Planter's Punch
Planter's Punch: The Classic Jamaican Rum Cocktail
Planter's Punch originated in Jamaica Wikipedia. The September 1878 issue of the London magazine Fun listed the recipe in verse: "A wine-glass with lemon juice fill, of sugar the same glass fill twice, then rub them together until the mixture looks smooth, soft, and nice. Of rum then three wine glasses add, and four of cold water please take" Wikipedia.
By 1903, the Kansas City Star had distilled the ditty down to four lines: "One of sour, one of sweet, two of strong, and one of weak" Charlestoncitypaper. A 1908 article in the New York Times directed "two of sour, one and a half of sweet, three of strong and four of weak" PUNCH, reversing some proportions from the original.
It is popular belief that the London magazine took this interpretation from an 18th-century Jamaican lyrical rhyme for Rum Punch which called for: "One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak." The ratios of 1-2-3-4 specifically call for lime juice, sugar, rum, and water Got Rum? Magazine.
After Prohibition's repeal, when high-quality rum was available once again in the United States, Planter's Punch became trendy, part of a tropical drink fad. It was so popular that Fred L. Myers and Son produced a brand called "Myers Planter's Punch" rum Charlestoncitypaper.
RECIPE:
2 oz dark Jamaican rum
1 oz fresh lime juice
¾ oz simple syrup
½ oz grenadine
Dash Angostura bitters
Orange slice and cherry for garnish
Method:
Add rum, lime juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and bitters to shaker with ice
Shake well until chilled
Strain into glass filled with ice
Garnish with orange slice and cherry