Velvet Ti Punch

Ti Punch is the most traditional way to enjoy rhum agricole. The drink is served by bringing a bottle of rhum, a dish of limes and a small bowl of sugar to your table, then giving you a glass and a swizzle stick that will allow you to assemble the punch the way you like it. Some people prefer just a little bit of lime and almost no sugar, while others muddle in lots of lime and a generous spoonful of sugar. Some take their ti punch without ice, while others always serve it chilled, both to make the drink more refreshing and to dilute the flavorful rhum. We tend to like ours on the sweeter side and often add a splash of simple syrup instead of sugar to ours. We add the simple syrup because it is easier to incorporate than cane sugar, though a bit less traditional.

We’re not going to stick to tradition every time and this variation on Ti Punch is one of our favorites. Velvet Ti Punch is a very simple, but very flavorful, twist on the traditional punch that adds in velvet falernum and a few drops of Bitterman Jamaican bitters. The falernum is both sweet and spicy, adding in flavors like allspice and cloves, along with a bit of lime to reinforce the fresh citrus in the glass. The Jamaican bitters add a little more intensity to the spices in the falernum, without making the drink sweeter. The result is a ti punch that is very refreshing and very addictive. Feel free to play around with the ratios to hit just the right amount of sweetness for your palate and, while it is pictured without ice here, we won’t tell if you want to chill yours with a big chunk of ice on a hot afternoon.

Velvet Ti Punch
3 lime wedges
2 oz Rhum Agricole (recommend Rhum JM Agricole 100 proof)
1/2 oz Velvet Falernum
1/4 oz simple syrup or 1/2 tsp sugar (optional)
3-4 drops Jamaican Bitters

In an old fashioned glass, muddle lime wedges until their juice is released. Add in rhum agricole, falernum, simple syrup/sugar and Jamaican bitters and swizzle until ingredients are well-combined. Add in ice, if desired, and serve.