A few weeks ago, an invitation arrived in my email: “Join us for a juice party!” It was from Lee, a fun friend of mine, the kind of friend whose name is always at the top when I’m putting together my guest list for my own party, the kind of friend who, of course, would have a juice party.
What is a juice party?
It’s just a regular party, but with a big bowl of juice, instantly transforming the mundane event into something festive. And when I arrived at Lee’s house, everyone was gathered around the table with the juice, talking about the juice, complimenting the punch bowl (an antique, from her mother), ladling the juice (using her mother’s antique silver scoop), and, of course, drinking the juice. You might not be surprised to know that Lee’s family is from the South, where they know their juices well.
Presidential Punch
Lee said, “My mom made something called ‘heavy-duty punch’ that was deadly,” and it was also probably “an acquired taste.” Then Lee tried presidential punch at historic Francis Tavern in New York a few years ago and thought, “This is like a really delicious version of my mom’s juice.” Here’s the recipe.
Presidential Punch
1 bottle rye
1 bottle orange curaçao (Lee used Cointreau)
2 ounces dark rum
1 ounce Angostura bitters
Peach tea (about the same amount as the rye; Lee made a pitcher of Celestial Seasonings)
Fresh lemon and orange slices for garnish
Lee also had a pitcher of lemonade ready so that people could adjust the strength or “add a little sweetness and flavor.”
Ice advice
Of course, punches don’t have to contain alcohol – or even ice – to declare “We’re at a juice party!” John DeBerry, a hospitality consultant in New York and author of two cocktail books, recommends making wassail, a type of spiced hot punch like the recipe below, which is typically served warm during the holidays in cold-weather areas. A fan of the movie “Home Alone” and winter in Chicago in general, John imagines the McCallister family sipping something like this.
McCallister Wassail
(From “Saved by the Bellini,” by John DeBerry)
15 to 20 whole cloves
1 vanilla bean, scraped seeds, or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
20 cardamom pods
12 star anise
Peels from 3 medium oranges
4 cups apple cider
25 dashes Angostura bitters
In a large pot over medium heat, combine the cloves, vanilla, cardamom, and star anise. Stir constantly until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the orange peels, apple cider, and Angostura bitters. Stir occasionally until warmed (but not boiling), about 10 minutes. Pour into heat-resistant cups. Note: If using vanilla extract instead of the bean, add the liquid with the apple cider and Angostura bitters.
What about you? Do you have a favorite holiday punch or celebratory drink?
Note: This article is translated from the original source and has been edited for the Arabic language.
Source: https://cupofjo.com/2023/12/13/three-punch-recipes-punchbowl-parties/#comments
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