What fun we had creating a video about Holden Punch! My darling daughter-in-law, Karen, convinced me to share the secret recipe with you.
It is that time of year again! The Holidays are coming. So, why not serve a festive punch? Your guests will be pleased… as punch!
My secret “Holden Punch” has become a traditional libation that our guests have now come to expect at Fox Hall and Fox Worth… and they are rawwwther disappointed if it does not greet them! In addition to having a bar, I find it easy to offer a punch versus a signature cocktail because the punch is prepared in advance, and voila, guests can also help themselves!
Where did “punch” initially come from? British sailors brought it back to Europe from their travels to the colonies in India during the 16th century. Nutmeg was the most valuable product imported from there, and it was also the spice used in punch. Because of that, punch became fashionable for aristocrats and the elite in Europe, and eventually in America too. In 1655, Jamaican rum became quite popular when brought back from the West Indies, and because of this, rum punch became favored in the Western World.
The word punch may have come from the Hindu word “panch,” meaning “five” and translates to the five ingredients found in most punches: sweet, sour, spice, alcohol, and water. This is certainly applicable to Holden Punch!
At Fox Hall, Holden Punch is presented in a large, silver Revere bowl on a silver platter, along with a punch ladle. A floating ice ring with sliced lemons, limes, cherries, and even holly leaves dresses it up with a pretty garnish on top.
My ice ring, released from the mold, is ready to be placed on top of the punch before serving.
A traditional punch cup is just too small and dainty for my party guests, so I use my own rendition of a punch cup: crystal brandy snifters! When placed around the punch bowl, they add a festive sparkle!
My punch bowl is placed at one end of the dining room table for large cocktail parties or on the sideboard for smaller gatherings. Back by popular demand, here is my recipe!
The “secret” recipe for Holden Punch:
4 cups light rum (can also be dark!)
2 cups of brandy (your choice!)
2 cups lemon juice- use “ReaLemon” in a bottle (even better, freshly squeezed lemon juice)
1 cup sugar
½ cup peach brandy (or a scant more!)
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg (for tradition)
Mix the above before the party in a mixing bowl or pitcher.
When ready to serve, pour the mixture into a punch bowl and stir in 5 lbs of ice! Add the ice ring as a garnish and serve with a ladle.
Add more ice as needed.
Note: This is half of the recipe. It makes enough for 35 people- double it, and it's enough for 70! It is very similar to Fish House Punch.
Grandmillennial Tips:
A glass, porcelain, or silver bowl can be used. Another option is to serve the punch from a pitcher… easy!
If you don’t have brandy snifters, use “old-fashioned cocktail” glasses.
Make an ice ring in a round or crescent-shaped gelatin mold. I first line the mold with Saran Wrap because it makes the ice ring, once frozen, easy to remove! Then, for color, sprinkle slices of lemons, limes, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, or oranges in the mold, cover with water, and freeze.
Holden Punch is indeed alcoholic and only for adults. For children, I serve sparkling cider, which can be served in a punch bowl too, or simply served in a pretty glass along with a cherry or two, as a special drink.
Punch is also a festive libation to serve at ladies’ showers, club meetings, and even for an evening book club. It definitely contributes to a JOLLY atmosphere!
Cheers! And, Happy Thanksgiving wishes to all of you!
xx Holly