There is a very specific Thanksgiving moment. The turkey is in the oven, guests are starting to show up, and everyone is milling around the kitchen looking for something to sip while they wait for dinner and the inevitable table debates.
This year, you can do something a little different for the 21 and over crowd. Instead of just opening a bottle, offer a warm, spiced drink that feels seasonal and intentional. This Spiced Apple Cider Elixir is not about just “getting high.” It uses cannabis as an ingredient to build a cozy, complex drink your adult guests can enjoy together.
The recipe uses a cannabis tincture, which keeps things simple, precise, and easy to serve.
Why Serve a Cannabis Cocktail for Thanksgiving?
A warm cannabis cider is a nice way to give people options.
- It is a slow sip, not a quick hit. A mug of hot cider is usually enjoyed over twenty to thirty minutes. That slower pace can make the experience more gradual and manageable than eating a mystery strength edible in one bite.
- It works as an alcohol alternative. Some guests skip alcohol but still want to join in on something special. This gives them a festive drink in the same setting as everyone else.
- It looks more complicated than it is. To your guests, it feels like something from a cocktail bar. In reality, it is about as easy as making mulled cider on the stove. The tincture does the dosing work for you.
The Key Ingredient: Choosing the Right Tincture
The tincture makes or breaks this drink.
You want something that disappears into the flavors of apple, cinnamon, and clove. Heavy, grassy plant notes will fight the cider instead of blending in.
At JDM in Mendon, you can literally walk up to the counter and say, “I am making a warm cider cocktail for Thanksgiving. What tincture should I use?” Our budtenders get these questions every season and can point you straight to good options.
You are generally looking for:
- An “unflavored” or “distillate” tincture that mixes cleanly. Or, a flavor that works with what you’re making.
- A profile that fits how you want people to feel
Pro tip: If you find a tincture with a light orange, spice, or cinnamon note, it can layer nicely into the cider without being obvious. Good Vibes Apple Pie Tincture is a staff pick for this drink. The seasonal favorite pairs perfectly in this recipe.
If you are coming from Woonsocket or Cumberland, swing by our Mendon dispensary, or Browse Our Online Tincture Menu before you come in so you can check what is in stock.
A Critical Note on Dosing (Please Read)
A cannabis cocktail is still a single serving edible. The same rules apply: start low and go slow.
For a social setting, a range of 2.5 mg to 5 mg THC per mug is a smart place to be. Five milligrams is a common “standard” serving. Two and a half milligrams is a gentle starting point for most people.
Check your tincture label. For example, if your bottle has 100 mg THC in 30 ml, one milliliter will have about 3.3 mg of THC. That lets you measure out roughly how many milligrams of THC you want per mug.
Every adult who drinks it should know it is infused and know their approximate dose. No one should have cannabis added to their drink without full knowledge and consent.
Spiced Apple Cider Cannabis Elixir Recipe
This recipe is written so you make one big batch of delicious, non infused spiced cider. Guests then add their own tincture to their mug. That keeps dosing in their control and avoids the risks of a huge pre infused punch bowl.
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon fresh, unfiltered apple cider
- 4 to 5 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 2 to 3 whole star anise pods
- Peel of one orange (use a vegetable peeler to avoid the bitter white pith)
- Your chosen cannabis tincture
- Optional garnish: fresh apple slices and extra cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Simmer the spices
Add the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and orange peel to a large pot or slow cooker.
- Warm it up
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium low heat. Do not let it boil hard, you just want steam and tiny bubbles. Let it simmer for at least 30 minutes so the spices have time to infuse. In a slow cooker, set to low and let it go for 1 to 2 hours. Your kitchen will smell like a cider house.
- Strain the cider
Pour the spiced cider through a fine mesh strainer to remove the spices and orange peel. Return the strained cider to a clean pot or keep it warm in the slow cooker on low or warm.
- Craft each mug
- Ladle hot spiced cider into a glass or ceramic mug.
- Add your desired dose of tincture to the mug, for example 2.5 mg to 5 mg THC.
- Stir well for at least twenty seconds so the tincture mixes evenly into the drink.
- Garnish with a fresh apple slice and a cinnamon stick if you like.
The Responsible Host’s Guide
A few simple steps keep this fun and safe:
- Keep the tincture separate. Do not dump the tincture into the main pot. Keep the bottle next to the cider with a small measuring spoon or dropper so people can add their own dose.
- Label the station. Put a clear sign next to the cider that says something like “Add your own tincture, 21 and over only.” That keeps things obvious and avoids mix ups.
- Offer it both ways. The base spiced cider is great on its own, so people who do not want cannabis still get a cozy holiday drink.
Happy Thanksgiving from Your Friends in Blackstone
Feeling inspired? Check out Cannabis Cooking Tips for Beginners to infuse (har har) more merriment into your holiday.
From all of us at JDM Cannabis, we wish you a warm, safe, and happy Thanksgiving. We’re grateful for our amazing community here in Mendon and for everyone who makes the trip from nearby towns.
If you have questions about cooking with cannabis or you want help choosing a tincture for this recipe, stop by the dispensary or give us a call. Our team is always happy to walk you through products and help you find the right fit for your holiday table.
