In partnership with Lidey Heuck (@lideylikes).

This Sparkling Cider and Bourbon Punch is my go-to batch cocktail for holiday parties, and this year I’m taking things up a notch with crisp and juicy EverCrisp® apples as a delicious garnish!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup bourbon
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 dried star anise pods
• 750 mL bottle of sparkling apple cider, like Martinelli’s
• 1 EverCrisp® apple (we also like Honeycrisp, Rave®, and SnapDragon® in this recipe)
• 1 Navel orange
• Ice, for serving

Directions

1. First, make the spice-infused bourbon: pour the bourbon into a jar or half pint container. Add the cinnamon sticks and star anise pods and cover. Set aside at room temperature for at least 8 and up to 24 hours before serving. (The longer the bourbon sits, the more pronounced the spices will be.)
2. Just before serving, pour the bourbon, along with the cinnamon sticks and star anise, into a large glass pitcher. Add the sparkling apple cider and stir to combine.
3. Thinly slice the apple and cut the orange crosswise into thin half-moon slices. Add a few slices of each to the pitcher, setting aside the rest for garnish.

4. Serve the punch over ice in glass tumblers, garnished with an apple and orange slice.