The Ritual

This bountiful batch cocktail by Kimberly Patton-Bragg behind the Justine bar upstages the turkey and keeps inevitable holiday stress levels in check.

We adapted measurements slightly for the home bartender.

Ingredients

2 cups tequila reposado
1 cup Velvet Falernum, such as John D. Taylor's liqueur
2 1/2 ounces simple syrup*
20 sage leaves plus more for ice ring
2 bottles Hard Cider, such as Angry Orchard, or to taste**
2 lemons, thinly sliced
2 apples, thinly sliced

Instructions

Make Ice Ring:
One day before the party, fill a bundt cake pan with water and sprinkle in a few sage leaves. Freeze overnight.

Make the Cocktail:
Place 20 sage leaves into the tequila and infuse for 2 hours. Remove the leaves and discard. Mix the Velvet Falernum, tequila and simple syrup in a punch bowl, until well-combined.

Top with hard cider then carefully lower the ice ring into the punch bowl. Using two tongs and a friend standing by to help works nicely.

Float lemon and apple slices in the bowl. Serve over ice.

Serves 8 to 10

*For testing at Milk Punch, we used agave syrup.

**Hard cider is the alcoholic version of apple cider, found in the beer section.