We Rum This Punch Recipe

THIS! This is the best rum punch recipe. EVER. It is sweet with some spice (not like hot spice, like exotic spice), it has citrus but I wouldn't classify this a fruit punch. It is just plain delicious. I was invited to participate in the Captain Morgan Memorial Day Punch Recipe Competition. I was sent a bottle of their delicious Grapefruit Rum and a stipend to purchase the other ingredients I needed. Then I was set loose to create a signature punch recipe that I would want to share with my friends. And guess what, they are going to vote on recipes and if I win, I will get to go to the Firefly Music Festival. You know what a music lover I am so of course I wanted to participate. And with the promotion hashtag #SunsOutBunsOut, how could I resist. It might be my favorite hashtag ever! So without further ado, I give you We Rum This Punch.

Creating this punch literally kept me up at night. I share cocktail recipes on here all the time but I've always kept them really easy because that is my jam. But for this punch I had a definite flavor profile in mind and had to figure out how to get there. I did tons of research, I did a lot of testing (burp) and I am super happy with how this came out! I adore the punch at Workshop Kitchen in Palm Springs and wanted there to be some spice notes like they have. As I read more about punches, I learned that historically, punches always had spice. So I knew I was on the right track. I chose to use the Grapefruit Rum because although it has a citrus flavor, I knew it wouldn't play too sweet or tropical. And I can't quit the Captain Morgan 1671 spiced rum (it is a limited edition and not on their site anymore but my BevMo had it - but you could probably also swap it for the Black Spiced Rum for the same effect). I wanted the spice notes to be warm and exotic to play up the spiced rum so I decided on making a vanilla bean and cinnamon simple syrup. I brightened it all up with fresh lime and orange juice and topped it with a little bit of Bittermans Tiki bitters. And water. A punch is 25% water typically. I bet you didn't know that. This contest has left me full of punch trivia. (note: You will need to make the simple syrup ahead of time. But if you don't have the time to wait for the flavors to really infuse, 5 hours to overnight, you should make it, let it cool and use it. It will still have tons of delicious flavor.But for optimal flavor give yourself plenty of time to steep the spices).

I prepared the punch in a pitcher.

I finished up with about 6 drops of bitters. I'm OBSESSED with flavored bitters now. I will now be taking payments in the form of Bittermans bitters. And next time I make this I am going to double the recipe. This made about 6 servings. But this is one of those drinks you just can't get enough of. You can totally make this ahead of time and refill as needed.

Punch is usually served over a large ice block. Because I went with an untraditional size for my punch bowl, I had to create a custom ice block. I found a shape that I liked in the form, this Zico container, and used it to make an ice block. Because the bottom was a little bit wider than the top, I just cut the container off when I was ready to use it.

Then I added the punch to my punch bowl.

And then I topped it with some edible flowers because they are so pretty. Serving punch doesn't have to be formal. You don't need a crystal punch bowl to dazzle your friends. You can use anything. Be creative! The point of punch is to share it with your friends.

Serve it up and enjoy each other's company.

Do you have a go-to rum punch recipe? Now you do.

The first sip pretty much stops you in your tracks. Warning bells go off in your head because you know you're in trouble. You taste a bit of the alcohol, but this is that cocktail that you can drink all evening. And then all of a sudden, there's a lampshade on your head.

This was such a fun project to be part of! I am super proud of this recipe and can't wait to make it again. My fingers are crossed that I win and get to go hear some rad bands at a fun music festival. And now I will shout at you some of the bands playing because they make me so excited! PAUL FREAKING MCCARTNEY! MORRISSEY, SNOOP DOGG, FOSTER THE PEOPLE, MODEST MOUSE, KID CUDI, ZOLA JESUS, HOW TO DRESS WELL, THE GRISWOLDS, PANAMA WEDDING!

You can follow along with all the summer awesomeness that Captain Morgan has to offer by searching for #SunsOutRumsOut on social media. And Chrissy Teigen as Paquita Pantalones?! So great! Watch the video!

And I have to give a little shout out to my friend Erika and Missy Misdemeanor Elliott for helping me name this! Naming drinks is hard!

Thank you for supporting the awesome brands, like Captain Morgan, who let me be creative and share all the boozy awesomeness with you!