Shay's Famous Sangria

4 bottles dry red wine (or one Bota Box)

2 cups triple sec

2 cups Brandy

1 cup lemon juice

1 1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate

1 1/2 cup orange juice, low pulp

30 maraschino cherries

4 lemons, sliced into rounds

3 large oranges sliced into rounds

4 limes sliced into rounds

Mix all top ingredients in a large pot. Float citrus fruit slices. Refrigerate overnight to let flavors meld. Transfer to a punch bowl or pitcher, or simply plop in a big old ladle in the pot and have at it.

Optional: cut with 50% ginger ale for a fizzy sweeter drink, or with club soda for a fizzy, lighter drink.

Tips:

* If serving the day-of, I recommend you blend all the top ingredients in the pot then heat on stove over medium-low heat for 20 minutes (do not let it boil) to help blend flavors for rapidly. Remove from heat, immediately add fruit and refrigerate until cooled and ready to serve.

* The cherries often sink to the bottom once they have been soaking all night, so are no longer adding any new flavor or visual interest, but they have been soaking up all the other flavors (and alcohol) all night as well. You can strain out the cherries and use for dressing the sangria or other fun drinks. Or for those who like a little flavor punch, simply serve them as "drunken cherries" in a bowl as a snack.

* I make a double batch these days, as it goes so fast if I don't. See bottom tip for a way to "cheat" your second batch if you don't want to make so much up front.

* If kids are going to be there, CLEARLY mark with a sign or similar to let people know it is alcoholic. Depending on your blend, it often doesn't smell or taste enough of alcohol for people to know and might accidentally serve to a kid

* All out and want more tastiness? Just slop in some more red wine, a few glugs of triple sec and brandy, a smidge of orange juice, and stir. The fruit has so much flavor still to impart, and you can basically make a "Sangria Spodie" with the remaining fruit and dregs of the sangria. I have been known to throw a few more pieces of fruit in if there are fresh slices around from dressing up drinks or something. But it's all gonna be tasty, trust me.