Thanksgiving Family Game Idea: The Great Irish Cream Taste Test

As soon as the pumpkins are put away and we start planning for Thanksgiving, the holiday spirit begins to take shape — family gatherings, cozy pours, and plenty of laughter around the table.

If you’re looking for a fresh, fun tradition to spark conversation this year, try hosting a Blind Irish Cream Taste Test Competition at your Thanksgiving dinner. It’s festive, interactive, and best of all — the winning flavor can officially become the star pour of your December celebrations!

💡 Bonus: You can easily adapt this format to other holiday drink-offs too — like choosing your family’s official Christmas cocktail, mocktail, punch, or even hosting a holiday wine taste test. The possibilities are as delicious as they are fun.

How the Game Works

Guests will sample five different Irish cream liqueurs in blind taste test rounds. No one knows which brand is in which cup, making the results both surprising and hilarious.

After everyone votes, you’ll reveal the brands and crown the winner!

What You’ll Need

Gather these simple supplies to set the stage:

• 5 different Irish cream liqueurs (our recommendations):

  • Baileys (the classic)

  • Kirkland (Costco favorite)

  • Homemade (bonus fun if you DIY!)

  • Carolans (widely available)

  • Saint Brendan’s (a well-loved option)

• Small tasting cups (1 oz size works great) We used these

• Numbered labels (1–5)

• Scorecards and pens for each participant

Setup Instructions

1. Pour Samples:
Pre-fill tasting cups with 1 oz of each liqueur. Label each cup with a number (1–5) — no brand names!

2. Serve in Rounds:
Present the cups one at a time, announcing only the round number. Keep it mysterious — no hints allowed.

3. Taste & Rank:
Each person tastes and ranks their sample for that round. You can have them rank each from 1 (favorite) to 5 (least favorite), or just pick their top pick.

4. Complete All Rounds:
Repeat until all five liqueurs have been sampled.

5. Tally the Scores:
Collect scorecards and add up the rankings. The brand with the lowest total score (most #1 votes) wins the title of Thanksgiving Champion!

The Big Reveal

Once the winner is crowned, reveal which number corresponded to each brand.

Prepare for big laughs and surprising reactions — especially when someone discovers they ranked their “forever favorite” near the bottom!

Why This Game Is a Holiday Hit

• Easy to set up with minimal supplies

• Fun for all ages (kids can do a hot cocoa or apple cider version!)

• Sparks lively conversation and a little friendly debate

• Leaves you with a winning Irish cream to serve for Christmas and New Year’s

This taste test isn’t just a game — it’s a memory-maker that adds a dash of fun to your Thanksgiving celebration. Whether Baileys takes the crown again or a surprise underdog wins the day, one thing’s for sure:

Your family will be talking about it well into December.