A Cozy, Spirited Guide to Hosting Your Best Gathering Yet! Friendsgiving has become a fall favorite for a reason. It’s relaxed, heartfelt, and filled with the people who bring out your best stories and your biggest laughs. Add a little bourbon to the mix, and you’ve got a celebration with spirit in every sense of the word.
This year, skip the predictable potluck lineup and elevate the feast with cocktails, sides, and pairings that weave bourbon into the entire experience – subtly, stylishly, and deliciously. Whether you’re hosting the whole crew or arriving with a standout dish, here’s how to make this Friendsgiving unmistakably Bourbon Women-approved.
Start With a Welcome Cocktail: Something Seasonal, Something Sippable
Set the tone the moment guests walk in the door.
- A Fall Old Fashioned Bar (Interactive & Elegant): Offer a classic base (bourbon + demerara + bitters) and let guests choose their garnish adventure – orange peel, spiced pear, toasted cinnamon stick, cherry, or clove-studded orange.
- A Batch Cocktail That Actually Impresses: Try a Bourbon Mulled Cider Punch: apple cider, bourbon, orange slices, star anise, honey, and just enough clove to make your kitchen smell like a candle worth buying.
Mini Cocktail Option:
Pumpkin Spice Bourbon Sour Shooters – tiny, adorable, and surprisingly sophisticated.
Bourbon in the Sides: Because the Magic Is in the Details
Add bourbon to one or two dishes (not the whole table) for balance and intention.
- Bourbon-Glazed Sweet Potatoes: A little brown butter, a little maple, a splash of bourbon. They become dessert-adjacent in the best way.
- Cranberry Sauce with a Bourbon Twist: Homemade or store-bought, bourbon pulls out deeper fruit notes and rounds the tartness beautifully.
- Bourbon Butter for the Table: Whipped salted butter + a touch of bourbon + maple syrup. Serve with rolls or cornbread. Guests will talk about it for months.
Mini Cocktail Pairing:
Try a 1 oz pour of wheated bourbon with bourbon-glazed sides for a soft, sweet accompaniment.
The Main Event: Pairing the Entrée Like a Pro
No need to cook the turkey in bourbon (please don’t). Instead, pair the dish with something that complements it.
- Roasted Turkey: Pairs beautifully with a balanced, mid-proof bourbon – think caramel, light spice, and gentle oak.
- Herb-Forward Stuffing: A high-rye or boldly spiced bourbon stands up to thyme, sage, and savory richness.
Mini Cocktail Pairing:
Bourbon + pear liqueur spritz – refreshing, aromatic, and perfect mid-meal.
Dessert: The Part Everyone Actually Came For
Friendsgiving without dessert is illegal – we don’t make the rules.
- Bourbon Pecan Pie: A classic, but always a showstopper. Add bourbon to the filling for depth and warmth.
- Pumpkin Pie with a Bourbon Whip: A light bourbon vanilla whipped cream levels this up instantly.
- Apple Crumble with a Streusel Bourbon Drizzle: Simple, cozy, irresistible.
Mini Cocktail Pairing:
A 1 oz chocolate-forward bourbon (or bourbon with toasted barrel finish) pairs perfectly with pecan or chocolate desserts.
Create the Bourbon Table Vibe
A few elevated touches make the experience memorable:
- Place settings with tasting notes cards
- A small bourbon flight (½ oz pours) for the table to explore
- A cozy fall playlist (bluegrass, acoustic folk, a little soul)
- Candles that evoke rickhouse vibes – oak, vanilla, spice
Friendsgiving is meant to feel warm, welcoming, and a little bit indulgent – bourbon enhances all of that without overpowering the meaning of the day.
At the end of the day, Friendsgiving isn’t about perfection. It’s about gathering with the people who feel like home and raising a glass to how lucky we are to choose each other. This year, make bourbon part of the ritual. Because the only thing better than good food and good company… is pairing both with a great pour.