Create Your Own Party Punch

I've tried bartending my own parties, but that usually means I wind up stuck in the kitchen, squeezing limes, shaking and pouring, and not mingling with my guests. Still, I want to provide something beyond wine and beer. So my easy little compromise is always a crowd-pleaser: classic punch. In fact, cocktail bars around the world have ditched bottle service in favor of providing reveling groups their own punchbowl for the table.

Cocktail historian and educator David Wondrich wrote a book dedicated to the history and techniques of making punch. He goes into interesting detail, pleasing mixology geeks everywhere. If you want to plunge deeper into punch, pick up a copy of Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl.

With the last big weekend of the summer upon us, many people are having Labor Day parties. Keep yourself out of the kitchen and partying with your guests. The following guideline of five essential ingredients for creating your own party punch is as easy as 1-2-3-4-spice.

1 Part Citrus: A zing of lime or lemon brightens some cocktails, particularly those in the sour family of mixed drinks (think daiquiri, margarita, lemon drop, cosmopolitan). The kind of citrus chosen should somehow relate to the base spirit and the other ingredients.

2 Parts Sweet: Obviously, this can come from white or brown sugar, agave nectar, maple syrup or any other sweetening element. I like to use a combination of flavored syrup and sweet fruit juice, such as pineapple or guava.

3 Parts Spirit: When creating a drink recipe, think of the base spirit as the star of the show; all the other ingredients are supporting players. This means that whether you are using vodka, gin, tequila, rum, whiskey, brandy or another liquor as a base, the other ingredients should spring from the spirit's foundation of characteristics. It's a lot like wine pairing, in that the other mingling flavors should either directly align or contrast with the liquor's taste profile. For example, bourbon and peach are a great combination. Various gin brands have a plethora of flavors, beyond juniper, ranging from citrus to botanicals such as sage or spices such as cinnamon or anise.

4 Parts Weak: This can be club soda or, for a more flavorful alternative, tea. I like to use fruit or floral teas, green tea or black tea. You can get celebratory by using sparkling wine.

A Touch of Spice: Again, choose a spice complementing the base spirit as well as the other ingredients. Use cinnamon, ginger or clove or maybe some freshly grated nutmeg.

Garnish: Float orange slices or edible flowers on the surface of the punch. You can also get creative by freezing berries into the ice cubes.

Serve: Check out secondhand stores around town for old punchbowls. Whether having a barbeque or wedding reception, a beautiful vintage punchbowl dresses up any occasion.

ProTip: Rather than small ice cubes, which water down the punch, use a large plastic container as an ice mold to create a big block of ice to chill the punch. Add a little fruit juice to the water so the ice continues to flavor the drink as it melts.

Santa Fe Reporter