Spiced Cider Bourbon Punch
via Terrain.com
For this recipe, you'll need:
12 oz. apple cider
8 oz. bourbon
8 oz. seltzer
3 oz lemon juice
3 oz honey
8 dashes bitters
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Rosemary and apple wheels to garnish
Mix the honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and nutmeg until they're blended well. Pour the mixture into your punch bowl with the cider, bourbon, and bitters. This part can be stored - once you're ready to serve, top with seltzer and garnish with rosemary and apple slices inside the bowl. See? Told you. Fab.
9 Ladies Dancing (Chai Tea and Cranberry Bourbon Punch)
via Serious Eats
This next one might be more appropriate for late fall/early winter due to the cranberries, but the red and orange combo here is so eye popping that honestly I would love to see this at a party any time of year.
What you'll need:
For the Vanilla Cinnamon Syrup:
4 (3- or 4-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
For the Chai Tea:
2 cups boiling water
3 chai tea bags
For the Punch:
1 (750 ml) bottle blended Scotch, such as Monkey Shoulder
2 1/4 cups Lustau East India Solera Sherry (or any cream sherry)
3/4 cup fresh juice from about 6 lemons
1 1/2 cups Vanilla Cinnamon Syrup
2 cups Chai Tea
1/8 cup Angostura bitters
6 orange wheels, star anise, ice block (see note), for garnish
Directions:
For the tea - combine boiling water and tea in a hot liquid container, let it steep for 4 mins. Toss tea bags and let it cool to room temp, then add to punch.
For the vanilla cinnamon syrup - combine cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean seeds + pod, water, and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring it to a boil using medium heat, then remove and let stand for an hour. Strain it, then refrigerate to keep up to 2 weeks.
For the punch - in your storage container or punchbowl, combine Scotch, lemon juice, sherry, syrup, bitters, and tea. Stir it all up. Refrigerate for five hours, but no longer than overnight. When you're ready to serve, add your iceblock and garnish.
The Bobby Burns - Scotch/Vermouth/Bénédictine
Via Epicurious
This one's a little different in that you're going to need a bottle to store the cocktail in, then ice the whole bottle and pour into glasses straight from the bottle (not a bowl). Fun!
You will need:
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) Scotch
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) sweet vermouth (such as Carpano Antica)
5 ounces (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons) water
2 ounces (1/4 cup) Bénédictine
8 lemon twists for garnish
Combine all wet ingredients into a pitcher, stir to blend, then funnel into a bottle and shake. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then serve - rest the bottle on ice, and pour into glasses garnished with a lemon twist while serving.
If you need to increase or decrease the amount, just use the Scotch and vermouth in equal parts with 1/6th part Bénédictine.
And of course, we couldn't leave out...
Whiskey Sour Party Punch
via Lemons for Lulu
This one's a little more of a year round drink, but could we really make a list of whiskey drinks without including a whiskey sour?
You will need:
- Lemonade (2 cups)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 cup water
- The juice from 2 limes (about 1/4 cup)
- 2 cups whiskey or bourbon
- 2 cups club soda
- Sliced lemons, oranges and maraschino cherries