Description

A warm, spicy, and boozy punch perfect for football game days and fall gatherings. This easy-to-make batch recipe combines fresh apple cider, bourbon, and aromatic spices for a crowd-pleasing drink that can be prepared ahead of time.

Ingredients

Scale

1 gallon (3.8 liters) fresh-pressed apple cider
½ cup (100g) dark brown sugar
3–4 whole cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
2 star anise
1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced thick
2 strips orange zest
1.5 cups (350ml) bourbon
½ cup (120ml) apple brandy or Calvados (optional)
Thinly sliced apples for garnish
Extra cinnamon sticks for garnish
Whole cloves for garnish

Instructions

Slice the ginger, zest the orange, and measure out all spices.
Pour the apple cider into a large stockpot over medium heat.
Add the brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, allspice, sliced ginger, and orange zest.
Stir gently to dissolve the sugar.
Heat the mixture until it just starts to simmer (small bubbles around the edges). Do not boil vigorously.
Reduce heat to low and let it steep for 20 minutes.
Remove the pot from heat and strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl or pitcher, discarding the spices and zest.
Let the spiced cider cool to room temperature.
Once cool, stir in the bourbon and apple brandy.
Taste and adjust sweetness or strength if necessary.
Pour into a punch bowl, add ice or an ice ring, and garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

Notes

Do not boil the cider vigorously as it can make the punch cloudy and lose delicate apple flavor. Always cool the spiced base before adding alcohol to prevent evaporation. The spice-infused base can be made up to 5 days in advance and stored in the fridge. For a non-alcoholic version, skip the bourbon and brandy, adding a splash of vanilla extract instead.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 6
Calories: 180
Sugar: 18
Carbohydrates: 22

Keywords: bourbon apple cider punch, football game day recipe, fall cocktail, warm punch, holiday drink, easy party punch, bourbon recipe