Planter’s Punch

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Cocktail History

The Planter’s Punch is a vintage cocktail that is believed to have been created in the late 1800s in Jamaica. The recipe, which is most often served in a large format punch as is implied by its name, is made with a simple mixture of rum, pineapple, pomegranate syrup, and citrus juices that altogether make a great party drink for all palates.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Dark Rum: This is a type of rum made with sugarcane, spices, and alcohol that has been barrel aged for a long period of time. I used Brugal Doble Reserva Rum.

Pineapple Juice: This is the liquid juice of a pineapple. I used fresh pineapple juice.

Grenadine: This is a sweetener made with pomegranate juice and white sugar. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.

Orange Juice: This is the liquid juice of a orange. I used freshly squeezed orange juice.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.

Pineapple Wedge: This is pineapple flesh that has been cut into a wedge shape.

Mint Sprig: This is an herb. I used Mojito mint.

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.

Chef’s Knife: This is used to cut larger fruits and vegetables into slices for the garnish. I used the OXO Good Grips 8-Inch Chef’s Knife.

Pineapple Corer: This is used to remove the core of the pineapple before it’s juiced. I used the OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Pineapple Corer.

Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.

Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer for the lime and the Hamilton Beach Large Juicer for the pineapple.

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Sunset-like orange red hue

• Aroma: Ripe fruit with notes of pineapple and citrus

• Taste: Sweet and tart flavors with juicy orange, lime, and pineapple blending seamlessly with the rich, molasses-like depth of the dark rum and a subtle hint of spice

• Finish: Smooth, sweet pomegranate syrup with more tropical fruit notes

Kendall’s Take
“There’s a reason Planter’s Punch has stuck around in the tiki world for so long. It’s essentially just a simple combination of rum and fruit juices, but the flavors come together in a way that’s bright, juicy, and endlessly drinkable. It’s the kind of cocktail that feels right at home at a backyard party or summer gathering. Make a big batch, and I can just about guarantee it won’t last long.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was found in The Essential Cocktail Book: A Complete Guide to Modern Drinks by the editors of PUNCH and Megan Krigbaum.