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Let Them Have Punch!
Updated: Dec 17, 2021
Anytime there is an opportunity to gather and entertain others we find ourselves looking for shortcuts. Personally, I am a big fan of a large format cocktail, and punch fits the bill! I serve
one at nearly every private party that I tend bar.
The Ease of It...
For those individuals that seem to always have trouble making up their minds, it's perfect. Punch
is made ahead, ready to go and guests can serve themselves. No matter how clever and creative a cocktail menu I might come up with there are always those few that gather around the punch bowl.
Tips of the Trade..
If you elect to make any of the below punch recipes ahead of time, get yourself a couple of those large cylinder style plastic containers (I get mine at the Dollar Store..for a dollar), and store in the refrigerator.
Center of Attention..
Ice Rings are an added touch and keep the cocktail at the perfect temp while slowly melting which actually adds to the flavor of the drink. In the videos below, I give you step by step on how to create a visual and functional aspect to a tasty punch. Make sure to allow enough time for the ice mold to set up so plan a day ahead to create and freeze your ice ring. Look for vintage bundt pans at local thrift stores, they make excellent vessels for this easy yet impressive step.
Philadelphia Fish House Punch
First mentioned in 1732, "There's A little place out of town where if you go for lunch, they'll make you forget your mother-in-law with a drink called Fish House Punch."
Ice Ring; Begin by cutting up some fruit, peaches if they are in season, if not citrus is always a good call, slice up the fruit in thin slices and arrange it in the bottom of a bundt cake pan. Then fill the pan with cubed ice to hold everything in place and fill with water just about to the rim. Freeze overnight.
1 Liter of Smith and Cross Rum
16 oz of Cognac
12 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 oz 1-1 Simple syrup (you can buy this premade in the grocery store)
6 oz peach liquor
12 oz Freshly brewed black tea, cooled Combine all ingredients, place the ice ring carefully into a punch bowl.
Harvest Punch
For the harvest punch, I like to incorporate apples in my ice ring (same instructions as above), it is especially important to use the cubed ice in this one for the simple fact that apples float. Same steps as the citrus and you can even purchase the pre-cut apple slices to help with prep. 2 Bags of Chai Tea
12 oz Oloroso Sherry
(1) 750 ml Reposado tequila
12 oz Fresh apple cider
8 oz Fresh lemon juice
4 oz 2:1 Demerara syrup
.5 tsp Angostura bitters
24 oz Water
Brew the chai tea in the sherry for 10 minutes, discard the tea bag and combine all ingredients, place the ice ring into a punch bowl.
Tom & Jerry Punch
The Tom and Jerry punch has been a traditional Christmas time drink in the US since 1820. It is a bit more involved, but very versatile. You will want to make the batter ahead of time and it's good refrigerated for 2 weeks. Served warm, you can make the boozy punch or just add the batter to hot chocolate or steamed milk.
12 large eggs, separated 1 tsp cream of tartar 4 oz (1/2 cup) Unsalted butter, softened 1 cup Sugar 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
1 tsp Ground allspice 1 tsp Ground nutmeg 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract With a hand mixer whip the egg whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks. In a separate bowl, cream the egg yolks and sugar together until silky, add in the spices and vanilla and then fold into the egg whites. (This batter will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator).
Boozy version: Dollop 1 tablespoon of the batter into a festive mug and add 1 oz of toasted coconut rum and 1/2 oz of fernet branca and top with warm milk garnish with a whole star Anise or sprinkle of cinnamon. Pro tip: I like to keep quarts of milk at the perfect temperature in my sous vide (pictured below) so it's ready all night for delicious Tom and Jerry's.
Happy entertaining from Loving Our Food, Cheers!
💙💙💙 Kelley Fitzsimonds Little Blue Cooler Productions LLC
904 392 8372 Follow:
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IG: little_blue_cooler_productions
Please enjoy the instructional videos below..
Philadelphia Fish House Punch, Pt. 1 & 2
Harvest Punch Pt. 1 & 2
Tom & Jerry