This sparkling pitcher cocktail layers cozy apple cider with tart cranberry juice cocktail and smooth bourbon, then finishes with a bubbly splash of chilled club soda.
Garnish with sunny orange wheels and jewel-like cranberries for a party-perfect punch that’s as gorgeous as it is easy.
Why You’ll Love This Punch
- Balanced & sippable: Sweet-tart fruit meets caramel-vanilla notes from the bourbon.
- Batch-friendly: Build it right in a large pitcher or punch bowl.
- Eye-catching: Floating orange wheels and cranberries make it an instant centerpiece.

Ingredients
- 2 cups bourbon
- 3 cups apple cider (non-alcoholic)
- 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
- 1 cup chilled club soda
- Garnish: orange wheels + fresh cranberries
Helpful Tools: pitcher, punch bowl, liquid measuring cup, bar spoon, large ice cube tray, cocktail picks.


Step-by-Step Directions
- Chill the mixers for best flavor.
Refrigerate the apple cider, cranberry juice cocktail, and club soda until cold. This keeps the punch crisp without depending on excess ice. - Build the base in a pitcher with ice.
Fill a large pitcher halfway with ice. Add 2 cups bourbon, 3 cups chilled apple cider, and 2 cups chilled cranberry juice cocktail. - Stir to chill and gently dilute.
Use a bar spoon to stir 10–15 seconds. This integrates the bourbon with the apple cider and cranberry juice cocktail for a balanced sip. - Add the fruit garnish.
Slide in several orange wheels and a generous handful of fresh cranberries. They infuse aroma and make the punch look festive. - Top with bubbles right before serving.
Just before guests arrive, pour in 1 cup chilled club soda. Give one gentle stir to preserve carbonation. - Serve and garnish.
Ladle into glasses over fresh ice (big cubes from a large ice cube tray are ideal). Garnish with an orange wheel and a few cranberries on a cocktail pick.

Pro Tips & Variations
- Make-ahead: Combine the bourbon, apple cider, and cranberry juice cocktail up to 24 hours ahead; keep chilled. Add club soda and ice just before serving.
- Festive ice ring: Freeze apple cider with cranberries in a Bundt pan for a slow-melting showpiece.
- Ginger twist: Swap the club soda for chilled ginger ale for a spicy-sweet finish.
- Lower-ABV option: Replace half the bourbon with extra apple cider and add more club soda to taste.
- Zero-proof: Use a nonalcoholic bourbon-style spirit and keep the rest the same.

Scaling the Recipe
For ~20 servings, use: 5 cups bourbon, 7½ cups apple cider, 5 cups cranberry juice cocktail, 2½ cups chilled club soda, plus plenty of orange wheels and cranberries.
Cran-Apple Bourbon Punch
- Chill the mixers for best flavor.Refrigerate the apple cider, cranberry juice cocktail, and club soda until cold. This keeps the punch crisp without depending on excess ice.
- Build the base in a pitcher with ice.Fill a large pitcher halfway with ice. Add 2 cupsbourbon, 3 cups chilled apple cider, and 2 cups chilled cranberry juice cocktail.
- Stir to chill and gently dilute.Use a bar spoon to stir 10–15 seconds. This integrates the bourbon with the apple cider and cranberry juice cocktail for a balanced sip.
- Add the fruit garnish.Slide in several orange wheels and a generous handful of fresh cranberries. They infuse aroma and make the punch look festive.
- Top with bubbles right before serving.Just before guests arrive, pour in 1 cup chilled club soda. Give one gentle stir to preserve carbonation.
- Serve and garnish.Ladle into glasses over fresh ice (big cubes from a large ice cube tray are ideal). Garnish with an orange wheel and a few cranberries on a cocktail pick.
Ingredients
- Ingredients
- 2 cups bourbon
- 3 cups apple cider (non-alcoholic)
- 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
- 1 cup chilled club soda
- Garnish: orange wheels + fresh cranberries

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Michael Levy says
I added star anise, whole cloves, and fresh orange peel to the syrup, and then used the leftover syrup to glaze an apple spice cake—it turned out amazing! I made this twice, and during the second batch, I reduced the bourbon from 3 cups to 2. Great recipes!