Hosting a Super Bowl party at home this year? Want some easy, delicious and boozy punches for your guests? We’ve got you covered! This time of year citrus is king (lemons, blood oranges, grapefruit), and we’ve got got five great seasonally fresh punches, each with a different base spirit (rum, Pisco, bourbon, red wine and vodka) for you to chose from.
Adapted from two great books that you should also consider adding to your booze library, Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails and Winter Cocktails: Mulled Ciders, Hot Toddies, Punches, Pitchers, and Cocktail Party Snacks, these batched cocktails will definitely be a hit with your guests.
Every ingredient is easy to find at your local liquor store and supermarket, and prep time shouldn’t be more than 10-15 minutes. In terms of champagne, you can use an affordable substitute like Freixnet Sparkling Cordon Negro Brut Cava. It’s dry with a low acidic profile and a clean, crisp finish; a great value buy.
Kill-Devil Punch from Death & Co.
12 White Sugar Cubes
15 Raspberries
3 oz Club Soda
6 oz Appleton Estate V/X Rum
3 oz Lime Juice
3 oz Pineapple Juice
3 oz Dry Champagne
Garnish: 12 Raspberries
In a pitcher, muddle raspberries, sugar cubes and club soda until sugar is mostly dissolved. Add remaining ingredients except champagne and fill pitcher with ice cubes. Stir until cold and strain into punch bowl over one large block of ice. Top with champagne, and garnish with raspberries.
Valley of Kings Punch from Death & Co.
6 White Sugar Cubes
4 oz Club Soda
8 oz Pisco
3 oz Pineapple Juice
2 oz Grapefruit Juice
2 oz Lime Juice
6 oz Dry Champagne
Garnish: 6 Pineapple Wedges
In a pitcher, muddle the sugar cubes and club soda until sugar is mostly dissolved. Add remaining ingredients except champagne and fill pitcher three-quarters full with ice cubes. Stir until cold and strain into punch bowl over one large block of ice. Top with champagne, and garnish with pineapple wedges.
Bloody Good Punch from Winter Cocktails
4 cups Bourbon
1 cup Blood Orange Juice
1/2 cup Lemon Juice
1 cup Amaretto Liqueur
2 (750 ml) bottles chilled Champagne
Large block of ice
Garnish: Blood Orange Slices
Stir bourbon, blood orange juice, lemon juice and amaretto together in a punch or serving bowl. When ready to serve, stir in champagne, slide in one large block of ice and garnish with blood orange slices.
Red Sangria from Winter Cocktails
2 (750 ml) bottles of dry Red Wine
2 cups Brandy, chilled
2 cups Orange Juice
2 cups Club Soda
1 cup Blood Orange Juice
2 cups Red Grapes
1 cup Green Grapes
2 Granny Smith apples cut into 1/2 inch cubes
Stir all ingredients together in a serving vessel and let sit in refrigerator up to an hour before serving. Pour into ice filled cups and garnish with grapes and apples.
Purple Passion from Winter Cocktails
1 (750 ml) Blackberry Vodka*, chilled
2 cups Sour Mix
2 cups Club Soda
2 (750 ml) bottles Lambrusco, chilled
2 pints raspberry sherbet
Garnish: raspberries and blackberries
Stir vodka, sour mix and club soda together in a serving vessel. When ready to serve, stir in Lambrusco. Place one small scoop of sherbet in each cup, ladle in punch and serve to the thirsty masses.
*The original recipe calls for Blackberry-Thyme infused vodka but that takes more than a few days to make. You may want to opt for some pre-made Blackberry vodka instead.
Photos via Top: Flickr, Sangria: Flickr
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