2018Q4SpiritedVA - 27

S

ome favorite traditions
endure, like baseball, birthday
cakes and caroling. Some, like
punch-bowl drinks, may seem to
fade into obscurity only to arise
again with a vengeance. After all,
there's no better way to ensure
happy guests and enjoy your own
festivities than through glorious
batches of plentiful food and
drink.
Whether repurposing your
grandmother's old punch bowl or
starting fresh, you can create a
festive holiday batch cocktail to
make a splash at your next party.

PUNCH-BOWL PRINCIPLES
Traditional punch is a mix of
distilled spirits, citrus juice, sugar,
water and a little spice. In the
Colonial South, typical punches
contained fruit juices, sugar syrup,
citrus-infused rum and more
rum - the most common spirit to
the colonists. Later punches were
creations of private clubs such
as the Philadelphia Fish-House,
Chatham Artillery in Savannah
and the Quoit Club in Richmond.
Historically, punch bowls contained
more spirits than mixers, but
historic revelers didn't have to
drive horseless carriages home, so
feel free to go modern, combining
taste with lower alcohol.
The diversity of ingredients
available to today's home
bartender has expanded the
possibilities. To make the most of
both flavor and aesthetics, follow a
few essential tips in creating your
own perfect "flowing bowl."
* Blend non-bubbly ingredients
ahead of time to let the flavors
meld.
* Add a sparkling, bubbly
beverage such as sparkling wine or
soda just before serving.
* Use floating garnishes, like
cranberries, pomegranate seeds
and citrus slices.

Holiday Cranberry Punch
Pull out the season's best flavors in this easy punch with a fancy presentation.

▷ 32 OZ. CRANBERRY JUICE COCKTAIL
▷ 2 CUPS ORANGE JUICE, CHILLED
▷ 2 CUPS VODKA
▷ 2 TABLESPOONS GRAND MARNIER
OR OTHER BRANDY-BASED ORANGE
LIQUEUR
▷ 2 TABLESPOONS WHITE SUGAR
▷ ½ TEASPOON GROUND CINNAMON
▷ ¼ TEASPOON GROUND ALLSPICE
▷ ¹/8 TEASPOON GROUND NUTMEG
▷ 1 ORANGE
▷ WHOLE CLOVES

* Remember that better
ingredients make a better punch,
like fresh fruits and juices.
* Prepare a colorful frozen ring
to add visual appeal, keep the
punch chilled and contribute
flavors that enhance the drink.
The ring can be as simple as
berries or chopped fruit tossed in
a Bundt pan, topped with water

Mix cranberry juice, orange
juice, vodka, Grand Marnier,
sugar, cinnamon, allspice
and nutmeg in a punch bowl.
Refrigerate 2 hours to overnight.
Slice orange into rounds.
Poke small holes in each slice
and insert whole cloves.
Place a ring or block of ice in
the bowl. Pour the punch over
the ice, and float orange slices
on top.

and frozen overnight. You can
perk up the color and flavor by
adding juice (one-quarter juice
to three-quarters water)-think
cranberry, raspberry, mango or
peach juice-or even a bit of premade punch. Add herbs, edible
flowers or cinnamon sticks. If you
don't have a circular cake pan, try
a round mixing bowl or loaf pan.

SPIRITED VIRGINIA | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2018 27
2018Q4SpiritedVA

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