Made with a homemade cider-spiced honey simple syrup, whiskey, and champagne, this special sip is impressive and delicious!
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This recipe is…
I like my cocktails to be extra special. Extra special, my friend, is the theme of this recipe. This sip comes by way of a cider spice-infused honey, a dash of a smoky whiskey, and a good glug of champagne or prosecco. Garnish with a fresh sprig of rosemary and let the bubbly, fall-flavored goodness transport you to falling leaves and other happy things.
Harvest Sparkle Drink Ingredients
The ingredients here are pretty simple! Here’s everything you’ll need:
- Honey – 1/2 of a cup of honey heads into a pot to boil with a few other ingredients for a really delicious cider-spiced simple syrup.
- Spices – a 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, a 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and an 1/8th teaspoon of ground cloves head into the syrup to bring the spiced flavors to life!
- Orange Juice – 1 cup of orange juice finishes off the spiced syrup!
- Whiskey or Bourbon – for the cocktail itself, you’ll need whiskey/bourbon. If you’re making a pitcher, you’ll need 2 1/4 cups, and if you’re making a single cocktail, you’ll need 1 ounce.
- Prosecco, Champagne, or Sparkling White Wine – another main ingredient in the cocktail itself! For a pitcher, you’ll need 2 1/4 cups, and for a single drink, you’ll need 1 ounce.
- Rosemary Sprigs – garnish your drinks with sprigs of fresh rosemary for a sweet, festive touch!
How to Make
For as special as this sip is, it’s also incredibly easy to throw together! To make it, you’ll need to…
- Make the syrup – to a small saucepan over medium heat, add the honey, spices, and orange juice. Whisk together until it starts to bubble, then remove from the heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Mix together the whiskey and syrup – in a pitcher or shaker, mix the syrup and whiskey together with a good amount of ice so that it’s completely chilled. Strain the mixture into a different pitcher or serving glass (be careful not to let the mixture sit in the ice for too long — it’ll get watered down!). Keep the whiskey and syrup mixture (no longer on ice) in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
- Add prosecco, garnish, and enjoy – just before serving, pour the whiskey/syrup mixture into glasses and top with prosecco. Garnish with rosemary sprigs, if desired, and serve!
How can this drink or the garnishes be modified to also enjoy it as a Christmas Bourbon Cocktail?
I honestly don’t think this cocktail needs to be modified at all to be enjoyed as a Christmas sip! The flavors are spot-on for both the fall and winter months. If you’re looking for a cranberry-style Christmas cocktail, though, this cranberry margarita is a great option.
How to Serve
This drink is best sipped on with good friends and family and is really delicious next to a tasty charcuterie board!
More Favorite Cocktail Recipes
Bourbon and Champagne Cocktail (Harvest Sparkle Drink)
Ingredients
For the cider honey syrup:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup orange juice
For a large batch/pitcher (serves 18):
- 2 1/4 cups whiskey or bourbon
- 1 1/2 cups of the cider honey syrup entire batch
- 2 1/4 cups prosecco champagne, or sparkling white wine
- 9 sprigs of rosemary
For a single cocktail:
- 1 ounce whiskey or bourbon
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon cider honey syrup
- 1 ounce prosecco champagne, or sparkling white wine (or enough to top off the glass)
- 1/2 sprig of rosemary
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk the honey, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and orange juice together until it starts to bubble. Remove from heat and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- In a pitcher or shaker, mix the honey syrup and whiskey together with a good amount of ice so that it is completely chilled. Strain into a different pitcher or serving glass. (Note: caution that you don’t let the honey and whiskey mixture sit in the ice for too long so that it doesn’t get watered down.)
- Keep refrigerated.
- Just before serving, add prosecco to top off the glass and garnish with a ½ sprig of rosemary.
Nutrition
Would it work to make the syrup base a day ahead of time? Trying to find ways to minimize my day-of-party prep. Thanks!
This cocktail is amazing! It’s been a huge hit for any guest that comes our way. As long as we keep the simple syrup pre-made and stocked in the fridge, it’s easy to top it off with sparkling wine and feel like a champ serving a legitimate cocktail.
So glad it’s been a hit Andrea, it is one of our favorites!
This is one of my favorite fall and winter cocktails! It is beautiful and delicious. Thank you! I just bought some organic maple syrup that was aged in a bourbon barrel that I am going to try in this cocktail this weekend.
So glad that you liked it! That maple syrup sounds incredible!!
This was a very big hit at a Christmas Day gathering! I made it again for a New Years party, and increased the recipe to a pound of honey (about quadruple amount of the simple syrup), and mixed it with a full 750ml of Bourbon. Interestingly enough… the simple syrup/ bourbon mix is the PERFECT base for a Hot Toddy (and great if you have a cold;)… just add hot water and you are good to go. Additionally, fresh ginger is even better when making your simple syrup. This one is a keeper!
So glad you liked it!!
I want to make this for a party… what is the best way to put this in a large glass self serve drink container with spout? Just put the whiskey/ syrup mix in the self serving container- have the guests add ice, bubly, and rosemary themselves? Or can I put it all in a container? I don’t want to ruin the flavor…
I want to make this for a party… what is the best way to put this in a large glass self serve drink container with spout? Just put the whiskey/ syrup mix in the self serving container- have the guests add ice, bubly, and rosemary themselves? Or can I put it all in a container? I don’t want to ruin the flavor…
Are the measurements in American cups?
Thanks for your help!
Do you think I could use honey whiskey or will that make it too sweet?
Did you use fresh spices or did you find pre-ground did a good enough job? I’m hoping to win my friendsmas cocktail competition and think this can definitely do it for me!!
Hi Karina! For the cider honey syrup, it is pre-ground spices. The sprigs of rosemary is fresh rosemary. Good luck, sounds like a fun little competition!
This looks like the perfect fall cocktail! I need one of these right about now!
I totally agree Eden! Would be perfect to sip on while handing out candy on Halloween 🙂
So just to be clear, there is not cider in the honey syrup? Just OJ and spices?
Hi Danielle! You’re correct. Just OJ and “cider” spices 🙂
OMG I usually don’t write negative comments,so I hope this isn’t. I love your blog, but the “Harvest Sparkle” has whiskey. I looked around the site of the company and they said they start with a mash of corn(GMO?) wheat and rye. Is this a no-no for celiacs or does the fermentation make it o.k.? I’ve been sick so long I don’t want to go backwards! the drink looks and sounds amazing! I usually just drink wine occasionally or brandy because its basically the bottom of the wine barrel. Anyway if you or someone knows more than me on this subject thank you in advance.
Hi Bonnie! No, your comment wasn’t negative at all 🙂 I appreciate your question! You’re totally correct that the whiskey in this drink crosses some non-Celiac-friendly ingredients in its production. To be safe for all who suffer from Celiac, I recommend you stick with brandy (as you described above). Hope that helps and thanks again for your feedback!
Follow-up: I made this for a party, and I should have doubled or even tripled the recipe! It tastes, as the name suggests, like fall in a glass and is VERY potent.
Sounds like it was a success, Paula! Glad you liked it.
LOVE everything about this post! Couldn’t agree more about enjoying indulgences without guilt! This looks likes an amazing cocktail recipe.
Thanks, Jessi!!
OH. I need to make these for tomorrow night’s party! Too bad most people there are doing the Whole Life Challenge, and I’ll have to drink it myself. 🙂
You’ll love it, Paula!