Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (2024)

This Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria is only four ingredients and delicious all year round. It is a particularly amazing spin on my red sangria recipe, perfect for a ladies’ night and even better for holiday get togethers. This is such an easy sangria recipe!

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (1)

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (2)

This post is written in collaboration with Iowa Corn. I could not be more proud to partner with them for a second year to tell their story and give you a behind the scenes of the life of the Iowa Corn Farmer.

Hi friends and Happy Friday! I already told you about my love for Iowa and their amazing corn farmers when I shared my Southwestern Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole last week, and last year when I shared my Slow Cooker Bacon Potato Corn Soup. But we haven’t talked about one little part that is soooooo near and dear to my heart.

The co*cktails.

As you all know, I am not shy about my love for whiskey. You just can’t beat a good whiskey co*cktail. I love my Whiskey and Wine co*cktail, my Desert Wasteland Whiskey co*cktail, and of course the classic Whiskey Sour Recipe! Well, you can’t get

The first stop on our #IACornQuest Tour, both last year and this year, was the Iowa Distilling Company. And, if I’m being totally honest, it’s the absolute highlight of the trip for me. #duh Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (3)

The amazing folks at the Iowa Distilling Company make all of their award winning spirits on site. Not only that, they are true lovers of their community and the Iowa farmers who support their business and provide them the best corn to make the alcohol. In their own words:

“At Iowa Distilling Company, we aim to bring distilling back to its roots on the farm. Farming goes back generations in our families. We know corn and we know Iowa’s soil – we’ve been working with it for years. We know the farmers who grow our grain and the people at the local farmers’ co-op who help us load it into our truck. They are our friends and family, and we try to make them proud of every bottle that comes off our still.”

Doesn’t that just give you chills? It totally embodies everything I love about Iowa and all the people with Iowa Corn. The passion that you hear in those words totally comes through in the amazing product they serve and the incredible recipes they come up with to serve it.

Iowa Distilling Company is housed in the coolest space. A 100 year old building that has been a bank, an architecture firm, and a jute box repair shop now converted to a distilling company and bar. Our group was able to sit at their bar and drink their custom made co*cktails and then sit and have the most delicious dinner from a local caterer.

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (4)

You can’t see all the co*cktails, but I need to tell you . . . our group tried a LOT of them and we were sincerely impressed. But, without a doubt, my favorite were the co*cktails made with Prairie Fire, a cinnamon whiskey. I dare say, the best cinnamon whiskey on the planet. Last year I bought one bottle, this year I bought two. And I’m already regretting I didn’t get a third.

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (5)

Prairie Fire is perfect on it’s own, in fact, that is my preferred way to drink it. However, its also incredible in this Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe!

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS OF SANGRIA?

Most sangrias consist of wine, a liquor (or two), and some fruit. This Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria takes a little bit of a different spin by adding in some apple cider which compliments this perfectly. Can I tell you guys something? I only had a super cheap bottle of red wine on hand when I was testing this recipe and it was still AMAZING! This might be the best sangria yet.

THE SANGRIA INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

  • Red Wine blend
  • Prairie Fire Cinnamon Whiskey (or other cinnamon whiskey if you can’t get to Iowa ????)
  • Apple Cider
  • Apples

How easy is that??

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (6)

HOW TO MAKE SANGRIA

This sangria is super simple to make and will be the hit of any ladies’ night, but I think it is especially great for a holiday party!

  1. Pour all of the ingredients into the pitcher.
  2. Add more apple cider if you don’t want it to be as strong.
  3. Taste it and add simple syrup to taste.
  4. Add the apples right before serving, and have cinnamon sticks out for garnish.

TIPS TO END UP WITH THE BEST SANGRIA

  • I know I said I used a less than amazing red blend and it was still amazing. Guys, that’s just to tell you how great this recipe is. Don’t test my theory. The next time I made it (yup, already have done a few batches . . . ) I used a much better wine. Soooo good!
  • Try this recipe first without simple syrup. I didn’t need any, but members of my book club did.
  • If you want to stretch this recipe and make it not as strong, add another cup of apple cider.
  • Only add the apples right before serving. Normally sangrias are known for their alcohol soaked fruit, but my experience is that apples don’t hold up great in sangria. They aren’t meant to sit in it overnight.
  • Though you see it pictured with cinnamon sticks here, do NOT add that to the pitcher and let it sit. Cinnamon sticks just hanging out in wine leave it with a woody flavor I do not love at all. Plus you totally don’t need it. The Prairie Fire does it’s job.

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (7)

I say this from the absolute bottom of my heart. If you are ever near Cummings, IA, you MUST stop by Iowa Distilling Company and try out what they have to offer. You will not find a better Cinnamon Whiskey or a smoother vodka. To see all the spirits they make check out their products page. And while you are in Iowa, thank a farmer for growing some amazing corn that gave you those great drinks.

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (8)

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (9)

5 from 6 votes

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria

Serves: 6 people

(tap # to scale)

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

This Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria is only four ingredients and delicious all year round. It is a particularly amazing spin on my red sangria recipe, perfect for a ladies night and even better for holiday get togethers.

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Ingredients

  • 750 ml red wine (I used a blend)
  • 1 cup cinnamon whiskey
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 2 apples cut up
  • 1/2 cup simple syrup optional

Instructions

  • Stir the wine whiskey, and apple cider together to combine.

  • Taste it before possibly adding in simple syrup.

  • Add the sliced apples and serve!

Author: Lisa Longley

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (10)

did you make this

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria

I'd love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Other great co*cktails you could make using alcohol from Iowa Distilling Company

Cranberry Vodka Press

Apple Brandy Slush

Eggnog Martini

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (11)

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (12)

Cinnamon Whiskey Sangria Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is sangria better the longer it sits? ›

If you taste the sangria just after mixing it, you'll probably think it tastes harsh or unbalanced. After a night in the fridge, it will taste mellow and juicy. Sangria gets better and better as it sits.

Is it better to make sangria ahead of time? ›

You can definitely make this sangria ahead of time. In fact, it'll taste best if you let it chill in the fridge for about eight hours to allow the flavors to meld. Just don't add the carbonated water until right before serving so it stays nice and bubbly.

Can I use Fireball instead of Cinnamon Schnapps? ›

The other part of this equation is Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, which has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. It can be used as a substitute for cinnamon schnapps, and the brand even uses the tongue-tingling fireball shooter for marketing, it's just under a different name.

How do you spice up a bottle of sangria? ›

Any juicy fruits (such as citrus, berries, grapes, pineapple, mango, kiwi, etc.) would be delicious. Add fresh ginger: If you would like to give your sangria a bit of a kick, muddle in a few slices of fresh ginger.

What happens if you don't refrigerate sangria after opening it? ›

Even if you use a spirit base like vodka or gin, sangria still needs refrigeration because the fruit will become mushy and unpleasant-looking. Always refrigerate your sangria to preserve its taste and appearance.

Is fresh or frozen fruit better for sangria? ›

Fresh fruit is ideal, but to serve this drink year-round, you can substitute frozen. Lemon-lime soda: Lemon-lime soda adds citrus flavor and a hint of bubbles to the sangria.

What is the best wine for sangria? ›

The best wine for sangria is Garnacha (also called Grenache) or Pinot Noir. Garnacha comes from Spain, so it's my top pick for authentic Spanish sangria! Choose an inexpensive wine (under $20) that you would enjoy on its own.

Can you leave fruit in sangria overnight? ›

Classic Spanish sangria is made with red wine, fruit, a little sugar and brandy. Once all of the ingredients are combined, they allow the sangria to sit for a few hours, usually overnight. This allows the fruit to soak up the wine and flavor the sangria.

Should sangria be chilled overnight? ›

Don't skimp on the chilling time.

By chilling the sangria, you give the fresh fruits a chance to infuse the wine with sweet, fresh flavor. If you cut this time short, your sangria won't taste as fruity or as balanced. I let mine chill for at least 8 hours before serving, or overnight for the best flavor.

Why does Fireball not get you drunk? ›

It alleges the bottles instead contained malt liquor, a much less alcoholic ingredient. For what it's worth, Fireball is 66 proof, making it much weaker than most other whiskies, which are typically between 86-100 proof.

What's the difference between Fireball Cinnamon and cinnamon whiskey? ›

The difference between the two drinks is that Fireball Cinnamon is actually a malt-based beverage with 16.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), while Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is whisky-based and has an ABV of 33%. “The labels look almost identical,” he wrote. “That is intentional.”

Is cinnamon schnapps the same as cinnamon whiskey? ›

Cinnamon schnapps should not be confused with the many cinnamon whiskey liqueurs available. The schnapps lacks that dark whiskey background and is more of a clear, neutral sweetened liquor. However, in most drinks, something like Fireball is an excellent substitute for the likes of Hot Damn or Aftershock.

Is it better to make sangria the night before? ›

Yes, sangria is often prepared in advance to allow the flavors to meld together. It is recommended to let the sangria sit in the refrigerator for at least a few hours or overnight to allow the fruits and other ingredients to infuse into the wine. This enhances the overall flavor and makes it more intensely fruity!

Why does my sangria taste bitter? ›

Tannins are naturally created during the winemaking process due to grape skins and seeds. Tannins tend to give the wine a bitter flavor. This is important because tannins do not taste good when they're cold, and sangria is typically served chilled.

What flavors go well with sangria? ›

Due to its refreshing and fruity nature, sangria pairs best with salty, smoky, and even spicy dishes. Luckily, cheese comes in all shapes and sizes and typically goes well with at least one or two dishes. The most important thing to remember when pairing with your red or white sangria – the earthier the better.

How long does sangria have to sit? ›

The longer sangria sits in the refrigerator, the more the wine soaks into the fruit. I recommend refrigerating the sangria for at least 2 hours before serving, but preferably overnight.

Can sangria soak too long? ›

The fruit should "steep" in the wine and liquor so the flavors meld (kind of like a good salsa), but don't let it all hang out for too long. "The fruit will get mealy and limp, and the sangria will taste bitter," says Martinez.

Is sangria better chilled? ›

Sangria is best served chilled, so store it in the refrigerator in the serving container while the ingredients are soaking. Alternatively, you can serve it on the rocks by filling glasses with ice before pouring in the sangria.

How do you know when sangria goes bad? ›

Signs of Sangria Spoilage

Additionally, if you see any mold growth or the fruit starts to look mushy or discolored, it's time to bid farewell to your batch of sangria.

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