A Very Van Winkle Thanksgiving

At Pappy & Company, family is at the heart of everything we do, and the holiday season is no different. Ahead of this Thanksgiving, we’re reflecting on some of our favorite Van Winkle turkey day traditions—go-to recipes included!

Year after year, the Van Winkle Thanksgiving starts in the same place—not in the kitchen or even the dining room but in the driveway, where our Dad, Julian, mans a trio of turkey fryers, inviting friends and neighbors and their families to cook their birds together. Cigars are often passed around and the chore turns into a party. But the best part is that the turkey gets checked off the to-do list early, so it won’t take up precious oven real estate later, and if you ask us, it’s even juicier and more flavorful than its over-roasted counterpart.

With the turkey done, we turn to the sides. For Louise, it’s all about the stuffing. Our Mom, Sissy, always makes her grandmother’s version, which is extra-crispy, never soggy. But Louise also loves this twist on the traditional Thanksgiving dish by Giada De Laurentis. (You can find the recipe here.) Carrie is a big fan of old-school Parker House Rolls like Sister Schubert’s, and we keep saying we’re going to attempt them from scratch, but why mess with perfection? Our mother’s Kentucky-stylebeaten biscuits stuffed with maple glazed ham {Insert Link} are another turkey day staple. On the veggie front, we like to keep things simple and fresh with green salads and sides like our quick-and-easy spicy green beans and maple roasted sweet potatoes. For dessert, there’schocolate pecan pie spiked with bourbon, naturally.

The meal itself is a casual affair with family and friends that’s served potluck style. No fancy outfits required. Instead, we stay in our street clothes for post-dinner corn hole tournaments and axe throwing competitions in the backyard. But our favorite tradition of all is the simple act of being together.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!