Apple Rye Moonshine Punch Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Kate Williams

November3,2011

4.7

6 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Serves 10-20, depending on your tolerance!

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

My roommate and I made this punch for a recent housewarming party. The temperature had just dropped outside, and apple cider was abundant all over New England. Wanting an easy party drink that tasted just like fall, we immediately grabbed rye whiskey as our base spirit. A one-two punch of fresh pressed apple cider and the hard stuff (for bubbles). We found some great maple flavored bitters at a co*cktail shop in Somerville, MA, but any bitters you like should work fine. We used Old Overholt Rye; no need to grab super fancy stuff for this drink. —Kate Williams

Test Kitchen Notes

This is fall in a tumbler. Rye gets your blood running hot, two kinds of cider sweeten and spice it up, and a few dashes of bitters give it depth. All it takes is four ingredients and a quick stir -- naturally, it will be our new any night co*cktail. - A&M —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved
  • Your Best Punch Contest Winner

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 6 cupsApple Cider
  • 750 millilitersRye (we love Rye, but any whiskey will do)
  • 25 dashesMaple Bitters, or other bitters like Angostura
  • 20 ouncesHard Cider
  • 6 cupsice
Directions
  1. Mix together apple cider, whiskey, and bitters in large punch bowl. This mixture can be held for up to a day or two before serving.
  2. Right before serving, stir in hard cider to taste and add ice mold, if using. Season punch to taste with extra bitters. Serve punch with additional ice.

Tags:

  • co*cktail
  • Punch
  • American
  • Whiskey/Whisky
  • Apple
  • Fruit
  • Make Ahead
  • Serves a Crowd
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Christmas
  • Winter
  • Thanksgiving
Contest Entries
  • Your Best Punch

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • kschurms

  • Vinod

  • MiChal

  • Melissa Case

  • Megan

43 Reviews

kschurms November 12, 2019

i make this every year for friendsgiving (or other fall gatherings) and it is delicious. also extremely dangerous! beware

Jared K. September 24, 2019

Used bourbon and doubled the recipe for a crowd, and everybody loved it! Tasty and strong!

Vinod July 4, 2019

Notes to self to try this with a 16 oz can of cider, 5 ounces rye and couple of dashes of bitters to make perhaps 2 drinks.

erin October 14, 2017

When I made this,

When I first made this for the adults of Halloween, I had no idea if I liked Rye, I used Crown Royal Apple. It was a big hit! I also used ice rings using the punch filled with Halloween inspired fruit shapes. I'm making it again this year.

MiChal December 26, 2016

This punch was a big hit at our Christmas night white elephant. Lots of rich bourbon flavor. But my ice ring quickly fell apart. I need an ice ring tutorial.

Melissa C. December 19, 2015

I made this last weekend for my annual holiday party. I made a double batch, as we were expecting a crowd. And it was GONE almost immediately. A total hit! Super-easy, super-delicious. I LOVE this drink and its flavors and it's now on the short list of go-to co*cktails 'round these parts. Simply perfect.

Carla December 12, 2015

Where did you get the glass in the picture?

Megan October 20, 2015

Mmmm this is so good and so simple.

mrslarkin October 16, 2015

I made this yesterday for a library reception. It was easy, delicious, and quite the hit with the literary crowd. Will definitely keep it on the fall/Thanksgiving/Christmas rotation. Thanks for the great recipe!

Jesse M. November 8, 2014

This was so tasty, and easy to half for a smaller gathering. You're right - we will be making this again... and again.. and again. Thank you!

Cialina N. October 8, 2014

I just made individual co*cktails of this to "test" it out before my party. I used 1 oz rye with 2-3 oz of apple cider, 2 dashes of bitters, and topped it off with just a little bit of hard cider.

It's super tasty, but also super potent - the rye I got was 100 proof.

Needless to say, I will be making the full batch for my party. Now, I'm thinking about doubling the recipe because it is THAT GOOD.

t3ch November 20, 2013

Anyone try this hot?

juleeclip November 12, 2013

Made this for a birthday party, threw in two bottles of ginger beer I had in the fridge. Was a huge hit... lo and behold, we never did make it to our tavern destination later that evening.

nunyer September 15, 2013

This and a squirt of lemon juice helped cure my grandma's herpes. Meemaw is now almost disease free!

Womenfest January 2, 2013

Served this at my New Year's Eve party. Loved it and so did my guests!

Michael H. December 13, 2012

Just made this for the Food52 holiday party. It's a hit!

Midge November 10, 2012

I brought this to a baby shower today and wow was it ever a hit. It does pack a punch.

Madame S. October 31, 2012

I would like to test this out as a single serving before hand...any thoughts on how to adjust to make a single co*cktail?

francielynn February 19, 2013

take each amount and divide by 10 or so and you will have your amount for each one

gingerroot December 19, 2011

Made this last night for a holiday party and everyone loved it!! So easy, delicious, and packs a sneaky kick. A good friend sent me some Allspice, Ginger and Black Pepper bitters for Christmas, so I used those with great results. Thanks for a fabulous recipe!

Waverly November 28, 2011

Well done, Kate!! Congratulations!

Apple Rye Moonshine Punch Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What mixes best with rye? ›

It pairs well with everything from brandy and vermouth to nutmeg and apples. Rye co*cktails are perfect for the cold weather and there are plenty of ways to enjoy them. Try something appropriately seasonal like the Mott & Mulberry which features apple cider, maple syrup, and lemon.

What soda goes best with rye whiskey? ›

Ginger beer or ale mix “well with all whiskey types. Whiskey's natural spice notes meld well with the sweet spices of ginger ale and ginger beer,” says Newman.

Does moonshine go bad? ›

Moonshine has a longer shelf life than other simple spirits, lasting up to six months after opening. However, once a bottle of moonshine is opened, the shelf life is only 2-3 years. Does Moonshine with Fruit Go Bad? Moonshine that contains fruits does not go bad.

Is moonshine good with Sprite? ›

Pour the moonshine into a tumbler filled with cubed or crushed ice. Top it off with Sprite, stir well, and enjoy! For an added burst, throw in some crushed mint leaves or freshly cut slices of orange.

What does rye moonshine taste like? ›

Both then and now, moonshine is whiskey as it comes out of the still: no oak barrels, no caramel color, no aging. It's just straight liquor from fermented corn or wheat mash. Ryes-in-Shine Moonshine is gin-like in flavor profile but without the juniper flavor of a standard gin.

What do you infuse rye with? ›

Think of drinking a Manhattan with cherry-infused bourbon or an orange-infused rye Old Fashioned. Here's the thing: you can infuse just about any ingredient into whiskey. Fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices are the most common ingredients to infuse with whiskey.

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