I personally feel you don’t need any reason to have a warm cup of Chai Tea. Whether it’s fall, winter, rainy, or just a cozy night! Spiked Chai is the perfect warm cozy winter drink—a boozy twist on traditional chai tea that is simple, delicious, and full of flavor. It’s exactly what you need for Christmas parties or any chilly evening. I made it with bourbon, but feel free to enjoy it without alcohol too!
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Boozy Chai Tea
Chai Tea is one of the most comforting drinks when it’s cold outside. I can’t think of a better way to spend a chilly winter evening than curling up on the couch with a cup of chai. Chai Tea Latte is another warm drink that I truly enjoy!
One day I decided to elevate this traditional drink to something boozy, alcoholic, entertaining, and warm—by turning it into a cocktail. I added bourbon, had a bite of my Hermit Cookies, and it was a match made in heaven! Make a spiked chai for the holidays, get togethers, and chilly evenings. Then make the non-spiked version for those mornings when you need a little pick-me-up.
Tips for Beginners
- If you don’t want to go for individual spices, chai concentrate or chai masala is your best friend.
- Use mezcal & tequila in place of bourbon if you want to have a smoky boozy spiked tea.
- Leave the alcohol out if you prefer. The chai is still super delicious without it!
Chai Tea Recipe with Bourbon
Ingredients
- 3 cups hot water
- 4 black tea bags
- 4 green cardamom pods crushed
- 4 whole allspice berries crushed
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- 2 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups vanilla almond milk
- 1/4 cup honey
- ½ cup good quality bourbon
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine the water, tea bags, spices, ginger, and vanilla. Bring to a boil over medium/high heat and then reduce to a simmer.3 cups hot water, 4 black tea bags, 4 green cardamom pods, 4 whole allspice berries, 4 whole cloves, 1 star anise, 2 whole cinnamon sticks, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Stir in the almond milk and honey, whisking to combine.3 cups vanilla almond milk, 1/4 cup honey
- Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 10 minutes to steep.
- Strain through a fine mesh sieve to remove the bulk spices and tea bags, making sure only the liquid remains.
- Pour into a heatproof serving pitcher and stir in the bourbon. Enjoy this warm and cozy drink!½ cup good quality bourbon
Video
Becky’s Tips
- There is a coconut aftertaste when I use coconut milk in my recipes, so if you like it then feel free to use coconut milk. Otherwise, choose other alternatives.
- To sweeten my drink I used honey, but maple syrup, agave, or any sugar-free sweetener will do the trick.
- Whole milk, 2%, skim milk, coconut milk, oat milk will also go well with spiked tea.
- Assam, Red label or Darjeeling tea bags will do the wonders to make the BEST CHAI that you can enjoy without alcohol. But whichever is available is fine.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Spike Chai Tea with Bourbon Step by Step
Make the chai tea: In a saucepan add 3 cups of hot water, 4 black tea bags, 4 green cardamom pods crushed, 4 whole allspice berries crushed, 4 whole cloves, 1 star anise, 2 whole cinnamon sticks, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and combine well.
Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce heat to a simmer.
Whisk in the 3 cups of vanilla almond milk and 1/4 cup of honey, then remove from heat and let the tea steep for about 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, pour the tea through a fine mesh sieve to separate the liquid from the whole spices.
And now you’ve got the perfect cup of chai!
Spike it with Bourbon: If you’re making spiked chai, you can pour the tea into a pitcher and stir in the ½ cup of good quality bourbon before serving.
You could also mix the bourbon into individual cups if you want both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options for your guests.
Serving Suggestions
I enjoy my bourbon spiked tea on cozy nights or to impress guests by serving Ginger Cookies or Riscotti Cookies with a warm cup of spiked tea. I’m a big fan of cocktails and this Bourbon Chai Tea recipe fits in perfectly with my delicious holiday drinks!
