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Thanksgiving Table Details and a Spiced Bourbon Cocktail

by Jennifer

As promised in my Thanksgiving Tablescape post yesterday, I’m back today with all the sources for the look, another view of the table with candles lit, and a recipe for a spiced cocktail (or mocktail!) I am absolutely loving. Today’s post is part of Blogger Stylin’ Home Tours Thanksgiving edition, and if you’re joining me from Mimosa Lane, welcome! Lindsay from The White Buffalo puts these tours together a few times a year and I always walk away feeling so inspired by everyone participating.

In case you’re just joining me today and haven’t yet seen the table I put together for Thanksgiving this year, here’s another look.

fall thanksgiving tablescape jewel tones-13

I worked mostly with things I already had, did some foraging in my yard, and purchased a few things from the grocery store to put this table together. Here’s a list of the items you’ll need to do the same.

  • Coral napkins (amazing deal at six napkins for $9.99!)
  • Mason jar vases
  • Sand
  • Bare branches (cut some from your yard if you can!)
  • River rock
  • Clear glass tealight holders
  • Tealights
  • Preserved artichokes
  • Clementines (in grocery stores)
  • Mini white pumpkins (in grocery stores)
  • Purple mum stems (in grocery stores)
  • Dried moss
  • Berry branches (here is a good faux one you can trim from if you can’t get real)

I started by setting out my china dinner and salad plates, stemmed water glasses, and flatware. I set folded coral napkins under the forks. Then I turned my attention to filling the mason jar vases with sand and pushing the branches down into the sand to hold them up.

fall thanksgiving tablescape jewel tones-16

Filling the river rocks around the top helped to anchor the sticks in place and also looks nicer on top than just the sand.

fall thanksgiving tablescape jewel tones-17

I set three of the mason jar vases down the center of table – one in the very center and the others equidistant on either side of the center vase. Then I scattered the tea light holders and tea lights on all sides of the vases.

DSC_3086

I used this basic layout to set the spacing for the other elements and worked in first the preserved artichokes, then the mini white pumpkins and the clementines. I filled in spaces with the dried moss then tucked purple mum stems and berry branches right into the moss. There’s really no pattern to it – just stand back every now and again and look at where there might be gaps that can be filled.

fall thanksgiving tablescape jewel tones-11

It really looks quite magical when the tealights are lit. They create the prettiest soft glow down the center of the table and are a staple for just about any table setting.

fall thanksgiving tablescape jewel tones-12

fall thanksgiving tablescape jewel tones-14

Now that we have our table set, let’s switch gears to that spiced cocktail/mocktail I promised you. You will need to make exactly one thing to pull it off and that one thing is a spiced simple syrup with peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and rosemary. The syrup provides the base for both a non-alcoholic and a bourbon cocktail, both of which are delicious. Like delicious delicious. You want to make this, trust me.

spiced bourbon cocktail-1

I used the syrup to make a homemade soda this week that was SO GOOD I had to talk myself out of drinking multiple glasses in a row. So if you are not an alcohol drinker or will be serving non-alcohol drinkers young or old at Thanksgiving, this simple syrup is brilliant. You can add as much or as little of the syrup as you like to make the drink more or less sweet. Just spoon a bit into a glass, squeeze a wedge of lime overtop, add some ice, fill with club soda, and give a gentle stir. I am drooling just the tiniest bit right now. It is so good.

spiced bourbon cocktail-4

The bourbon version is much the same, but you add bourbon into the mix. Here are some more specific proportions for that version, as well as directions for making the spiced simple syrup.

spiced bourbon cocktail-2

Spiced Bourbon Spritzer
 
Save Print
Prep time
5 mins
Cook time
5 mins
Total time
10 mins
 
A spiced bourbon cocktail, both light and complex.
Recipe type: Cocktail
Serves: 4 drinks
Ingredients
  • 1 tsp. whole peppercorns
  • 2 star anise pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick (about 3" long)
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 1 large sprig of rosemary
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • - - - - - - -
  • 6 oz. bourbon
  • 2 oz. fresh lime juice
  • 8 oz. club soda
Instructions
  1. To make the spiced simple syrup place the peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, rosemary, water, and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for a few hours. Strain solids and keep the liquid in a glass jar. The syrup will keep in the refrigerator for about two weeks.
  2. To make the cocktails, mix the bourbon, lime juice, and 3 oz. of spiced simple syrup together. Divide among four highball glasses filled with ice. Top each glass with about 2 oz. of club soda and stir gently.
3.3.3077

spiced bourbon cocktail-3

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have fun setting your own Thanksgiving table, and whether the cocktail or the mocktail, I hope you give this drink a try – and I hope you and your guests LOVE it as much as I do!

To keep going with the tour, head over to see my friend Julia at Cuckoo 4 Design, and see below for links to all of the participants in the tour this week.

Monday
The White Buffalo Styling Co.
The Inspired Room
Swoon Worthy
Blissful Bee
Iron & Twine
Tuesday
A Storied Style
Claire Brody
DesignPost Interiors
Dream Green DIY
Chic Little House
withHEART
Wednesday
Inspired by Charm
Mimosa Lane
The Chronicles of Home
Cuckoo 4 Design
Nesting with Grace
Craftberry Bush
Thursday
A Thoughtful Place
House Seven
Burlap and Lace
DIY Playbook
Dimples and Tangles
Eleven Gables
Restless Arrow
Friday
The Makerista
Dwellings by Devore
A Creative Day
My Fabuless Life
Primitive & Proper
Simple Stylings
Amanda Katherine (formerly Hammer and Heels Blog)

Filed Under: Appetizers and Drinks, Decorating

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Comments

  1. Julia @cuckoo4design says

    at

    I just love what you created. The table looks so pretty and hello spiced bourbon. Yum!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Thank you :) And yes, Y-U-M!

  2. Cassie Bustamante says

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    it’s so beautiful! i love the branches with the mason jar vases. and i want to come over for spiced bourbon and cheer!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      I want you to come over spiced bourbon and cheer too! I am loving the branches…kind of thinking I might keep them around through Christmas…

  3. Vesna says

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    So lovely, simple but elegant! Great idea! This spritzer looks so yummy!

    xoxo

    Vesna – Home Chic Club

    http://vesna-kreativnostidrugesitnice.blogspot.rs/

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Thanks, Vesna! I am very much about simple when it comes to setting tables :) And the spritzer is soooooo good, the mocktail and the cocktail versions!

  4. Kimberly Duran says

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    Oh I love your table – the colours are just beautiful! And that mocktail? Oh yes, gimme. xxx

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      I am not kidding when I said I had to hold myself back from drinking multiple mocktails yesterday! So incredibly delicious! Thanks, Kimberly! xo

  5. Katrina says

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    So much pretty! and your drink looks amazing, I bet it smells amazing too!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Yes! The smell is sooooo divine!

  6. Mimosa Lane says

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    So, so pretty!! I just love your centerpiece. Beautiful photographs!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      Thanks so much, Albertina!

  7. Amber @ Wills Casa says

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    You had me at spiced bourbon!! ;)

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

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      You should make this – I feel like you would love it!

  8. Amber Finley Tysl says

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    The tealights do make it look magical! So pretty!

  9. Jenn @ My Fabuless Life says

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    I love this color palette!! Everything is so pretty!

    • Jennifer@TheChroniclesofHome says

      at

      Thank you!






Meet Jen

I'm a design and DIY lover, decorator, modern home-maker, foodie, fashion enthusiast, and jill-of-all-trades when it comes to home improvement. I'm slowly but surely adding classic-contemporary style to my early 90's colonial home one inch at a time and I'm taking you along for the ride.

It's often messy - there are usually project remnants and toys strewn about - but the making of a home isn't always tidy work and I love showing you how you can make and style and organize your way to a home and a life you love!

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