Fish House Punch
A fruity and balanced cocktail ∙ Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 14.8% ABV ∙
The Fish House Punch is a shaken punch of brandy and light gold rum with peach liqueur, cold black tea, lemon juice and sugar syrup, served long over ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake all ingredients with ice: Brandy 30 mlLight gold rum 30 mlPeach liqueur 20 mlCold black tea 30 mlLemon juice 15 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Garnish with a lemon slice
- Note: Can be scaled up and served from a punch bowl or a large pitcher
Tips
- Brew the tea well ahead and chill it fully before you measure it; warm tea melts the ice and leaves the drink watery.
History
Fish House Punch traces to the State in Schuylkill, a Philadelphia fishing club founded in 1732 and nicknamed the "fish house." The earliest known written record comes from 1744, when the secretary of a Virginia Commissioners' delegation visiting Philadelphia described being served a huge bowl of lemon punch on the banks of the Schuylkill River, though the drink was not yet called by its later name.
The punch became linked to George Washington, who is said to have drunk so much of it during a visit to the club that he skipped his diary entries for the following three days. It was traditionally mixed in a large communal bowl at the club and built around a base of rum, brandy, lemon, and peach brandy, a combination that changed little for close to two centuries after its creation. This Fish House Punch recipe uses peach liqueur in place of peach brandy and adds cold black tea.
FAQ
What is in a Fish House Punch?
Brandy and light gold rum, 30 ml each, with 20 ml peach liqueur, 30 ml cold black tea, 15 ml lemon juice and 10 ml sugar syrup. The tea makes it taste like a punch rather than a plain sour.
Is a Fish House Punch shaken or stirred?
Shaken. With lemon, syrup and tea in it, a shake chills and mixes it fast. Chill the tea fully first, or it melts the ice and waters the drink down.
What glass is a Fish House Punch served in?
A Collins glass, filled with ice and garnished with a lemon slice, in keeping with its long, punch-like serve.
How strong is a Fish House Punch?
About 14.8% ABV. Tea, lemon and syrup make up about 40% of the drink, so it is lighter than an all-spirit cocktail and drinks like a long punch. It has about 225 calories.
Is a Fish House Punch vegan?
Yes, it is vegan, vegetarian, and lactose-free, as none of its ingredients — brandy, rum, peach liqueur, tea, lemon juice, and sugar syrup — contain animal products.
