Description
This Fall Sangria Recipe features a delightful blend of honey bourbon, aromatic chai tea spices, and fresh citrus, perfect for cozy autumn gatherings. With fragrant spices and seasonal fruit garnishes, this honey bourbon sangria is a refreshing yet warming beverage for up to 10 guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Sangria Mixture
- Zest and juice from 1 large orange
- Zest from 2 lemons
- Juice from 5-6 medium lemons (about 1 cup)
- 1¾ cups water
- ¼ cup granulated or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ginger paste or 1 4-inch knob ginger, thinly sliced
- 6 chai decaffeinated tea bags (single-serve size)
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 4 cardamom pods
- 3-4 sticks cinnamon
- 2 cups honey bourbon (Jim Beam works well)
- 1 750ml bottle Moscato (Mirassou works well)
- 1 teaspoon orange or regular bitters (optional)
Garnish
- Slices of pears
- Slices of star fruit
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Prepare Zest and Juice: Zest the orange and two lemons and place the zest in a small saucepan. Juice the orange and all the lemons into a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
- Simmer Spiced Tea Base: In the saucepan with the citrus zest, add water, sugar, ginger paste or sliced ginger, chai tea bags, cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticks. Stir well and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cool and Strain: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Then, using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the tea spice mixture into a large pitcher, discarding solids.
- Combine Sangria Ingredients: Add the reserved fresh orange and lemon juices, honey bourbon, Moscato wine, and bitters (if using) into the pitcher with the strained tea mixture. Stir thoroughly to combine.
- Add Garnishes and Chill: Add slices of pears, star fruit, and cinnamon sticks into the sangria. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours to let the flavors meld.
- Serve: When ready to serve, fill glasses with ice, stir the sangria well, and pour it into each glass. Garnish additional slices of star fruit and pear as desired. Enjoy your refreshing fall sangria!
Notes
- Use decaffeinated chai tea bags to avoid caffeine for an evening drink.
- Brown sugar adds a richer flavor compared to granulated sugar but either works well.
- Adjust the amount of ginger and spices according to your taste preference for warmth and spice intensity.
- Letting the sangria chill longer enhances the melding of flavors and richness.
- Use fresh seasonal fruits for garnishing to add visual appeal and additional freshness.
- If you prefer a less sweet sangria, reduce the sugar quantity slightly or select a less sweet Moscato.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 glass (approximately 8 oz)
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
