Wednesday, August 17, 2022

The Beachcomber's Punch Cocktail

The Beachcomber's Punch Cocktail
Refreshing and not too boozy, this Tiki drink is a full-flavored summer sipper

Tiki cocktails often feature rum and fruit juice, a tasty pairing that lends itself to slow sippers. Like the Beachcomber’s Punch.

This soothing elixir packs a lot of flavor, but just enough alcohol to let you know you’re imbibing a grown-up drink.

Because you don’t want a hangover to distract you from summertime lazing. 

The Beachcomber's Punch Cocktail
Recipe: The Beachcomber’s Punch Cocktail

The Beachcomber’s Punch was developed by Donn Beach, a founding father of Tiki culture and creator of the “Don the Beachcomber” restaurant chain. This concoction dates back to the 1930s, when it was created at the original Hollywood restaurant that launched Beach’s empire.

We found this recipe in Beachbum Berry’s Grog Log, a collection of Tiki recipes and lore by Tiki expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry.

This drink takes about 5 minutes to prepare and serves 1.

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces aged Demerara rum (see Notes)
  • ½ ounce apricot liqueur (aka apricot brandy; see Notes)
  • ½ ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce white grapefruit juice (bottled is OK; see Notes)
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • 1/8 teaspoon absinthe or substitute (about 6 drops; see Notes)
  • dash or 2 of Angostura bitters (to taste)
  • mint sprig garnish (optional)

Procedure 

  1. Add all the ingredients (except garnish) to a cocktail shaker half filled with ice. Shake vigorously until the contents are well chilled (20 seconds or so).
  2. Strain into a tall glass filled with crushed or chipped ice. Add garnish, if desired, and serve.

The Beachcomber's Punch Cocktail
Notes

  • The original recipe calls for adding all the ingredients (except garnish) plus ¾ cup crushed ice to a blender. Blend for 5 seconds (more than that and the ice turns too slushy), then pour unstrained into a glass. Add more crushed ice to fill the glass, garnish if you wish, and serve.
  • If you don’t want to use a blender (we never bother), you can just shake the ingredients with crushed or chipped ice, then pour unstrained into a serving glass. We prefer to shake with cubes and then strain over fresh ice (chipped, in our case), but your decision.
  • It’s traditional to serve this drink in a champagne flute or a pilsner glass, but any tall glass will work. We’ve become fans of stemless champagne flutes, so that’s what we use.
  • Demerara rum is a smoky amber rum from Guyana. Its flavor is unique, so there really are no substitutes. We generally use El Dorado 8-year-old Demerara rum for mixed drinks (though even longer-aged versions are always welcome). 
  • BTW, you may see some 151-proof Demerara rums. Those aren’t appropriate for this drink (or any cocktail that requires Demerara rum unless the recipe specifies the 151-proof version).
  • Many cocktail recipes call for apricot brandy when they really mean apricot liqueur. True apricot brandy isn’t easy to find. It’s distilled directly from apricots, while most apricot liqueurs have a neutral spirit as their base (and are flavored with apricots). Adding to the confusion, many brands that are labeled “apricot brandy” are actually apricot liqueur.
  • The best brands of apricot liqueur we’ve found are Marie Brizard’s Apry and Rothman & Winter’s Orchard Apricot. The latter is what we typically use. 
  • In this drink, absinthe serves nearly the same purpose as bitters – so don’t use too much. If you don’t have absinthe on hand, a substitute like Pernod will work well. BTW, the combination of absinthe and bitters was one Donn Beach used often in drinks that contained strongly flavored amber or dark rum.
  • Our usual disclaimer: We’re noncommercial and do not benefit from mentioning brands. We suggest only those products we like (and buy with our own money).
  • Unless a cocktail recipe specifies otherwise, you should stick with white grapefruit juice when making drinks. The pink stuff is too sweet (and the wrong color). We use bottled grapefruit juice because it’s convenient. But if fresh white grapefruit is available, we sometimes juice our own, which provides superior fresh-squeezed taste (again, don’t use the ruby/red/pink varieties).
  • Some medications (like statins) don’t mix well with grapefruit juice (the juice intensifies the drugs’ effects). The amount of juice called for in one or two of these drinks isn’t a problem for most people. But if in doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

The Beachcomber's Punch Cocktail
Beached

“Punchy!” said Mrs. Kitchen Riffs. “But in a good way. More hula than haka.”

“Yup,” I said. “My kind of punch in the gut.”

“After that comment, I may need a leave of absinthe,” said Mrs K R.

“So you’re going to citrus one out?” I said.

“Careful,” said Mrs K R. “This drink may be mild, but I still pack a punch.”

OK, better stop. After all, good puns are rare. But great puns? Demerara.

You may also enjoy reading about:

44 comments:

Chef Mimi said...

Well I was excited till I saw a anisette… but apricot liqueur exists?!! Must find that.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Mimi, the absinthe only adds a hint of flavor -- works real well with the rums. And apricot liqueur is really good stuff! Can be a little hard to find, although these days good liquor stores will carry it. Thanks for the comment.

Angie's Recipes said...

Your cocktails are always looking so tempting and the conversations between you and Mrs. are just fun :-)) Love the gorgeous pictures too, John.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Angie, :-) Thanks so much for that very kind comment.

Sippity Sup said...

Do you have that cocktail book? It must be quite a collectors piece. As is this drink... GREG

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Greg, I have _Remixed_, which includes that plus _Grog Log_. Plus some additional stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Wow, another gorgeous cocktail! I agree with using the cubes (and beautiful cubes they are!) instead of crushed ice. Though, this lightweight might need a diluted drink, LOL.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Liz, isn't this pretty? Super tasty, too. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Ben | Havocinthekitchen said...

I'm a fan of light and fruity drinks, so this sounds wonderful to me. Loving this punch with a little kick :)

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Ben, this is a good one. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Amy (Savory Moments) said...

This cocktail looks delicious and refreshing!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Amy, really refreshing! And good. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Velva- Evening with a Sandwich said...

Another fantastic tiki cocktail.I am really enjoying your cocktail post/recipes.

Velva

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Velva, we really enjoy doing them! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Healthy World Cuisine said...

Seen this refreshing cocktail on facebook and had to buzz by to catch the recipe for the evenings festivities. Feeling all the tropical vibes.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Bobbi, we LOVE tropical vibes. :-) Thanks for the comment.

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

Very Interesting and delicious sounding flavors in this lovely summer drink. The combination of rum, apricot, and grapefruit is something I would love.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Judee, this really is a neat combo of flavors -- really good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Frank said...

Sounds refreshing! I'm intrigued by Demerara rum. Never heard of it but I like the sound of it. Smoky rum? Sign me up.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Frank, Demerarara rum is fabulous! We love its flavor. Kind of the Scotch of rum. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Jeff the Chef said...

What a delicious cocktail. And so beautiful with that tiny ice.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Jeff, really good stuff. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Food Gal said...

"A leave of absinthe''?!? You guys are too fun! This drink is, too. Cheers to all your creative cocktails that keep us all coming back for more.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Carolyn, we do enjoy writing those endings. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Pam said...

Refreshing and so delicious! Yum.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Pam, it's so, SO good! :-) Thanks for the comment.

lisa is cooking said...

I love the presentation in the glass full of ice! I need all the ice right now. This looks deliciously refreshing.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Lisa, nice and cooling, isn't it? :-) Thanks for the comment.

Fran@G'day Souffle said...

Nice and summery drink. I'd have to be careful though,looks like it would slide down just like a sweet punch!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Fran, these do slide down quite easily! A good thing, and as you suggest, potentially a bad thing. :-) Thanks for the comment.

Raymund said...

That looks like the perfect summer cocktail

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Raymund, it really is. :-) Thanks for the comment.

bread&salt said...

It looks great. I am sure it must be delicious.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi B & S, it is, it is! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Sherry's Pickings said...

you guys are so funny! i always get a laugh. this drink looks potent and greatly refreshing. I seem to not be getting emails from your posts advising me of new ones. other bloggers tell me they don't get mine lately either. Grrrrr. I'll try subscribing again...

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Sherry, isn't this a nice drink? Alas, Google turned off Feed Burner (I know you've moved on from that, but I haven't signed up with a new email delivery system yet) so email notifications aren't working. :-( But thanks for your comment.

Debra Eliotseats said...

Love the glassware and the presentation and, as always, the photo!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Debra, this is one fantastic drink! :-) Thanks for the comment.

R's Rue said...

I want one. Happy Monday friend.

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi R, one of these is a great way to liven up Monday! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Laura Dembowski said...

This sounds like a refreshing and highly spirited cocktail - just the way I like them!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Laura, yup, highly spirited cocktails are the best! :-) Thanks for the comment.

Inger @ Art of Natural Living said...

This is seriously beautiful with the ice patterns in the light! Sadly all beach-y impulses have left for the year but I did pin for next year!

Kitchen Riffs said...

Hi Inger, our beach season is over too. Next year! :-) Thanks for the comment.