In the cold months people are brought together for a variety of reasons that usually center around warmth, friends and family, and Holiday spirit.
Charles Dickens Holiday Punch
3 Lemons
Raw sugar
¾ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 cup VSOP Grade Cognac
1 ¼ Cups mellow amber rum
1 ¼ Cups overproof Jamaican rum
Nutmeg
1 quart of water
Using a peeler, remove the longest twists you can manage off of the lemons and let sit in a fireproof bowl with ¾ of a cup of sugar and the muddle the contents. The longer they are allowed to sit and mingle the better.
When ready to serve, put the bowl in a prominent place for all your guests to see. Put one quart of water on the stove and turn it off when it comes to a boil. Begin adding the rum and cognac. Grand speeches are not required, but are encouraged during this stage.
For the grand finale dip a long handled bar spoon or ladle into the mixture and light the content on fire with a lit match. Carefully return the contents to the mixture and watch it ignite. Stir while the fire burns for two to three minutes to dissolve the sugar.
Extinguish the fire by covering the bowl with a tray and add the bowling water and excess lemon juice. Grate fresh nutmeg over the top and ladle out into three ounce servings. Serves 12-16 people
