IBA
Russian Spring Punch – IBA
Shake ∙ 3 min ∙ 13.2% ABV ∙
The Russian Spring Punch is an IBA-listed long drink of vodka, fresh lemon juice, crème de cassis, and sugar syrup, shaken and topped with dry sparkling wine. Bright and tangy up front, it settles into a berry-tinted sweetness with a crisp, effervescent lift and a clean, refreshing finish over ice.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Shake: Vodka 25 mlLemon juice 25 mlCrème de Cassis 15 mlSugar syrup 10 ml
- Strain into the chilled tall tumbler glass filled with ice
- Top up with Dry sparkling wine
- Garnish with a blackberry and a lemon slice (opt.)
- Note: Can be scaled up and served from a punch bowl or a large pitcher
Tips
- Shake the vodka, lemon juice, cassis, and syrup hard before straining — the wine goes in only afterward, so it isn't shaken flat.
- Scaling up for a punch bowl or pitcher works well, but add the sparkling wine last and just before serving so the batch stays fizzy.
- Pre-chill the glass and fill it with ice before straining so the drink doesn't warm and dilute while you top it with wine.
History
The Russian Spring Punch was created in 1980s London by bartender Dick Bradsell, who also devised the Espresso Martini and the Bramble during the same era. Several accounts trace it to Bradsell's time at Fred's Club in Soho, though Bradsell himself said he could not recall exactly which bar he was working at when he invented it.
By Bradsell's own account, he devised the drink for a friend's party as a way to save money on alcohol: guests were given vodka, crème de cassis, sugar syrup, and lemon juice premixed, and asked to bring their own sparkling wine to top it up. The drink builds on the Kir Royale, the classic pairing of blackcurrant liqueur and champagne, by adding vodka and citrus for a sharper, more complex profile. Its name reflects the vodka base ("Russian") and its kinship with spring-served fizzes like the Tom Collins ("Spring Punch").
The Russian Spring Punch went on to become one of the recognized modern classics of the London cocktail revival of the 1980s and 1990s, and it has appeared on the International Bartenders Association's official list since its 2011 revision, under the New Era Drinks category.
FAQ
How do you make a Russian Spring Punch?
Shake vodka, fresh lemon juice, crème de cassis, and sugar syrup with ice, then strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice. Top with dry sparkling wine and garnish with a blackberry and a lemon slice. It can also be batched and scaled up for a punch bowl or pitcher.
What is in a Russian Spring Punch?
Vodka, fresh lemon juice, crème de cassis, and sugar syrup, shaken and topped with dry sparkling wine. It is served in an old-fashioned glass over ice, garnished with a blackberry and a lemon slice.
What does IBA mean in cocktails?
IBA stands for the International Bartenders Association, which maintains an official list of recognized cocktail recipes. The Russian Spring Punch is one of the drinks on that list, meaning it has a standardized recipe used as a reference by bartenders worldwide.
