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

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New to Bourbon 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.

What is Sangria?

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 bourbon 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.

What Does Sangria with Bourbon Taste Like?

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 bourbon 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.

Ingredients for Sparkling Apple Bourbon Sangria

Sangria always has a wine component. For this white sangria, I like chardonnay. Here’s what you’ll need:

Chardonnay
Bourbon Whiskey
Maple Syrup
Cinnamon Sticks
Fresh Ginger
Apples
Sparkling Apple

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.

A Few Recipe Notes

One Sparkling Apple Bourbon Sangria 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!

More Holiday Cocktails

Topping sangria and ice filled glasses with sparkling apple.

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