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Christmas Punch Cocktail Drink

Christmas Punch Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Make your winter cozy with a quick Christmas Punch recipe! Blend light rum, cranberry juice, tart cherry juice, spices and ginger ale for a festive drink.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 2 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 141

Ingredients
 

  • 1 oz Light Rum - optional
  • ½ oz cranberry juice
  • ½ oz tart cherry juice
  • ¼ oz rich simple syrup
  • 1 pinch of allspice
  • 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger
  • 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • 2 oz ginger ale - to top up
  • Ground ginger - for garnish

Equipment

  • Rocks Glass
  • Shaker
  • Cocktail Strainer
  • Fine strainer
  • Jigger
  • Grater
  • Stirrer or large spoon

Instructions

  • Prep Glass: Fill your rocks glass with ice cubes. Give it a quick stir to chill the glass and set it aside.
  • Add Spices: In the shaker, mix together 1 pinch of allspice, 1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger and 1 pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.
  • Add Juices: Next, measure and pour ½ oz cranberry juice and ½ oz tart cherry juice.
  • Add Rum: If using, add 1 oz Light Rum to the mix.
  • Add Sugar: Finally, add ¼ oz rich simple syrup into the shaker.
  • Shake: Fill your shaker with ice and shake vigorously for about 10-15 seconds.
  • Strain: Discard the ice in the Old Fashioned glass and refill it with fresh, new ice cubes (you can also use the cocktail strainer to remove the excess water that has formed at the bottom of the glass and add a few more ice cubes if necessary). Then, use both the cocktail strainer and the fine strainer to strain the drink into the ice-filled glass.
  • Top with Ginger Ale: Top up with approx. 2 oz ginger ale (adjust to taste and to the size of the glass) and stir gently to combine.
  • Garnish: Sprinkle a pinch of ground ginger on top for garnish & for an added touch of spice and serve immediately.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Light Rum: If you don't have light rum, I've used vodka as an alternative for a different kick. For a non-alcoholic version, omit it or use a non-alcoholic spirit.
  • Cranberry Juice: Pomegranate juice works well if you're out of cranberry juice. It adds a slightly different but delightful flavor.
  • Tart Cherry Juice: You can substitute with apple juice for a sweeter profile if tart cherry isn't available.

Making a Pitcher of Christmas Punch:

  • Scale: To make a larger batch that serves about 8, multiply all ingredients by 8. That means 8 oz of light rum, 4 oz of cranberry juice, etc.
  • Mix: Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher or punch bowl and stir well.
  • Serve: Pour into individual glasses over ice and garnish with ground ginger.