Friday, December 21, 2012

Ye Want Me Ta Punch Ya?

Artillery Punch. Even the name promises to deliver with a bang. There are many variations on this famous old recipe out there - poke around and made a bowl (or a barrel) full of the one you like the best. But yer a pirate and you've got a busy schedule already, so I'll share two popular versions right here!

Original Chatham Artillery Punch

8 lemons
1 pound superfine sugar
750-milliliter bottle bourbon or rye
750-milliliter bottle Cognac
750-milliliter bottle dark Jamaican rum
3 bottles Champagne or other sparkling wine
Nutmeg

1. Squeeze and strain the lemons to make 16 ounces of juice. Peel the lemons and muddle the peels with the sugar. Let the peels and sugar sit for an hour, then muddle again. Add the lemon juice and stir until sugar has dissolved. Strain out the peels.

2.Fill a 2 to 3-gallon bucket or bowl with crushed ice or ice cubes. Add the lemon-sugar mixture and the bourbon, Cognac and rum. Stir and add the Champagne. Taste and adjust for sweetness. Grate nutmeg over the top and serve.

Yield: About 25 drinks for normal landlubbers.   Or ONE drink for a pirate.

And here's another variation. Actually, this one is much closer to the recipe I'd always heard of, as it includes tea. Because we are all about the social niceties, now, aren't we?

1 quart strong black tea
1 quart rye whiskey
1 bottle red wine
1 pint Jamaican dark rum
1/2 pint brandy
1 jigger benedictine herbal liqueur
1 pint orange juice
1/2 pint lemon juice

Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl with a block of ice. If found too dry, sugar syrup may be added. Decorate with twists of lemon peel.

There are many variations on this famous old recipe out there - poke around and made a bowl (or a barrel) full of the one you like the best.

And now a bonus recipe! Just today I learned of Verity Holloway's delightful blog. I will be reading more of it soon. For now though, here's what drew me in.
"I have a Christmas treat to share with you: Mama Frances Rossetti’s recipe for a frightfully boozy rum punch!"