3 liters blood orange Italian soda (or any other alcoholic or non alcoholic sparkly/bubbly alternative)
3 liters bourbon or whiskey (optional)
Ice
Instructions
Simmer sugar, water, 1½ cups whole cranberries, half of lavender sprigs and 2 sliced oranges in a medium saucepan for about 15-20 minutes or until mixture is reduced to a simple syrup (cranberries should be soft and tender). Let cool.
In a large punch bowl, mix ice, cranberry cocktail juice, Italian soda (or alternative) and bourbon/whiskey. Pour in cooled cranberry syrup and stir.
For garnish, bake 1 orange sliced on a bed of foil in the oven for 10 minutes at 450 degrees or until the peel blackens a bit on the edges and the juice caramelizes. Float orange slices, ½ cup cranberries and extra lavender sprigs in the punch bowl.
Recipe by Pepper Design Blog at https://www.pepperdesignblog.com/2014/12/24/festive-holiday-punch-merry-christmas/