Long before there were cocktails, there were punches: mixed drinks made in large quantities, presented in bowls, and shared socially. Recent times have seen punches almost disappear completely. When was the last time you saw punch being served? I bet you can’t name any. Well, except for in movie scenes featuring high school reunions or bad wedding movies. But that doesn’t count.
Well all of that is changing. Modern bartenders and mixologists have started to add it to their menus over the past few years. But someone with minimal success. Not because they weren’t delicious but serving it was more complicated. And when was the last time you could get a group of four or five of your friends to agree on the same drink? But what these bartenders have successfully tapped into is our current need and love for nostalgia. There is a nostalgia about serving punch – it is a revisiting all of the traditional drinking that happened before Prohibition.
Now while we applaud all the bars that continue to invent great new punch recipes, we think punch is best reserved for at home entertaining. It is the perfect drink option when you have a group of friends over. What we love about it? The fact that it is traditionally served in smaller cups means that guests have to return to the bowl for more. The thought being that every time you returned, you might meet someone new. It is the perfect at home party mixer. And not to worry, if you don’t have a punch bowl you can easily find many at local retailers (we found a great classic one at CB2).
Here are some of our favourites we have rounded up for you to try at home:
The Laverstoke Punch
• 1.5 parts Star of Bombay
• 0.75 parts Lemon Juice
• 0.5 parts Martini Bianco
• 0.25 bar spoon Vanilla Syrup
• 0.75 parts Coconut Water
• 2 parts Dilution
• Large Format Ice Blocks
STEPS:
Stir ingredients into large punch bowl with large format ice blocks. Serve into punch glasses with ice and garnish with edible flower. Avoid small ice cubes to guarantee proper proportions.
Gingerberry Punch
• part Bacardi Gran Reserva Maestro de Ron
• 2 parts cranberry juice cocktail
• 2 parts ginger ale
• 0.25 parts lime juice
• 0.25 parts lemon juice
• 10 dashes orange bitters
• Add lime and fresh cranberries
STEPS:
Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl with a large ice block. Stir gently. Garnish with lime and fresh cranberries. Serve on the rocks.
Punch Royal
• 1 liter Hennessy V.S
• 750ml Moet Chandon Champagne or Chandon Brut
• 1 liter Apple juice
• 300ml Simple Syrup
• 300ml Fresh Lemon Juice
• 20 Dashes Angostura Orange Bitters
• 1 bunch Mint
• 1 lemon cut into wheels
STEPS:
Combine all liquid ingredients except Champagne in a punch bowl slap the mint bunch against your hand several times to activate the aromatics, and add the mint and lemon to the bowl before adding Champagne and stir to combine before adding a large ice block to chill. Serve with a ladle into punch or rock glasses.
Spanish Sangria Punch
• 2 Bottles SOLAZ Tempranillo Cabernet, chilled
• 1 cup Duff Gordon Solera Reserva Brandy
• 1 cup Orange juice
• 1⁄4 cup Superfine granulated sugar
• 2 Oranges, cut into thin rounds
• 2 Lemons, cut into thin rounds
• 3 Limes, cut into thin rounds
• 2 Apples, cored and cut into 1⁄2′′ chunks
• 2 cups Club soda, chilled
STEPS:
In a large punch bowl, combine the wine, brandy, orange juice, and sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves. Add the orange, lemon, and lime slices, the apples and refrigerate until well chilled, about one hour. Remove from the refrigerator and add the soda right before your guests arrive.
