Bahamian Rum Punch

Matt’s Marvelous Mouthwatering Morsels on Monday:

The Terran Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster: Bahamian Rum Punch

    “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy also mentions alcohol. It says that the best drink in existence is the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster.

    It says that the effect of drinking a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.

    The Guide also tells you on which planets the best Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters are mixed, how much you can expect to pay for one and what voluntary organizations exist to help you rehabilitate afterwards.

    The Guide even tells you how you can mix one yourself.”

—Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Those most observant readers among you may have noticed a lack of Matt’s Marvelous Mouthwatering Morsels last Monday. This was due, in no small part, to the experimentation required to bring you this installment of Matt’s Marvelous Mouthwatering Morsels on Monday (note to self: shorter title needed). 

Caribbean Rum Punch is something you just can’t get when not on an island in the Caribbean. I’ve had some great ones on previous trips to the Bahamas, the BVI…but in the US, rum and punch = sugary, cough-syrupy nastiness. Rum Punch is to the Atlantic isles what Mai Tais are to the Pacific, and just as veiled in culinary mystery with just as many truly awful ones being sold for ghastly amounts of money. But using some careful and sleuthy powers of observation (I claimed to be waiting for a glass of water! Ha!) I witnessed the creation of an authentic one on an island, on a beach and at a bar. Previous experimentation at this particular establishment ensured that this would be a good one. I have modified it slightly (and full disclosure, I only witnessed half of the process at the aforementioned bar due to the bartenders equal careful and sleuthy powers). So without further adue or alliteration, I give you my take on the authentic Bahamian Caribbean Island Rum Punch:

1 oz. coconut rum

.5 oz. gold rum

.5 oz. vodka (vanilla vodka is good here)

2 oz. orange/pineapple juice (or 1 oz orange and 1 oz pineapple…)

splash of cranberry juice or cranberry cocktail

squeeze of lime

Serve over ice and enjoy. Authentically served in a Mason jar. Be careful in the dinghy afterwards. (Although it has been proven to make dark, freezingly-cold, drenchingly-wet dinghy rides enjoyable with reports of “sparkly phosphorescence in the wake”)