Island Punch
Image: Highball glass filled with a mixed alcoholic drink, topped with apple slices, marionberries, and whole cloves.
Description: This floral, spiced, apple and blackcurrant cocktail has a complex yet refreshing flavor that is sure to be a big hit at your next fall gathering!
Yield: Makes 1 cocktail
Ingredients:
2 ounces light rum
2 ounces raw apple cider
1 ounce St Germaine Elderflower Liqueur
½ ounce Crème De Cassis Blackcurrant Liqueur
½ ounce cranberry juice
1 teaspoon raw agave (optional to sweeten more)
4 whole cloves (optional, but HIGHLY recommended)
Garnish:
2 apple slices
A couple of fresh or frozen blackberries or marionberries
A couple more cloves to float
Directions:
Smash the whole cloves a bit in a mortal and pestle to release a bit of the oils. In a resealable dish, add the apple juice and cloves and refrigerate for AT LEAST 1 hour before completing the drink. The longer you let the cloves sit in the juice, the more of that “Spiced” clove flavor will end up in your final drink. Trust me, its worth the wait to deepen the flavor of the cocktail.
After the juice has been "spiced", add the juice and all other ingredients to a cocktail shaker that has a few ice cubes in it. Shake vigorously for 5-10 seconds, Strain the cocktail into a waiting Highball cocktail glass filled with ice. Garnish with apple slices, a few berries, and a few more cloves.
Serve and enjoy!
Notes:
If you don’t have a mortar and pestle, then just add the whole cloves into the juice and let that sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before completing the drink.
Whisky also works well in this drink.