Vermilion Punch

This cocktail packs a punch in more ways than one! Vermilion is a blood-red pigment, like the color of a Moro blood orange, which lends its dramatic hue to this eye-catching punch. Mix up a single cocktail or batch it for your next gathering. Holiday parties are the perfect time for this cocktail because blood oranges are in at peak season, but you can also substitute another orange variety for year-round enjoyment.

–FOR ONE–

• 2 oz bourbon
• 2 oz blood orange juice
• 1/2 oz cinnamon simple syrup
• 1 oz sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Cava
• 1 oz sparkling water
• Blood orange wedge, for garnish
• Mint sprig, for garnish

Add bourbon, blood orange juice, and simple syrup to a shaker filled with ice. Shake well to combine, about 20 seconds.

Strain cocktail through mesh strainer into a glass filled with crushed or cubed ice.

Top with sparkling wine and sparkling water.

Garnish with a blood orange wedge and mint sprig.

–BATCH–

Serves 12  (91 oz  |  11 ¼ cups  |  2 ¾ quarts)

• 750 ml bottle bourbon
• 24 oz blood orange juice
• 6 oz cinnamon simple syrup
• 12 oz sparkling wine, such as Prosecco or Cava
• 24 oz sparkling water, chilled
• Blood orange wedges, for garnish
• Mint leaves, for garnish

Add blood orange juice, bourbon, and simple syrup to a beverage dispenser or punch bowl. Stir to combine and chill until ready to serve.

Shortly before serving, stir the punch, then add the sparkling wine and sparkling water.

Fill glasses with crushed or cubed ice, then add the cocktail.

Garnish with blood orange wedges and mint leaves.

Cinnamon Simple Syrup

• 8 oz sugar
• 8 oz water
• 2–3 cinnamon sticks

Use the back of a large knife to crack the cinnamon sticks and “wake” them. Add water and cinnamon to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Add the sugar, stir constantly to dissolve and immediately remove from heat before it begins to simmer. Cover and let steep up about 12 hours Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove all spices before storing.

Recipe tip: Booze, fruit juices, and simple syrups tend to separate shortly after mixing, so it’s important to stir the cocktail throughout the party to avoid an unbalanced drink.

Citrus juice: 12 blood oranges = 24 oz juice (Purchase a few extra oranges to use as garnish.)