles are festive, the acidity cuts through a rich meal, and sparkling wine gives everyone something to enjoy while the kitchen descends into its annual state of emergency. It doesn’t have to be expensive, either.
If you’re building a Thanksgiving bar cart, think variety, not theme. You don’t need a cocktail recipe requiring trips to three specialty groceries in Germantown. The point is to make the day easier, not give yourself another assignment. And while we may be a few flights short of Kathleen’s old NYC apartment, we do think there’s something special about giving the holiday a little local flavor. After all, Kathleen has been in Memphis since 2018, and Andria has had decades to develop her local drinking habits.
Memphis has some good spirits worth pouring, and buying local keeps more of those holiday dollars close to home. Old Dominick’s roots go back to 1866, when Domenico Canale first sold his whiskey. Blue Note Bourbon is born in Kentucky but raised in Memphis, where it’s aged and crafted by B.R. Distilling. Supporting local doesn’t have to mean spending more; sometimes it just means choosing a bottle with a little hometown character.
When making the Thanksgiving drink menu, the cranberry Collins is high on our list. You know we can’t resist a gin cocktail, and this one is a welcome change from the heavier Thanksgiving flavors. Old Dominick gin (around $26 for a 750 mL bottle) makes a local base. Cranberry brings seasonal color and tartness, while club soda and thyme keep things bright. It’s a good way to start the afternoon without making everyone feel as if they’ve already eaten the meal.
For wine, we like a white Burgundy: Louis Latour Mâcon-Lugny Les Genièvres, with enough body and texture to stand up to turkey, gravy, and sides without getting lost. At under $25 for a 750 mL bottle, it’s also a reasonable investment. That said, Thanksgiving is not a wine-pairing exam. Open something you like. Pour generously. Move on.
Of course, no Memphis Thanksgiving bar cart should overlook bourbon. Our friend Ron Payne, of the Payne’s Bar-B-Que dynasty, has been appointed by his sister to make the family’s signature Thanksgiving bourbon smash. He traditionally uses Kentucky-made Buffalo Trace, but this seems an excellent opportunity to bring Memphis into the mix with Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon (around $35 for a 750 mL bottle). A smash is easygoing and adaptable, and assigning one person the signature cocktail is a pretty good division of holiday labor.
We’re also eyeing a batched Boulevardier, bourbon’s slightly more sophisticated cousin to the Negroni. Made with whiskey, Campari, and sweet vermouth, it’s a little bitter, a little sweet, and an excellent after-dinner option. Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon or Old Dominick Tennessee Whiskey (around $30 for a 750 mL bottle) would be right at home. Batching it ahead means you can pour when the moment calls for something with more backbone.
And please don’t forget the people who aren’t drinking. A cranberry sauce spritz gives designated drivers, abstainers, and anyone taking a break from alcohol something that feels like an actual holiday drink rather than a consolation prize. Dress it up with an orange slice and rosemary sprig, and serve it in a proper rocks glass.
The secret is knowing when to stop adding things. Stock a few local spirits, let guests pour their own drinks, and remember that if someone brings a bottle, you aren’t obligated to open it immediately.
After all, the best Thanksgiving bar cart isn’t the one with the most elaborate setup. It’s one that lets everyone enjoy themselves, especially the person who cooked the turkey. They’ve already done enough.
