Harvest Punch has been a staple at our Thanksgivings for years [read about its origins here]. This year, it felt like it needed a little update. My major challenges with Harvest Punch in its original form is that it is very sweet, which I know my girl Nicole loves. The sugar gets me (in a way that I do not wish to be ‘gotten’), so I wanted to make some adjustments to the recipe. I still stand behind the Bourbon Ball Whiskey in this from Firefly but I did a poor job planning and as I type this with a burned finger from an unfortunate shrimp-cooling incident, there was zero percent chance I was running up to North Charleston tonight. I hope our guests like butterscotch.

I do mix the non-sparkling components together the night before to give them a chance to meld. You can also do this day-of and it turns out great.

Harvest Punch Recipe

In a drink dispenser, combine: 

One half gallon of apple cider (or to taste)
1/3 bottle of Firefly Bourbon Ball Whiskey (or 1/2 to 2/3 C of butterscotch schnapps depending on how sweet you like it)
1/4 to 1/3 cup of nice Bourbon, (depending on how much you like brown water)
One cinnamon stick
1-2 cups frozen cranberries
2 oranges (sliced and frozen)
Ice
One bottle of sparking wine (add at the very end)

I like to have an additional bottle of sparkling wine next to the dispenser for guests to top their punch with wine.

Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving!