Planter’s Punch Cocktail

Looking for a fun drink that’s a little tropical, isn’t too difficult to make, and is sure to be a crowd pleaser? I have just the thing: Planter’s Punch!

Made with rum, lime juice, sugar and a secret ingredient or two, You can combine the ingredients in advance. It’s the perfect party drink!

What is Planter’s Punch?

First a little story.

In 1878 the Victorian Magazine appeared fun posted this recipe for a Planter’s Punch. Despite the magazine’s faint praise for the preparation, this isn’t a bad drink (quite the contrary!), although there have been many variations of it over the years. Most include dark rum and an abundance of fruit juices – lime, pineapple, orange, sometimes passion fruit.

Every recipe is a little bit different. (As Wayne Curtis wrote in his book And a Bottle of Rum, “Planter’s Punch is more of a drink than a single cocktail.”)

A modern take on Planter’s Punch

I’ve tried many of these variations, and my favorite was one I found almost by accident in Ted Haigh’s excellent Vintage Spirits and Forgotten cocktails. The recipe — made with Jamaican rum and a pre-made “secret blend” — came from Jasper LeFranc, the former head bartender at the Bay Roc Hotel in Montego Bay.

Make Ahead “Secret Mix”

While the “secret mix” might seem a bit intimidating, it’s really quite easy to make. You can make it up ahead of time (up to two days in advance) and store it in the fridge. Then, when you’re ready to start making drinks, all you have to do is add the rum. You can prepare drinks individually or assemble a whole jug at once.

The rum used in Planter’s Punch

The starting point for Planter’s Punch is a dark rum, preferably from Jamaica. Haigh asks about Coruba, although I’ve had good luck with Appleton Estate too.

Want more rum recipes? Please!

Mai Tai cocktail
Hemingway Daiquiri
Strawberry Mojito
Dark and stormy
Blender pina colada

preparation time
5 minutes

Cold steep
2 hours

total time
2 hrs 5 mins

portions
8 servings

If freshly ground nutmeg isn’t an option, you can substitute 3/4 teaspoon of the already ground version. But if time allows, go on the fresh ground. As someone who had never bothered to grate fresh nutmeg before, it was a revelation.

I think 1:1 is a good ratio of Secret Mix to rum, but if you like a stronger drink you can adjust it up to 1 part Secret Mix to 2 parts rum; 1 1/2 parts rum would also be nice.

For the Secret Mix (enough for 8 drinks or 1 pitcher):

8th ounces lime juice
1/2 Cup turbo
1/2 ounce Bitter
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

To mix 1 cocktail:

1 1/2 ounces rum
1 1/2 ounce “secret mix“
Crushed Ice
mint or cocktail cherryfor garnish

Make the secret mix:

Stir the secret ingredients together until the sugar dissolves. Leave in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
make punch:

Pour rum, ice and Secret Mix into a shaker. Shake for about 20 seconds, then pour into an old-fashioned glass or comparable 6- to 8-ounce glass.
Garnish:

Garnish with mint, a cocktail cherry or anything else you fancy.

To make a whole pitcher: Make the secret blend, then add everything and an equal amount of rum (about a cup and a half, or 12 ounces) to a pitcher. Add 10 to 12 ice cubes and stir vigorously. Refrigerate until ready to drink, then serve over crushed ice.