Fancy Bourbon Punch

Fancy Bourbon Punch

Serves 8 to 10. Recipe is from Maker’s Mark.

1 cup granulated sugar

Peels of 3 lemons and 1 orange

Juice of peeled fruit

1 liter of strong tea (preferably green tea)

1 liter bourbon

250 ml. (about 81/2 ozs.) champagne or club soda

Freshly grated nutmeg

1. Combine sugar and citrus peels in the bottom of a punch bowl. Muddle together until sugar starts to clump together. Let sit for about 2 hours. While not necessary, this does add a little complexity.

2. Brew the tea for about 30 minutes, remove loose tea or tea bags and allow to cool.

3. Add the juice of the peeled fruit, tea and bourbon. Stir.

4. Top with champagne or club soda just before serving and stir gently. Top with nutmeg and serve.