The Crusade Punch Recipe

Punches, which could be credited as being the Founding Fathers to the cocktails we know today, were an American fixture that kept us cool through warmer months some 200 years ago. Despite their usefulness, the popularity of punches has seen only a mild resurgence in recent years compared to that of craft cocktails. But when it comes to serving large groups, nothing compares to the ease of whipping up a boozy punch; it's just a matter of knowing the right technique.

At The Drink in Brooklyn, all of the bar's 10 original drinks are punches, which is a rare sight. One of first to appear on the menu and also the most traditional in approach is The Crusade, which combines Old Monk – a dark rum from India with vanilla notes – along with lemon, tea, herbal syrups and bitters for a delicious chilled summer concoction that balances booziness with sour, sweet and herbal flavors. Rum is a very common spirit in punches, though one could also use gin, whiskey or tequila.

For those looking to learn more about punches and how they're built, undoubtedly the best source is cocktail historian David Wondrich's book Punch: The Delights (and Dangers) of the Flowing Bowl, or try making one yourself to get a feel for how simple and effective punches can be for serving en masse. Understandably, dumping entire bottles of liquor into a bowl with citrus and sugar might seem extreme at first, but take comfort in remembering it's the drinking equivalent of throwing a large steak on the grill and that your guests will love you for it.