The history of the Planter’s Punch goes back to the spice trade in the Caribbean. Plantation owners, or “Planters” were the folks enjoying punches, typically made from sour, sweet, strong, and weak. The made up a nice little rhyme that helped to remember the drink, and sometimes folks would take on “And a touch of spice to make it nice.” The recipes proliferated over the years, but eventually grew a strong connection to Jamaica in the 1920’s, and thus influenced the recipe below.
Planter’s Punch
Planter’s Punch is strong, balanced, and refreshing. The flavor of the rum decidedly comes through here, giving a nice run of tropical fruits, rum ester, and pops of caramelized sugars. The demerara syrup adds depth, while both the allspice and falernum add depth imparting spice and fruitiness. The bitters bind this very refreshing, yet simple to make, drink together.
Drink Notes & Recommendations
The secret to a Planter’s Punch is that it’s a classic four part, rhyming formula. One part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong, four parts weak. Keep this in mind, and you can riff endlessly.
- Rum – Given the drink’s origination in Jamaica, we recommend using aged Jamaican rum here for the best results. The best example would be Appleton Estate Reserve. While Jamaican works well, feel free to experiment with other aged rums or mixes of rums, like Doorly’s X.O.. Due to the large quantity, you may want to reconsider anything particularly high proof.
- Rich Demerara Syrup – Demerara syrup works as the sweet here, and as a rich formulation is more than it appears. It adds a nicely caramelized sugar note binding flavors together here.
- To Make: Combine 2 parts Demerara Sugar to 1 part water and bring to a simmer stirring over high heat. Remove from heat once the sugar has completely dissolved. Allow to cool and bottle. Refrigerate. The high sugar content will work to inhibit bacterial growth for an extended duration – throw out if any clouding or mold develop.
- Allspice Dram – We use St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram, but other alternatives here include Pimento Dram – which also has a strong allspice flavor. Note that this is a sweet element here, and could be omitted for more of other elements or a different liqueur or syrups.
- Falernum – We use John D. Taylor’s Velvet Falernum, which adds a tropical spice note and sweetness.
- Lime Juice – For best results, use fresh squeezed.
- Angostura – These are the classic bitters for most cocktails, and we recommend you keep a bottle on hand.