Fish House Punch

Fish House Punch is a strong, rum-based cocktail containing containing rum, Cognac, and peach brandy. The drink is typically served over an ice block in a punch bowl and garnished with lemon slices.

History

This most venerable of American flowing bowls is held to have been first concocted in 1732 at Philadelphia’s fishing club, the Schuylkill Fishing Company [ [http://slakethirst.com/2005/10/07/fish-house-punch/ History of Fish House Punch] ] also known as the "Fish House". The Fish House was an august gentleman's society devoted to escaping domestic tribulation, but also to cigars, whiskey and the occasional fishing foray upon the Chesapeake or the Restigouche River in Nova Scotia. Another version states that it was created in 1848 by Shippen Willing of Philadelphia, to celebrate the momentous occasion of women being allowed into the premises of the "Fish House" for the first time in order to enliven the annual Christmas Party [ [http://www.greatpartyrecipes.com/history-of-fish-house-punch.html The "Shocking" History of Fish House Punch] ] . It was supposed to be just "something to please the ladies' palate but get them livelier than is their usual wont".

This punch — containing rum, Cognac, and peach brandy — is potent, so to bring it down it is normally diluted with cold black tea, a common mixer for this particular punch, or with seltzer water, for a bit of fizz. Some punch bowls may not be big enough to accommodate the large size ice block called for, and though the block is a classic part of this recipe, it can, of course, be simply served in a pitcher over ice cubes.

Ingredients

:1 cup sugar:3½ cups water:1½ cups fresh lemon juice (6 to 8 lemons), strained:1 (750-ml) bottle Jamaican amber rum:12 oz Cognac (1½ cups):2 oz peach brandy (¼ cup):Garnish: lemon slices

Preparation

Stir together sugar and 3½ cups water in a large bowl or pot until sugar is dissolved. Add lemon juice, rum, Cognac, and brandy and chill, covered, at least 3 hours. Put half-gallon ice block in a punch bowl and pour punch over it.

Additional information

ee also

*Punch (drink)
*Non-alcoholic mixed drinks
*Punsch (an arrack-based liquor)
*Ti'Punch is a rum-based mixed drink that is especially popular in French-speaking Caribbean states.

References

External links

* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=990DE2DD153BEE33A25757C2A9639C94679ED7CF "The New York Times": "HOW FISHHOUSE PUNCH IS MADE" (May 24, 1896)]
* [http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/230583 Gourmet magazine - Fish House Punch Article]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9907E6D6173AE733A25756C1A9679C946497D6CF "The New York Times": "OLDEST DINING CLUB IN THE WORLD" (January 15, 1905)]