Delicious Red Wine Bourbon Summer Sangria Recipe (Must-Try)

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This bourbon summer sangria recipe is absolutely delicious and perfect for warm-weather sipping!

The red wine, bourbon, and fruit combine to create a refreshing and tantalizing drink that you won’t be able to resist. So go ahead and give it a try… your taste buds will thank you!

If you’d like to know what heaven tastes like, sip this Bourbon Summer Sangria. And give your taste buds a flavor they’d never forget. 

All you need is a handful of fruits, some good quality liquor, and voila! You’re set for a delicious drink.

Bourbon Summer Sangria Ingredients

• 2 bottles of red wine – You can use syrah or shiraz. Even rosé would work.
• 1 cup of good-quality bourbon – Quality makes all the difference in the world.
• 2 Tablespoons old fashioned angostura bitters – Bitters enhance the flavor of your drink tenfold.
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice – Fresh oranges give a much needed citrusy tang to the drink.
• 1/3 cup orange liqueur – For a touch of crisp orange flavor.
• 2 oranges thinly sliced – Orange slices enhance the sweet and sour aspect of your drink.
• 2 Lemons thinly sliced – For that extra sour flavor.
• 2 limes thinly sliced – Limes go a long way to make summer sangria a potent, spicy drink.
• 1 cup cherries, pitted and roughly chopped or smashed – Adding cherries to any drink is always a good decision. They add a hint of sweetness to the cocktail.
• 2 cups sparkling water – You may also use San Pellegrino sparkling blood orange for a more fruity play on the drink.

Tools Needed to Make Bourbon Summer Sangria 

You need some basic utensils and tools to make this drink. Fortunately, you can easily find them in your kitchen. You’ll require:

• A large pitcher
• A bar spoon for stirring
• Some serving glasses of your choice
• Cherry pitter or Core seed remover
• A chopping board
• A knife

Ingredient Substitutions When Making Bourbon Summer Sangria

What if you don’t have all the ingredients on hand? We’ve rounded up some ingredient substitutions for this Bourbon Summer Sangria for you below.

Cherries

You can use berries, peaches, pineapples, or other citrus fresh fruit.

Bourbon

If whiskey and rum are more to your taste, swap them.

Limes

Of course, you can swap lime with lemons. Feel free to add more lime to your sangria mix to make your taste buds tingle with pleasure.

Sugar

Superfine sugar can help elevate the sweetness in your drink. Mont Fruit sweetener is also a great alternative

Rosemary

Gives you a pleasurable woodsy aroma. And it also gives you a powerful punch of flavor.

Soda water

It’s always a good idea to make your drink bubbly. You can use soda water to make your Sangria a carbonated beverage. 

Cinnamon Sticks

You can use cinnamon sticks in your Sangria to add more taste and flavor.

How to Make Bourbon Summer Sangria

Ingredients

• 2 bottles red wine
• 1 cup good quality bourbon
• 2 tablespoons bitters
• 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/3 cup orange liqueur
• 2 oranges (thinly sliced)
• 2 lemons (thinly sliced)
• 2 limes (thinly sliced)
• 1 cup cherries, pitted and roughly chopped or smashed
• 2 cups sparkling water or San Pellegrino sparkling blood orange

Instructions

1. In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients except the sparkling water.
2. Cover and refrigerate at least four hours for the flavors to meld together. Overnight is even better.
3. To serve, top off with sparkling water.

What to serve Bourbon Summer Sangria recipe with

The summer heat demands a chilled pitcher of sangria. You can serve this bourbon summer sangria with ice cubes and extra slices of fruit wedges.

You can also pour the drink into individual glasses and add a pinch of rosemary for that extra hit of flavor. 

Moreover, if serving various guests, you can also place soda water on the side for those who want some fizz. Add more fruit to the mix if you want a more flavorful drink.

At a party, appetizers and Sangria pair up exceptionally well and can help entertain your guests.

Appetizers that go along with Sangria include hummus and dip, this Copycat Chili’s Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Crema, a bowl of mixed nuts and queso dip with Mexican Chorizo.

You can munch on these snacks and have a happy hour with a chilled glass of your favorite cocktail in hand.

Tips About Making The Bourbon Summer Sangria Recipe 

1. Always use fresh fruits. It gives you better flavor and more freshness.
2. Make sure to use seasonal fruits in your drinks. Frozen off-season fruits do not have the freshness or taste you want.
3. If you’re adding soda water, add it to individual glasses and not directly in the jug. Otherwise, the fizz factor in the pitcher will go flat.
4. Always chill the drink before serving. 
5. For better results, let the fruits soak in the wine for 2 hours before serving.
6. Never add ice directly to the pitcher. You don’t want the water from the ice to dilute the flavors of your drink or even the wine. Add ice directly to your glass before pouring, and drink away.
7. Do not use cheap wine.

How To Store Bourbon Summer Sangria

Storing in the fridge

You need to refrigerate your Sangria in the fridge two hours prior to serving.

If you’re using sparkling water, other than blood orange, you can soak the fruits for a longer time.

For a yummier flavor, keep your pitcher in the fridge for 12 hours so that the fruit can absorb the wine.

After preparation, the delicious Sangria can be stored in the fridge for several days. Do not store in the fridge beyond two days, as fruit tends to start decaying and goes limp.

Storing in the freezer

If you wish to freeze your Sangria, there are some steps you need to follow. 

To avoid fruits going bad in the fridge, you must separate the fruits from the drink. Next, use an airtight bottle or jar.

After removing fruits from the drink, pour it into your choice of container and label it with the freezing date. 

What Mixes Well With Bourbon?

Bourbon is an American whiskey that has a variety of flavors.

You can complement or enhance the taste by mixing it with other beverages or mixers. These mixers include water.

Water dilutes the drink and brings out the flavor of bourbon by making it more palatable.

Another popular mixer is coca-cola. Amateur bourbon drinkers find the taste more enjoyable with coke as it tallies the taste with sweetness. The bourbon still holds its smokey, vanilla, and caramel aspect. 

 Another popular choice among bourbon drinkers is apple cider. It has a fresh and tart flavor that pairs well with whiskey. Using apple cider, bourbon and apples, you can make Tender Knob drink.

Other popular mixers include soda water, ginger ale, ginger beer, eggnog, and coffee.

How Long Should You Let Sangria Soak?

Let your sangria soak for the best results in terms of fruitiness, freshness, and juiciness. The optimum time to soak is between eight hours and overnight. However, it comes down to personal preferences.

The longer you let the fruit sit in the wine, the tastier the drink. However, for this recipe, since we use Blood orange, it’s best not to exceed 2 hours for soaking. The fruit will eventually lose its flavor and become limp and bitter. 

Is Sangria Better With Rum or Brandy?

There is no wrong or right answer. Based on your choice of wine, you can choose either. If you don’t like brandy, you can substitute it with triple sec or Grand Marnier. 

What’s the Best Fruit For Sangria?

Hands down; oranges, lemons, and cherries are the best fruit to add to your cocktail. You can also add peaches, pineapples, grapes, and pomegranates. Whatever works best for you.

You can always experiment with a variety of fruits. Different combinations make for a delicious beverage. 

As a rule of thumb, you should add at least two fruits. One should be the citrus kind, and the second, any non-citrus fruit.

Word of caution: Don’t add too many fruits to your concoction. You might end up upsetting the balance of the flavors.

How Far in Advance Can You Make Sangria?

Making Sangria in advance is a good idea. The drink will taste better this way since the flavor from fruit will have time to macerate with the wine.

You can make Sangria a night before or up to 48 hours prior to serving. Make sure to serve your drink before the fruit starts to decay and lose its flavor.

Don’t allow your Sangria to sit in the fridge for more than two days.

FAQ About Bourbon Summer Sangria

Conclusion

That’s it, folks. Prop up your feet and unwind with a chilled, heavenly glass of Sangria. The bourbon summer sangria is perfect for beating the summer heat and enjoying fruits soaked in delightful, yummy booze.

End your night with a refreshing drink topped up with ice. And, to make it taste yummier, share it with a special someone!

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