APPLE CIDER AND BOURBON PUNCH

Apple Cider and Bourbon Punch image

Apples and oranges! They're often presented as exemplars of opposition, as though they have nothing in common. But both fruits make appearances on many Thanksgiving tables, with orange in some cranberry sauces and cornbread stuffings with apple, and they mingle beautifully in a mellow punch that gets its verve from bourbon and its depth from a brown sugar and cinnamon simple syrup. For extra apple flavor, try swapping an apple spirit, such as Applejack or Calvados, in for the bourbon. The leftover simple syrup is great in cocktails -- a festive Old Fashioned, for example -- and also on oatmeal and rice pudding.

Provided by Rosie Schaap

Time 15m

Yield 14 6-ounce servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 cup dark brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks, slightly bruised
1/2 cup brown sugar and cinnamon syrup
3 cups bourbon
4 cups cold-pressed apple cider (nonalcoholic)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup orange juice (fresh is best)
4 cups ice
2 cups club soda, or to taste
1 orange, cut into wheels, for garnish (optional)
Nutmeg, to taste

Steps:

Make the syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine brown sugar and cinnamon sticks with 1 cup water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered until sugar has completely dissolved, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Remove pan from heat and let syrup cool; discard cinnamon sticks. (Leftover syrup may be kept refrigerated for a week.)
Combine syrup, bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice and orange juice in a pitcher. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
Strain chilled punch into a punch bowl. Add 4 cups of ice and club soda. Garnish with orange wheels. Generously grate nutmeg on top. Serve over ice.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 227, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Fat 0 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 0 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 17 milligrams, Sugar 25 grams