Planter’s Punchless
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙
The Planter's Punchless mixes apple juice, fresh lime juice and grenadine with a lemonade top — a rum punch without the rum. Bright and tart at first sip, it settles into a fizzy, faintly sweet finish, with a rosy hue and a crisp, thirst-quenching lightness throughout.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake the first 3 ingredients with ice: Apple juice 60 mlLime juice 25 mlGrenadine syrup 10 ml
- Strain into the ice-filled glass
- Top with Lemonade and lightly stir
- Garnish with a lime wedge
Tips
- Use freshly squeezed lime juice rather than bottled — it keeps the tart edge from turning flat or bitter.
- Pre-chill the highball glass so the ice doesn't melt and dilute the drink before the lemonade top goes in.
History
Planter's Punchless is a non-alcoholic riff on Planter's Punch, created by bartender Fernando Castellon sometime in the 2000s. It keeps the citrus-forward, effervescent character of a rum punch but swaps out the rum, building the drink instead around apple and lime juices, grenadine, and a lemon-lime soda.
Planter's Punch itself is a much older rum punch whose exact origin is disputed, with accounts variously pointing to colonial Jamaica or, less credibly, the Planters Hotel in St. Louis; the earliest known printed recipe appeared in a London magazine in 1878. Planter's Punchless keeps that punch's balance of sour and sweet while removing the alcohol entirely, making it a bar-menu alternative for guests who want the same tropical, citrus profile without spirits.
FAQ
Is there a non-alcoholic Planter's Punch recipe?
Yes, the Planter's Punchless is a non-alcoholic version built to echo a rum punch's fruity profile without any spirit. It shakes apple juice, fresh lime juice, and grenadine over ice, then tops with lemonade for a light fizz, finished with a lime wedge in a highball glass.
How do you make a Planter's Punchless?
Shake apple juice, fresh lime juice, and grenadine with ice, then strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with lemonade, stir lightly to combine, and garnish with a lime wedge.
What's the best juice to use in a Planter's Punchless?
Apple juice is the best choice, since its mild sweetness pairs well with the fresh lime juice's tartness without overpowering the drink like a tropical juice would.