Nothing makes a party more festive than a delicious punch. Add some alcohol, and the celebration just got even more exciting. If you don't have the ingredients at home, head to the store to stock up on everything you need for one of the three recipes we'll share: Hawaiian Punch, Classic Sangria, or an Alcoholic Arnold Palmer.
Hawaiian Punch
Step 1. Prepare the Hawaiian Punch.
Prepare the Hawaiian Punch. The base for Hawaiian Punch or its variations is easy to make. It pairs well with many alcoholic drinks while maintaining a delicious light boozy flavor. You can add various juices and spirits to Hawaiian Punch. If you have fruit punch and some alcohol at home, you might not need to go to the store. However, in most cases, you will need to pick up some ingredients.
Step 2. Choose your alcohol.
Choose your alcohol. Hawaiian Punch pairs well with almost any spirit. Here are some alcoholic drinks you can add to Hawaiian Punch: vodka, rum, various fruit schnapps (watermelon, strawberry, peach, etc.), champagne, and fruit liqueurs. Remember, there’s no specific recipe for punch; feel free to experiment with your favorite drinks.
- You will need 2 parts alcohol to 3 parts punch. (Keep in mind that this ratio doesn't apply to drinking spirits - 5-6 shots for 4 liters of punch is plenty; otherwise, you risk overwhelming your guests.)
- There are some spirits that are not suitable for fruit punch, such as ginger root schnapps or chocolate vodka.
Step 3. Mix the punch in a large container.
Mix the punch in a large container. Add a generous amount of ice to a bowl. Pour in the required amount of fruit juice and alcohol. Adjust to taste.
Step 4. Add any other fruity ingredients and serve.
Add any other fruity ingredients and serve. Garnish the punch with lemon or lime slices or skewers with pieces of fruit (watermelon, pineapple, passion fruit, orange) or add a cherry on a toothpick to each glass - this will be a tasty, boozy snack when the punch runs out.
Classic Sangria
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients.
Prepare the ingredients. Sangria, originating from Spain, is a delicious classic wine punch that will add an exotic touch to your next party. The classic recipe includes wine, chopped fruit, and brandy, but you can skip the brandy for a quicker prep. If you're short on time, you can also forgo sugar or sugar substitutes and add cranberry juice for a nice tartness and sweetness to your punch. All you need to do is add red wine and fruit pieces. Here are the proportions for the best results:
- 1 bottle of your favorite red wine. There's no need to buy an expensive wine as its flavor will be heavily masked by the juice and fruit. You can also use white wine, which is often referred to as sangria blanca. White wine is usually sweeter than red, so adjust the mix accordingly to taste.
- 1 - 2 cups of fresh fruit pieces such as orange, lemon, lime, apple, peach, melon, or grapes. Cut the fruit into one-inch cubes for better mixing with the drink while keeping their shape. Experiment with different fruits to see how they affect the flavor of the sangria. Fresh fruits are best for sangria, as they will hold up well in the liquid without losing their shape and will impart interesting flavors to the punch.
- 2 cups of some drink to dilute the wine. Any juice or soda will work, but keep in mind the sweetness and flavor of the fruits and wine.
- To make the drink even more interesting, add a fizzy drink like 7 Up, Sprite, or sparkling water for a pleasant fizz. Don’t forget to add the fizzy drink right before serving, or it will lose its bubbles.
Step 2. Mix the ingredients.
Mix the ingredients. Pour the bottle of wine into a large container, add the fruit pieces. Add the non-alcoholic drink to taste; it should not completely overpower the wine but make it less alcoholic.
Step 3. Chill the sangria in a pitcher or large jug and serve.
Chill the sangria in a pitcher or large jug and serve. Just before serving, add ice to the punch to keep the drink cold. Due to the fruit pieces, the choice of container for serving sangria differs from other punches. A pitcher with a spout will help in pouring. In Spain and other parts of Europe, sangria is often served with a wooden spoon to help keep the fruit at the bottom while pouring into glasses.
Alcoholic Arnold Palmer
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients.
Prepare the ingredients. This classic Southern drink, also known as '50/50', is named after professional golfer Arnold Palmer from the 1960s. He created this drink at home using iced tea and lemonade and started ordering it in bars, where it quickly became a hit. The Alcoholic Arnold Palmer consists of three simple ingredients: iced tea, lemonade, and bourbon. The best proportions are 4 parts tea and 4 parts lemonade to 1 part bourbon, but there are no strict rules for making this drink, so you can adjust it to suit your guests' tastes.
Step 2. Brew the tea.
Brew the tea. Steep 5 regular tea bags in 4 cups of boiling water. Let the tea brew for 5 minutes, then remove the bags. You can also buy ready-made tea from the store.
Step 3. Make the lemonade.
Make the lemonade. To make lemonade from scratch, squeeze the juice from 8 lemons. Add 1 ½ cups of sugar and up to 6 cups of water, adjusting the sweetness of the lemonade. Chill before serving. If you're short on time, just buy ready-made lemonade from the store.
Step 4. Mix the ingredients.
Mix the ingredients. Combine 4 cups of tea, 4 cups of lemonade, and 1 cup of bourbon in a large container. Adjust the proportions to taste.
- Chill in a pitcher or jug and serve. Add ice cubes, a slice of lemon, and a sprig of mint to the alcoholic Arnold Palmer.
