Sparkling Apple Bourbon Sangria

Name: Sparkling Apple Bourbon Sangria
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 750 mL Chardonnay (chilled); 3/4 C (165g) Bourbon Whiskey; 1/4 C (80g) Maple Syrup; 2 Cinnamon Sticks; 1 1" Knob of Fresh Ginger (skinned and sliced in 1/2 ); 2 Apples (your choice, cored and sliced); 750 mL Sparkling Apple (juice, chilled)

By Traci 23 Comments

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

It’s go time! Are you feeling prepared? The holidays are upon us so a pitcher of sangria is in order!

New to sangria? It’s easy peasy to pull together and tastes better with a little time to mingle in the fridge. It’s not just for summer. Sangria 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. For this recipe, 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.

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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.

When it comes to 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.

A Few Recipe Notes:

One recipe will serve 8-9 servings 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. This is my favorite chardonnay.
If serving right away, add the Sparkling Apple juice directly to the pitcher of sangria. If serving as singles, hold off adding the Sparkling Apple to the pitcher and instead, top off each glass individually.
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!

Are you hosting, taking, or going out?

Sending my best for a festive and beautiful (and low stress) Thanksgiving! Remember the three Cs: Calm. Cool. Collected.

5 from 3 votes