The Holiday of Wine-ing and Dine-ing : Thanksgiving Cocktails x 3
The Holiday of Wine-ing and Dine-ing
Who doesn’t love a little spiced cuppa sanity of this holiday of feasting ?! I know I do. I also live for the classic seasonal punches and ciders. So I thought maybe it was time to bring you three of my favorite cocktails.
The first recipe is a personal favorite. I have been known for my wine spritzers and sangria’s and so I bring to you my Classic Spiced Cider Sangria .
Spiced Cider Sangria
ingredients
1 Bottle Table Red, Cabernet, Sweet Red or something similar in lightness.
2 cups Cloudy Apple Cider , you can also use any spiced or cloudy apple juice. I recommend the Trader Joes Spiced Cider .
1 cup triple sec
1 /2 cup spiced simple syrup, add more to your liking
1 1/2 fresh squeezed oranges, Keep Half of an orange to slice for garnish
15 dashes of forbidden bitters
top off with club soda, add to your liking.
How to Garnish
1 apple, diced and covered in a pinch of ground cinnamon and lemon juice. The lemon juice helps the apple to not turn brown.
1/2 cup Pomegranate seeds
1/2 orange sliced
1 Cinnamon Stick for each glass
Directions
In a large container or punch bowl, bring together all ingredients expect club soda. You can add more simple syrup if you like it sweet. Place in the fridge for at least 1 hour to allow the flavor to develop. I highly recommend this, however if you don’t it will still be a hit. Top it off with club soda right before serving .
spiced simple syrup
2 cups water
1.5 cups sugar
2-3 cinnamon sticks or 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon
2 star anise or 1/2 tsp ground all spice
1 nutmeg seed or 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
In a medium sized pot bring all ingredients to a boil, let simmer on low and reduce for 10-15 mins. Take off the heat and let cool. Store in a sealed mason jar, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
The Perfect Spiked Apple Cider
ingredients
5 Cups Cloudy Apple Juice, or 1 bottle
mulling spices
3 cinnamon sticks
3 star anise
2 nutmeg seeds , chopped in 2
3 Cardamon Seeds ( can’t find? No worries)
5 cloves
3 Orange peel
15 dashes of forbidden bitters
top with
1 cup of your favorite whisky, bourbon or vodka. Cider can easily pair with any of these spirits, and I like to mix it up.
I recommend pairing it with Wild Roots Apple & Cinnamon Vodka .
directions
Being by carefully chopping the star anise, nutmeg + cinnamon stick. In a medium saucepan, bring juice and mulling spices to a boil. Reduce to a light simmer and let brew for at least 15 mins. Taste, make sure the flavor is developing to your liking. You can add more of any of the mulling spices. I let mine brew for 30 minutes on low. Top with your spirit of choice and serve warm.
For a cold cider, I would recommend topping with a dash of soda water.
Garnish with a dehydrated apple slice.
Spiced Whiskey
The easiest of all drinks.
1 part whiskey
1 part Spiced Simple Syrup
Garnish with star anise.
spiced simple syrup
2 cups water
1.5 cups sugar
2-3 cinnamon sticks or 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon
2 star anise or 1/2 tsp ground all spice
1 nutmeg seed or 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
In a medium sized pot bring all ingredients to a boil, let simmer on low and reduce for 10-15 mins. Take off the heat and let cool. Store in a sealed mason jar, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.