A Note Before You Start
I first took notice of this recipe on Tieghan Gerard's blog: Half Baked Harvest, but as is my nature, I've made a few adjustments.
Ingredients
1/2 cup of maple syrup
1/2 cup of apple cider
1/2 cup of water
1 & 1/2 cups of fresh cranberries
Zest and juice from one large naval orange
12oz of either Orange infused Vodka or Bourbon
6 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups of pomegranate juice
1 blood orange for garnish if desired
Preparation
Step 1: To make the Cranberry Syrup: In a medium saucepan bring 1/2 cup of water, the maple syrup, and cranberries to a boil over medium high heat. Allow it to boil gently for 5-7 minutes (Until the cranberries burst). Remove from the heat and stir in the orange juice and zest and let cool. Strain out syrup through a fine mesh strainer.
Step 2: In a large pitcher add the vodka or bourbon, pomegranate juice, apple cider, lemon juice and 8 TBSPs of the cranberry syrup. Stir and pour over a glass filled with ice. Garnish with a slice of blood orange.