433: The Ultimate Cider Pairing Guide for Thanksgiving

Why Pair Cider with Thanksgiving Dinner?

Cider is a fantastic beverage for Thanksgiving, with a range of flavors to suit savory, sweet, and spicy dishes. It’s an ideal alternative to wine or beer, bringing a refreshing acidity and fruit-forward profile that lifts and enhances Thanksgiving flavors. From crisp dry ciders to dessert-ready ice ciders, there’s a pairing for everyone at your table.

Start Thanksgiving with a Cider Aperitif

Opening your Thanksgiving celebration with a light cider aperitif or cocktail helps set a festive mood. Here are a few ideas to get started:

• Lisa Laird CranJack Cocktail
  • 1 1/2 oz. Laird’s Straight Applejack
  • 4 oz. Club soda
  • Cranberry juice
  • Slice of lime
• Classic Sparkling Cider: A crisp, dry sparkling cider in a champagne flute makes a refreshing, light aperitif.
• Apple-Ginger Cider Mocktail: Mix sparkling cider with ginger juice and garnish with apple slices for a warming, spiced start to the meal.

Main Course: Turkey and Vegetarian Pairings

Whether your main course is turkey or a vegetarian option, cider brings out the best in savory herbs and seasonings. Here are a few pairing suggestions

For Turkey Lovers

• Herb-Roasted Turkey with Rosemary and Sage
  • Pair with: Dry, crisp cider from the Finger Lakes or Vermont.
  • Why It Works: The dry cider’s acidity complements the turkey’s rich, savory herbs, offering a light and refreshing contrast to the meat’s natural flavors.
• Recommended Ciders
  • Alma Cider – Dry (Washington) (500 mL) 6.2%
  • Cockrell Cider – 1783 (Washington) (750 mL) 6.9%
  • Farnum Hill Extra Dry Cider (New Hampshire) 750 mL 7.5%

• Smoked Turkey
  • Pair with: Barrel-aged cider from California or New York.
  • Why It Works: Aged ciders with a smoky, woody profile enhance the bold, smoky flavor of the turkey, creating a complex and satisfying pairing.
• Recommended Ciders
  • Bent Ladder Black Gold (Ohio) (750 mL) 8.7% 
  • Esso Terra Ciderworks Halcyon (Colorado) (750 mL) 7.6%
  • Presque Isle Farm 2021 Single Barrel: Esopus Spitzenburg (Michigan) (750 mL) 10%

For Vegetarian Main Dishes

• Mushroom Wellington or Stuffed Acorn Squash
  • Pair with: Semi-dry cider from Oregon or Washington.
  • Why It Works: The earthy, umami notes in mushrooms or squash pair beautifully with a semi-dry cider, amplifying the savory herbs in these dishes.
• Recommended Ciders:
  • Gypsy Circus Cider/ Queen of Swords (Tennessee) (16 Ounce cans) 6% unfiltered medium bodied cider
  • Gypsy Circus 2024 Raindancer (16 Ounce cans) 6% 100% locally sourced 
  • Semi dry ciders can be found in every liquor store that sells cider in the US – buy local and enjoy!

Side Dish Pairings for Classic Thanksgiving Sides

Thanksgiving sides are often seasoned with spices like sage, thyme, and cinnamon. Here’s how cider can enhance these traditional flavors:

• Savory Stuffing with Sage and Thyme
  • Pair with: Semi-dry cider with herbal notes.
  • Why It Works: A semi-dry cider’s acidity cuts through the richness of stuffing, while herbal undertones bring out the dish’s earthy flavors.
• Recommended Ciders:
  • Snowdrift Cider – Red Cider 2023 (500 mL) (Colorado) 7.5% A beautiful deep rosé color courtesy of the redfleshed apples 

• Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
  • Pair with: Crisp, dry cider.
  • Why It Works: A dry cider’s refreshing acidity balances the creamy, dense texture of mashed potatoes and gravy.
• Recommended Ciders:
• Botanist and Barrel 2022 Less is More Wild Ferment Pétillant Naturel (375ml) & (750 mL) Fermented from wild yeast on the apple skins using the Pétillant Naturel technique, subtle minerality, honey notes and racy acidity

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
  • Pair with: High-acidity, dry cider.
  • Why It Works: The cider’s crispness contrasts with the slight bitterness of Brussels sprouts and enhances the sweetness of the balsamic glaze.
• Recommended Ciders:
  • Greenbench Webb City’s Cellar Northern Spy (Florida) – 6.2% Northern Spy apples fermented dry create this crisp, tart cider.

• Sweet Potato Casserole with Cinnamon and Nutmeg
  • Pair with: Sweet, spiced cider.
  • Why It Works: Sweeter ciders with notes of cinnamon or nutmeg pick up on the spices in sweet potatoes, adding a warm, cozy feel to the meal.
• Recommended Ciders:
  • Botanist and Barrel: Scarlet (North Carolina) (750 mL) & (375 mL) 6.9% – Spiced Winter Rose Cider, made with orange peel, cinnamon, star anise, allspice, cloves, dried ginger, nutmeg.

Thanksgiving Dessert: Sweet Cider Pairings

Finish off your Thanksgiving feast with dessert ciders that enhance the sweet, spiced flavors of classic holiday pies and treats.

• Pumpkin Pie
  • Pair with: Ice cider from Vermont or New York.
  • Why It Works: Ice cider’s concentrated apple sweetness and acidity balance the spiced pumpkin filling, creating a luxurious, indulgent pairing.
• Recommended Ciders:
  • Eden Specialty Ciders Heirloom Blend (Vermont) (375 mL) 10% 15 heirloom apple varieties
  • Cider Hill Cellars (Massachusetts) – Winter 12.5%  an award winning Ice Cider

• Apple Crisp
  • Pair with: Semi-sweet cider with cinnamon notes.
  • Why It Works: A semi-sweet cider’s apple-forward profile enhances the baked apple filling, while subtle spices complement the oat topping.
• Recommended Ciders:
  • Western Cider (Montana) McIntosh Single Variety Cider (500 mL) 6.7% Montana’s Macintosh apples are renown and lend cinnamon notes and spices to to each bottle.
  • James Creek Cider House (North Carolina) Winter Solstice Cider (500 mL) 6.0% aged for up to nine months in American oak barrels that were once used for bourbon and brandy and then lightly infused with baking spices

• Pecan Tart
  • Pair with: Barrel-aged cider.
  • Why It Works: The caramelized, nutty flavor of barrel-aged cider mirrors the rich, sweet flavors of a pecan tart, creating a seamless finish to the meal.
• Recommended Cider:
  • Liberty Cider (Washington) 2023 Widdershins Apple (375 ml) 18% A US version of a French Pommeau – barrel-aged at least two years, soft and harmonizing notes of cinnamon, black cherry and vanilla.

• Chocolate Pudding Pie or anything Chocalate?
  • Recommended Cider:
    • Mega dry cider with rich tannins – The Ross Cider and Perry Company (UK) Bisquet single varietal bittersweet and is crazy good with chocolate!

Best Ciders to Buy for Thanksgiving

Looking to stock up on ciders for Thanksgiving? Here are a few recommendations to suit each pairing:

• Finger Lakes, NY: Known for high-acid, mineral-rich ciders that pair well with turkey and savory sides.
• New England: From Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island – you can’t go wrong! Seek out the semi-sweet and dry ciders for root vegetables and Thanksgiving desserts.
• Oregon & Washington: Earthy, balanced ciders that match vegetarian dishes like stuffed squash or mushroom Wellington.
• Hudson Valley, NY: Tannic ciders that bring complexity to lentil dishes and roasted vegetables.
• California & Virginia: Excellent options for barrel-aged ciders to pair with smoked turkey or pecan pie.

Cider Pairs Perfectly all Year Long!

Cider’s unique blend of acidity, tannins, and natural sweetness makes it the perfect drink to elevate your Thanksgiving feast and really any meal all year long. From bright aperitifs to rich dessert pairings, cider has a flavor for every dish. So this year, why not explore the flavors of Thanksgiving with cider in hand?

Mentions in this Cider Chat

• Listen to Lairds & Company Part 1 and 2 on Cider Chat
• EsoTerra CiderWorks, Indiegogo Campaign
• Totally Cider Tours
• Wild Branch Cider – Vermont – Ashmead Kernel Cider
• WildCraft Cider Works – Oregon – Medlar Cider