Make ahead apple sangria ready for your Autumn gatherings. Refreshing, festive and easy: Sparkling Apple Bourbon Sangria with a hint of ginger and cinnamon.

New to Sangria?

It’s easy peasy to pull together and tastes better with a little time to mingle in the fridge. Sangria’s not just for summer. It offers ready made cocktails that’ll help free your hands for other tasks like greeting guests, finishing up the Apple Dumplings, or for lazin’ on the couch enjoying appetizers. I’m partial to the latter, ahem.

Sangria is a catch-all term for wine based, fruit filled pitcher cocktails that improve with time while hanging out in the fridge. Sangria is served over ice, for a most refreshing experience.

For this apple sangria, I’ve included white wine, a glug bourbon (okay, more than a glug), a bit of maple syrup, ginger and cinnamon sticks. Top it off with sparkling apple juice for some festive bubbles.

Sangria with Bourbon; a Delicious Combination

Bourbon’s caramel and vanilla notes completely win me over and they shine when paired with apples. Like peas and carrots, perfect partners in every way whether together in a cocktail, pie or cobbler. The combination just works.

These holiday cocktails are subtly sweet with a hint of cinnamon and ginger. When I taste this apple sangria cocktail, it reminds me of apple pie.

When it comes to holiday cocktails, I’m particularly fond of refreshing cocktails, preferring icy and bubbly over the stronger, straight varieties. Never-mind the cold, windy, driving rain outside. Stress and being with those we love often need a counter balance.

It’s hot in the kitchen anyway (or maybe on the couch too), so why not have a little sipper on the side. The adults in my life appreciate this nevertheless. It helps us all get along perhaps a little better during the holidays.

At a Glance: How to Make Apple Bourbon Sangria

Whip these holiday bourbon cocktails up at least eight hours in advance for best flavor. Here’s how to make apple sangria:

First, in a pitcher or large jar, add the chardonnay, bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, ginger and apples.
Next, stir to incorporate flavors.
Last, cover and chill for at least two hours or up to 24 hours.

Just before serving, pour the sparkling apple juice in the pitcher or individually to top off low ball, ice filled glasses.

Traci’s Tips

Servings: 8-9 in low ball glasses. But of course sangria goes down easy, so double the recipe if serving more than four adults. Figure at least two drinks per person.
It’s not necessary to get expensive wine for sangria. It’ll be mixed with other flavors. Bonterra Vineyards Chardonnay is my favorite.
If serving right away, add the Sparkling Apple juice directly to the pitcher of sangria. If serving as singles, hold off adding it to the pitcher and instead, top off each glass individually. It’ll loose its fizz as it sets.
The cinnamon comes through more so after at least 8 hours of refrigerator time, even more on the second day. So if you have time, make this at least 12-18 hours in advance.
Due to the sugar content of this recipe, the apples stay crisp and hold their creamy white color for at least 8 hours – so don’t worry about that! Their flavor improves with time too!

Topping sangria and ice filled glasses with sparkling apple.

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