Are you entertaining this holiday season? What drinks do you plan on serving? For me, nothing beats a batched drink. The ease of setting down a punch bowl and letting people grab as they please is invaluable. Because chances are, you’re either stressed about getting everything on the table. Or if not that, you just finished a stressful cooking marathon and just want to relax. This year, my go to drink is this Festive Empress Punch. It’s a tasty seasonal drink that’s easy to make and looks stunning on a table. Plus, it serves 16 (in 5 oz portions), so you likely won’t have to make more.
What’s in the Festive Empress Punch?
This punch contains just a few ingredients and they’re perfectly suited for the holidays.
- Empress gin (you can use other brands as well, but I love Empress – it’s visually striking and is filled with wonderful botanical flavors)
- Sparkling wine
- Unsweetened cranberry juice
- Orange juice
- Ginger orange simple syrup (which contains ginger, orange, sugar, and water)
How do I make the simple syrup?
I know that making a simple syrup sounds like an ordeal, but it’s actually quite easy! Just combine a cup of sugar and a cup of water, along with 4 orange slices and 2 inches worth of sliced ginger in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until all the sugar has dissolved, stirring every so often. Then let cool and strain into your jar or container of choice.
What’s the best way to keep this punch cool all night?
While you can totally use regular ice in your punch bowl, I highly recommend making an ice bundt. They’re a great and easy way to take your presentation to the next level. To do this, fill your bundt pan of choice with water. Throw some fresh cranberries and orange twists or slices in for added flair. Then freeze.
If your bundt pan is made of silicone, congrats. Just peel that baby off to get the ice out. If you used a metal pan like I did, you’ve got an extra step ahead of you. Fill a large bowl with warm water. Let your bundt pan float in it (metal side down) for a few seconds. Once you pull it out, overturn it onto a cutting board and the ice should come loose. If it’s being stubborn, just put it back in the water for a few more seconds and try again. Finally, place it in your punch bowl! If you’re making this ahead of time, set it on a sheet of parchment paper and put it back in the freezer until you’re ready to use it.
How about garnishes?
I love a good garnish, don’t you? For this drink, I kept things simple. I threw some fresh cranberries into the punch bowl for an extra dose of festivity. Then, I garnished each glass with a dried orange slice and a cocktail pick. I made the dried orange slices myself, but you can also buy them! Another great option would be to garnish with an orange twist.
Have extra?
If you’ve got leftover punch once your guests leave, you can totally save it. Just pour it into a pitcher with a lid and store it in the fridge for a few days. It will definitely flatten out, but it’ll still taste delicious.
Festive Empress Punch
Ingredients
Ginger Orange Simple Syrup
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 4 Orange slices
- 2 inches Ginger Sliced
Punch
- 16 oz Empress gin
- 1 bottle Sparkling wine Brut
- 32 oz Cranberry juice Unsweetened
- 6 oz Orange juice
- 4 oz Ginger orange simple syrup
Optional garnishes
- Cranberry and orange ice bundt
- Dried orange slices
- Cranberries
Instructions
- Make the ginger orange simple syrup. To do this, add all ingredients to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Once all the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and let cool. Then pour into your jar or airtight container of choice.
- Now make the punch. To do this, add all ingredients to a large punch bowl. (If using an ice bundt, add that first.) Give it a little stir, throw in some fresh cranberries (if using), and it's done! Enjoy!
If you make this, I hope you and your guests love it! It was a big hit over at my house. As usual, if you do make this punch, let me know what you think in the comments or on Instagram! I always love hearing from you and seeing your beautiful creations.
Looking for more tasty winter drinks? Try my blood orange and earl grey hot toddy or my hot buttered rum with apple cider.
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