This Planters Punch Cocktail is a delicious, refreshing rum cocktail. Made with rum, citrus, and sweetener, this drink offers a tropical taste that transports you to sunny shores with every sip.
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.
I’ve been having fun making my own cocktails at home, and I had to share this classic cocktail, Planter’s Punch. A bit of dispute exists as to where this cocktail originated, either in Illinois, Charleston, or in Jamaica. My research says it originated in Jamaica, with the use of Jamaican rum, which I use in the cocktail as well.
This drink is fruity, sweet, and strong with 3 ounces of rum in it. Balanced by two kinds of citrus, bitters, and simple syrup. I also added a dash of club soda at the end to make it a bit lighter.
If you enjoy Caribbean cocktails, try out my Jamaican Rum Punch.
Ingredients for Planters Punch
- Rum – I use both dark and white Jamaican rum for this recipe.
- Citrus Juices – I use Lime Juice and Orange juice.
- Angostura Bitters
- Simple Syrup
- Club Soda
How to make a Planter’s Punch Cocktail
Fill a glass, preferably a rocks glass, with ice. Set aside.
Combine dark rum, white rum, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker.
Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Cover the shaker and shake the mixture vigorously until well chilled.
Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of club soda.
Garnish the drink with an orange slice and a lime slice.
Serve and enjoy.
What is the ratio for planter’s punch?
The cocktail ratio for Planter’s Punch can vary, but a traditional approach to the drink follows a simple rhyme:
“One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak.”
Here’s how to interpret the ratio:
- One part sour: Lime juice.
- Two parts sweet: A sweetener, like simple syrup or grenadine.
- Three parts strong: This refers to the alcohol, traditionally a good quality dark or aged rum.
- Four parts weak: Typically water, ice, or fruit juice (like pineapple or orange juice) that dilutes the drink to the perfect sipping strength and adds volume. For this, I use orange juice and club soda.
Can I make this cocktail ahead of time for a crowd?
Yes! To do so, mix dark rum, white rum, simple syrup, lime juice, orange juice, and Angostura bitters in a large container. Chill the mixture. When ready to serve, pour over ice in glasses, add a splash of club soda to each glass, and garnish with orange and lime slices.
How Strong Is a Planters Punch Cocktail?
Very strong.
Variations
- Substitute pineapple juice for orange juice, or use lemon juice instead of lime for a different flavor profile.
- Omit the club soda for a stronger cocktail.
- Replace the dark rum with spiced rum for added warmth and complexity.
Tanya’s Top Tips
- Serve this cocktail right away or make it ahead and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, add the ice and stir well.
- Don’t add the ice cubes until you are ready to serve; otherwise, you risk them melting and diluting the cocktail.
If you have tried this Planter’s Punch recipe or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Looking for other delicious cocktails? Try these out:
Planter’s Punch Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ounces dark rum
- 1 ounce white rum
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
- ½ ounce orange juice
- 3 dashes Angostura bitters
- Splash of club soda
- Garnish with orange slice and lime slice
Instructions
- Fill a glass, preferably a rocks glass, with ice. Set aside.
- Combine dark rum, white rum, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker.
- Fill the shaker with ice cubes. Cover the shaker and shake the mixture vigorously until well chilled.
- Strain the cocktail into a glass filled with ice. Top with a splash of club soda.
- Garnish the drink with an orange slice and a lime slice.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- 1. Swap orange juice with pineapple or lime juice with lemon for a twist.
2. For a stronger punch, skip the club soda.