Tea Cocktail: The Great Pumpkin

You know what would make waiting for the Great Pumpkin a lot more fun? A cocktail. And you know what cocktail works brilliantly with fall flavors? Milk Punch. A southern classic, Bourbon Milk Punch is an ideal drink to get Pumpkin Spiced. Rich and creamy, with depth of flavor from warm bourbon, it is wonderfully decadent and we love all its variations.

For the Great Pumpkin, we're adding a dash of amaretto and a Pumpkin Spice simple syrup to this classic New Orleans cocktail. Honestly, this drink is up there with our favorite recipes we've ever made. To make The Great Pumpkin, you'll need

1 1/2 oz Pumpkin Spice simple syrup*

1 1/4 oz Kentucky Bourbon

2oz cream or whole milk (for a non-dairy version, substitute NutPods non-dairy creamer)

1/2 oz Vanilla extract

1/4 oz Amaretto liqueur

Nutmeg for garnish

Start by making your Pumpkin Spice simple syrup. Boil water and remove from heat. Steep 2 tbsp Pumpkin Spice loose leaf tea in 8oz water for 5 minutes. When finished steeping, strain tea into glass or bowl.

Add 2 tbsp dark brown sugar and stir until dissolved.

In a cocktail shaker, add ice and combine all ingredients except for the nutmeg. Shake vigorously and strain into an 8oz glass filled with ice. Garnish with fresh grated nutmeg and if you're feeling extra autumnal, a dash of cinnamon.