Before bartenders carefully selected and measured ingredients into precise cocktails, the punch bowl was the cornerstone of many bars all over the world. Legend has it that the famous pirate Blackbeard’s skull was eventually incorporated into the base of a large silver punch bowl that was passed around several tavern’s in the Carolina’s and was rumored to be preserved as late as 1903 in Virginia.
During the holidays, we shared a recipe cocktail scholars pieced together from the works of Charles Dickens that was lit on fire and served piping hot to warm the soul on winter evenings. Going into the warm summer months we opted for the broad 1,2,3,4 ease of Planter’s Punch, with a simple rhyme to remember it by.
One part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong and four parts weak.
This can be used to mix up a single drink in a glass or in a bowl to refresh a crowd at a summer get together. David Rich, from Rich Grain Distilling in Canton recommended, the ingredients for this go around, but anyone is encouraged to try their hand at interpreting the ingredients for their own signature punch.
Also included is a fruity take on the classic mojito.
David Rich’s Planter’s Punch
1 part lime juice
2 parts grenadine or pomegranate juice
3 parts white rum (We recommend Rich Grain Distilling’s white rum)
And for the weak Rich recommends 2 parts pineapple juice and two parts orange juice.
