Spiced Bourbon Ginger Cider Food

CIDER PUNCH

Steps:

• Combine 4 cups apple cider, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 whole cloves and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Halve 1 orange; squeeze the juice into the pan and add the peels. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat and let steep 10 to 15 minutes. Strain into a pitcher and add 3/4 cup apple brandy or bourbon. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Serve in tall glasses on the rocks or reheat and serve warm in punch mugs. Garnish with orange slices.

SPICED BOURBON-GINGER CIDER

Steps:

• Using a peeler, remove the zest from 1 lemon. Add it to a medium saucepan along with the apple cider, Canada Dry Ginger Ale, cloves and star anise. Poke holes in the jalapeno with a paring knife and add it to the cider mixture. (Reserve the zested lemon for another use.) Simmer over low heat 20 minutes to infuse the spices. Slice the remaining lemon into rounds. Thread 12 toothpicks with 5 pieces of ginger each. Pour 4 ounces of the mulled cider and 2 ounces of bourbon into each mug. Balance a skewer across the rim of each and garnish with the lemon slices.

SPICED BOURBON WITH RED WINE

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup each sugar and water, 4 allspice berries, 1 star anise pod and 4 slices fresh ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Let cool, then strain. Shake 3 ounces bourbon, 2 ounces apple cider, 1 ounce each of the spiced syrup, orange juice and lemon juice and 3 dashes of orange bitters in a shaker with ice; strain into 2 glasses filled with ice. Top each with 1/4 cup red wine. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

SPICED BOURBON WITH RED WINE

Steps:

• Make the spiced syrup: Combine the sugar, 1/2 cup water, the allspice, star anise and ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Strain into a liquid measuring cup.
• Make the cocktails: Combine the bourbon, apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, 1 ounce of the spiced syrup (reserve the rest for more cocktails) and the orange bitters in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into 2 ice-filled rocks glasses and top with the red wine. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

SPICED BOURBON-APPLE CIDER

Steps:

• Put the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, black peppercorns and star anise in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Immediately strain the mixture into 4 mugs, divided evenly. Top with the bourbon.
• Sprinkle a small amount of cinnamon on top of each and garnish with an apple slice.