One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak. This Barbados rhyme is a trusty guide on making rum punch and all its variations for September 20th, Rum Punch Day.

British sailors enjoyed their beer rations, but when they sailed into warmer, tropical weather, that beer would spoil (hence the creation of IPAs for the beer lovers out there). In the 17th century, these sailors brought punch to England and the Caribbean. It transformed into a social staple; a communal bowl shared amongst friends and family, soldiers and sailors. The word punch is likely to come from the Hindi word for "five", पंज (panj), for the five ingredients in the recipe: spirit, sugar, spice, sour citrus, and water. 

By the mid 17th century, Jamaican rum or sometimes Dutch Gin was the prized spirit of choice for this social beverage. And, while initially a popular drink in the American colonies, the fast-paced life of America quickly adapted to more rapid, individual drinking styles as methods of distillation and aging spirits improved: cocktails.

In these strange times, we have not been able to host the large social gatherings that punch is intended to serve. For a smaller serving of a punch-like progeny, watch our Daiquiri tutorial above. Feel free to add a scrape of nutmeg, a prized spice in the 17th century, for a punch-like garnish.

Or use the Barbados rhyme to concoct your Rum Punch Recipe:

One of Sour

(one-part citrus, typically lemon or lime)

Two of sweet

(simple syrup, agave, honey, or even maple syrup will do the trick!)

Three of Strong

(Use a full-bodied, Barbados or Jamaican rum - But it doesn't have to be rum! You can use the spirit of your choice, or even a blend of spirits.)

Four of Weak

(Dilution, dilution, dilution. We know how integral dilution is to the cocktail. Add four parts of water to your punch)

The second part to the rhyme is optional: 

A dash of bitters and a sprinkle of spice, serve well chilled with plenty of ice.

Throw a dash of Ango bitters into your rum punch, or add atop each serving for an aromatic touch.

You can also add a simple sprinkle of nutmeg, star anise, cinnamon, or other spice!

Enjoy!