Rum Punch

September 20: National Rum Punch Day

There is an old poem about Planter’s rum punch that we followed to make a classic cocktail for National Rum Punch Day. The beverage was invented at the bar of Planter’s House hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, and the poem was published in the New York Times on August 8, 1908:

This recipe I give to thee,
Dear brother in the heat.
Take two of sour (lime let it be)
To one and a half of sweet,
Of Old Jamaica pour three strong,
And add four parts of weak.
Then mix and drink. I do no wrong —
I know whereof I speak.

Modern adaptations of this recipe still use limes, something sweet (such as simple syrup or grenadine, the latter more for its fruit punch color), Old Jamaica (we used Caribbean rum) and something weak (ice cubes for a stronger taste or water to dilute the drink). Just remember 1-2-3-4 for measuring the ingredients, whether making rum punch for one or a crowd. Happy National Rum Punch Day!

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 measure/ounce of lime juice, fresh squeezed (around 2 limes)
• 2 measures/ounces grenadine or simple syrup
• 3 measures/ounces rum
• 4 measures/ounces cold water
• ice cubes

Directions

Slice the lime(s). Reserve a few for garnishing the glass (optional). Squeeze out the lime juice. In a glass, fill halfway with ice cubes. Pour in the lime juice. Add the grenadine or simple syrup. Stir in the rum and cold water. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Notes

• Search our blog for other classic cocktail recipes.