Bittersweet Orange Punch

Directions

1. 1
   Combine the oranges, sugar and 8 cups of water in a large glass bowl; cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 8 minutes. Remove and stir to dissolve the sugar; add bitters and stir to combine. Allow mixture to cool completely, then pour into two round cake pans; cover and freeze overnight. One hour before you plan to serve punch, remove one cake pan from freezer, and dip into a pan of hot water for a few seconds, to loosen ice. Place the frozen round in a large punch bowl, and pour 6 bottles of sparkling wine on top. Let sit until serving, then add 6 bottles more sparkling wine as needed. Shortly before this punch batch is gone, repeat the process with the second frozen round and case of sparkling wine. (BTW: Keep in an ice-filled bathtub if you are short on fridge space.) Makes about 140 cocktails.