In a saucepan, add water and brown sugar. Stir to combine. Turn burner to medium-low heat and bring to a simmer.
Add fresh cranberries and the zest of one orange to pan.
While the cranberry mixture is simmering, make a spice bag in a piece of doubled-up cheesecloth. Place cinnamon sticks, cloves, crushed cardamom pods, star anise and fresh ginger in the middle of the cheesecloth. Bring up corners of the cloth and tie with kitchen string to form a bag around the spices. Tie tightly so that the bag will not open.
Fully submerge the tied spice bag in the mixture. Add bourbon.
Reduce heat to low and let spice bag steep in the cranberry mixture for approximately 20 minutes or until cranberries start to break up, but some remain whole. At this point, remove bag from sauce and discard.
Store cranberry sauce in a tightly sealed container like a mason jar, in the fridge for up to a month.