September 20th is National Punch Day. But more importantly, here’s a punch recipe from David Wondrich that can be consumed on National Punch Day or whenever you damn well please.
Composed of spirit, citrus, spice and water, it’s very likely that punch was the first cocktail ever created. It took the world by storm in the mid-1600s, and has proved that it’s got some real staying power ever since. Unless you’re counting that stuff they serve at high school proms, or anything in a trash can.
But here we’ve got a real gem of a punch recipe that uses some good rum and rainwater maderia (a lighter, drier style of madeira) alongside orange curacao and citrus. Batch one up and serve in your new David Wondrich-approved punch set. Or your largest available bowl.
Endeavor Punch
1000 ml Banks 7 Golden Age Rum
500 ml Rainwater Madeira
250 ml Lime Juice
500 ml Cold Water
75 ml Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curacao
Lemon Oleo Saccharum*
Add liquid ingredients to a punch bowl filled with one large block of ice. Stir in the oleo-saccharum until it dissolves, then drape the ends of the lemon peels reserved from the oleo saccharum over the sides of the bowl. Serve in punch glasses and garnish with freshly-grated nutmeg on top.
*Lemon Oleo Saccharum
4 Lemons
1 pint mason jar
3/4 cup sugar
Peel the lemons and add peels to a one-pint mason jar with 3/4 cup sugar. Seal, shake and leave overnight.
