Apple Cider Punch with Bourbon (2024)

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By Jess Smith

4.12

Published Nov 01, 2018•Updated Oct 05, 2022

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This festive apple cider punch comes together with delicious apple cider, ginger beer, and bourbon and can be made in batches to serve to a crowd. If you’re specifically looking for a batch co*cktail, also check out one of my newest favorites – the paper plane co*cktail.

Have you recovered from the Halloween sugar rush? I’m usually a bit of a Halloween scrooge and have never loved getting dressed up, but the joy of two four-year-olds on Halloween is infectious. Molly and Clara stayed up late, ate too much sugar, and loved every second of it.

In true food-blogger fashion this time of year, when one holiday ends, I switch to full on excitement for the next one. And, loving recipes and food and gathering around meals as much as I do, Thanksgiving is my favorite.

When I was dreaming up this festive Apple Cider Punch, I saw it sitting out with other drinks near a Thanksgiving spread, but it would fit well with nearly any gathering this time of year. We served ours with for an open house on Halloween last night, and it fit right in with the chili bar and toppings.

Colorful cranberries and apple slices give this Apple Cider Punch a festive look, but the flavor is pretty simple – just cider, ginger beer, and bourbon. Garnish the glasses with sticks of cinnamon and crisp cinnamon sugar apple chips.

Ginger Beer

If you haven’t had ginger beer, it’s worth seeking out for this recipe. This non-alcoholic soda is what most store-bought ginger ales aspire to be. It has a clean, sweet, fizzy flavor with a lightly spicy kick from ginger. The combination of spices from the ginger beer and the apple cider make this chilled punch still feel warming. (The bourbon helps with that too!)

For Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider Punch

Apple Cider Punch can be easily made without the alcohol too! If you’ll be serving it to a crowd that may include those who want to skip the bourbon, make the recipe as written without the bourbon. Set the bourbon on the side and add a shot to the glasses of those who want it.

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4.12 from 107 votes

Apple Cider Punch with Bourbon

This festive co*cktail with apple cider, ginger beer, and bourbon can be made in batches to serve to a crowd.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 8

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Equipment

Pitcher

Ingredients

▢ ½ gallon Apple Cider
▢ 1 cup / 8 oz Bourbon
▢ 1 12 oz bottle Ginger Beer, non-alcoholic
▢ 1 cup Fresh Cranberries (optional)
▢ 1 Apple, thinly sliced (optional)

For serving:

▢ Ice
▢ Cinnamon sticks (optional)
▢ Cinnamon Sugar Apple Chips (optional)

Instructions

Combine apple cider, bourbon, and ginger beer in a large pitcher. Top with cranberries and apple slices.
Fill glasses with ice and pour punch over top. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and apple chips.

Notes

I like the flavor of a non-alcoholic ginger beer in this recipe. It adds bubbles and a lightly spicy ginger flavor. Ginger ale is more mild but is a fine substitute.

If you’d like to have a non-alcoholic version available, simply combine the apple cider and ginger beer in a pitcher. After pouring the punch, add a shot of bourbon directly to glasses for those who want it.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Cost: $6.00

Calories: 210

Keyword: alcoholic drink, drinks, party and entertaining