Bourbon Punch
Get into the holiday spirit with a batch of this Bourbon Punch! This whiskey cocktail is easy to make, and it’s sure to be the hit of the party.
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So what’s the deal with bourbon anyways? Does it have to be made in Kentucky? How is it different than whiskey? Speaking of whiskey, is it whiskey or whisky? I admit that the world of American whiskey can be quite confusing. Laura and I are big fans of bourbon (and all American whiskeys), and we asked many of these same questions as we were learning.
What is Bourbon?
Bourbon is a type of American whiskey that must is made primarily from corn. (It must contain at least 51% corn to be exact.) In order to be called bourbon, it must be made in the U.S. It doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky, although a vast proportion of bourbon is indeed made in Kentucky.
Once it’s distilled, the liquid is clear. That’s right. Bourbon is clear before it goes into the barrels. Speaking of barrels, bourbon by law must be aged in new (i.e. unused) American oak barrels. These barrels can therefore only be used one time. Many of them get sent over to Scotland where they are used to age Scotch whiskey (i.e. Scotch). Other barrels get re-used here in the U.S., but the whiskey that comes out can no longer be called ‘bourbon’ as the barrels were not new.
There is no requirement for how long the whiskey must age in those new American oak barrels. However, if the bottle is labeled ‘straight bourbon,’ then it’s been aged for at least 2 years. Confused yet? There are a lot of nuances in the whiskey world, and it can be hard to keep it all straight! We’re just scratching the surface here.
In short, all bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. Bourbon has to meet the special requirements we mentioned above. Whiskey includes bourbon, American whiskey (i.e. whiskey made in America that doesn’t meet the bourbon requirements), Scotch, etc. And just because a bottle is technically American whiskey and not bourbon doesn’t mean it’s inferior. Laura and I have over 800 bottles in our collection, and some of our favorites fall into that ‘American whiskey’ category.
Bourbon Punch
Ok, enough lecturing! I just know we found the bourbon world to be rather confusing when we first got into it, so I figured other folks might have the same questions. Let’s switch our attention over to a recipe using bourbon – this Easy Bourbon Punch.
This recipe is super easy to make, and it’s perfect for cocktail parties or holiday gatherings with friends. This Bourbon Punch features a combination of several types of alcohol (bourbon, wine and triple sec) with several types of juice (cherry and cranberry). Add in some sparkling water (for bubbles!) and a tiny bit of cinnamon and nutmeg, and you’ve got a fantastic holiday punch recipe that will be the hit of the party!
15 dashes of Angostura bitters. Is a dash a technical term? What are bitters anyways? I’m not sure how technical a ‘dash’ is, but if you turn the small bottle of bitters upside down, a dash is what comes out. Bitters are extremely concentrated, and they are not usually consumed by themselves. Several dashes get added to cocktails to provide an underlying flavor. They do indeed make a difference!
Angostura bitters are one of the more common types of bitters, and they are usually readily available. Depending on your state, they may be sold in grocery stores or liquor stores.
A final note on garnishes. A cocktail can be delicious, but it’s the garnishes that make it feel fancy! In the case of this Bourbon Punch, an orange wedge and several cocktail cherries is all that’s needed. And make sure to splurge and get ‘cocktail cherries’ as opposed to maraschino cherries.
If you’re looking for a fantastic punch recipe for Christmas parties, then this Bourbon Punch is a winner. Grab and glass and enjoy – cheers!
Did you make this Bourbon Punch recipe at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog) – I’d love to see your version!
Bourbon Punch
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 3 cups bourbon whiskey see note
- 1 cup dry red wine
- ¼ cup triple sec
- 15 dashes Angostura bitters
- ½ cup cherry juice
- ½ cup cranberry juice
- 1½ cups sparkling water or soda water can use champagne for a fancier version, plus more for serving
- 2 oranges sliced into wheels, plus more for garnishing
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
- ice cubes
- cocktail cherries for serving
Instructions
- Using a small saucepan, add granulated sugar and water. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Pour mixture into a large pitcher or punchbowl.
- Add all of the remaining ingredients except for ice cubes; stir until well combined.
- To serve, pour over ice and garnish glasses with additional orange slices. Top glasses with a splash of sparkling water before serving. (Note: This punch can be served in a large punch bowl. Let guests pour their own glass, and have cherries, orange wedges and cinnamon sticks on the side for garnishing.)
Notes
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Cant wait to make this soon for me can i make this to mocktail as I don’t use alcohol at home i never had bourbon punch before perfect for hot days in Singapore love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
Yes! I think you could substitute apple juice and grape juice to turn this into a nonalcoholic mocktail punch. Great idea, Ramya!
Wait a minute – you have 800 bottles of bourbon?!?! Please tell me that is not a type-o, and I’m booking a flight to your house tomorrow!
It’s not a typo, Jeff! Current count is 832. Hurry on down…or that count might be 831. 🙂
We’re at 831 now.
I just printed your recipe. I’ve been trying to like bourbon, which is challenging because I can’t stand the smell, and I smell everything whether I want to or not!!!
I totally get it, Mimi. I used to hate the smell of Scotch, but I was determined to like it…mainly because we had a trip planned to Scotland. Haha! Give it time. You’ll get there! And this punch is pretty fantastic I have to say. Cheers!
Yep I gulped when i saw the 800 bottles too, and thought it must be a typo! Wowee. Get drinking my friend – tee hee.
sherry
Haha – slow and steady, Sherry! Both Laura and I love collecting…and of course sharing a glass together in the evenings. 🙂
Wowww you guys have quite the collection!! But this drink screams “bring on the holidays!” Cheers!!
This punch really does scream “HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!!” 🙂 Cheers, Michelle!!
So many cool facts about bourbon and whiskey (my favourite is about legislation regards barrels!) And this punch? I never would have thought of combining bourbon/ whiskey with wine, but I bet it’s delicious. And this addition of cinnamon and nutmeg adds a perfect festive vibe!
There is so much to learn about the whiskey world…that’s part of what we’ve really enjoyed about it. This punch is indeed a festive (and tasty) way to bring on the holiday season. Give it a try!!
This sounds sooo good, David. I’m a huge whiskey fan and though I’m more a single malt Scotch guy, I do enjoy Bourbon as well. And combined with all those other flavors, this sounds off the charts delicious. Definitely going to give this a try for Thanksgiving. After I’m done cooking, lol!
Ah – greetings to a fellow whiskey drinker then! I can say with high certainty that this punch would be fantastic after all of the Thanksgiving cooking is done. And if you ever get to Asheville, let me know – we’ll have a drink together!!
Bourbon can be a bit of a head-scratcher at first, but once you get the basics down, it’s easy to appreciate the nuances!
The nuances of different bourbons is what makes it so much fun!
David, there’s a serious error in you post: pecans are not optimal (never!) lol. But rather than that, I agree that cinnamon buns are ultimate treat, especially in the cold time of the year. I think that the aroma of butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and (of course) pecans is therapeutic… Well, at least for boosting anyone’s mood!
I couldn’t agree more, Ben!