Description
A warm, boozy, and easy-to-make spiced apple cider punch perfect for game day tailgates and winter parties. It scales well for crowds and balances the sharpness of apple cider with the smooth heat of bourbon.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 gallon (3.78 liters) cloudy, unfiltered apple cider
- 1 to 1.5 bottles (750ml to 1.1 liters) bourbon
- 1 cup (240ml) water
- 4 to 5 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon allspice berries
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 1/2 cup (100g) dark brown sugar
- Optional: Star anise, fresh thyme sprigs, or apple chips for garnish
Instructions
- Slice oranges into thin rounds and measure out spices.
- Pour apple cider into a large stockpot. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and brown sugar. Stir well to dissolve the sugar.
- Turn heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Do not let it boil vigorously. Once simmering, reduce heat to low.
- Add orange slices to the pot. Simmer on low heat for about 15 minutes to allow spices and oranges to infuse.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the bourbon. (Note: Do not boil after adding alcohol to prevent evaporation).
- Strain the punch to remove spices and fruit, or leave them in for serving. Ladle into cups and garnish if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
[‘Do not boil the bourbon, as the alcohol will evaporate. Remove from heat before adding.’, ‘Use fresh whole spices for best flavor; avoid pre-ground powders which can make the punch gritty.’, ‘The punch tastes better if made ahead and allowed to meld flavors overnight.’, “For tailgating, keep warm in a slow cooker on ‘warm’ setting or a thermos.”, ‘Adjust sweetness based on the tartness of the cider used.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 20
- Carbohydrates: 22
Keywords: football tailgate, bourbon apple cider, game day drinks, warm punch, holiday party drinks, spiced cider, easy cocktail