Pitcher Cocktail Recipes for your March Madness party

March Madness is upon us! Once again, NCAA sports history will be forged before our very eyes, with glorious buzzer-beating points that can either score a winning victory— or spell a heart wrenching loss. We’ll all cheer on our teams from living rooms with our friends. Because let’s face it, whether your team wins— or loses, it’s always more fun sharing the experience with pals. So why not make an event of it and throw a March Madness party? Victory tastes so much sweeter when you wash it down with a cold beer or cocktail.

If you really want to impress the party guests—mix up a pitcher of craft cocktails. Nobody wants to get up and go to the bar when the game’s on. With a large batch of craft cocktails on the table, your guests won’t miss out on those critical plays.

Here are 5 pitcher cocktail recipes for your March Madness Party. Enjoy!

Big Dance Beer Punch

Ingredients

• 18 ounces pineapple juice, chilled
• 6 ounces Yellow Chartreuse, chilled
• 6 (12-ounce) bottles amber ale, chilled

Instructions

1. Place the pineapple juice and Chartreuse in a 3-quart container or punch bowl and stir to combine.
2. Add the beer and gently stir to combine, serve and enjoy!

‘The Bank Shot’, White Peach Sangria

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 white peaches, sliced
• 3/4 cup peach or apricot brandy
• 1 bottle moscato wine, chilled
• 1 liter peach seltzer water, chilled

Instructions

1. In a pitcher combine 3/4 of the sliced peaches (saving some for garnish) and brandy and lightly muddle.
2. Add the Moscato and seltzer water. Stir with wooden spoon to mix.
3. Pour into ice-filled glasses and top with a couple of fresh peach slices.

On the Bubble Lemonade

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

For the Lavendar-Thyme Simple Syrup

• ³⁄₄ cup sugar
• ¹⁄₄ cup dried lavender
• 1 bunch thyme

For the Sparkling Vodka Lemonade

• 4 cups sparkling lemon soda
• 1 cup vodka
• 1⁄2 cup lemon juice
• Thinly-sliced lemon wheels, for garnish

Instructions

1. Make the lavender-thyme syrup: Boil sugar and 3⁄4 cup water in a 2-qt. saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Add lavender and thyme; let herb syrup cool completely.
2. Strain syrup into a pitcher filled with ice. Stir in soda, vodka, and lemon juice; garnish with sliced lemons.

Cinderella Sidecar Punch

Serves 10

Ingredients

• 24 ounces cognac
• 12 ounces orange liqueur (such as Cointreau or triple sec)
• 12 ounces fresh lemon juice, plus more for the glasses
• Granulated sugar, optional

Instructions

1. Combine the cognac, orange liqueur, lemon juice, and 1 cup filtered water in a pitcher or large bowl.
2. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight if time allows.
3. Sprinkle the sugar on a small plate. Rub the rims of 10 punch or cocktail glasses with lemon juice and dip in sugar.
4. Ladle the punch into the glasses and serve.