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.

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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.