Tropical Rum Punch {National Rum Punch Day}

I often wonder how "they" come up with national (or world) food holidays.  Why do they fall on a certain day - luck of the draw?  I'm sure there are some out there that coincide with a release date or birth of a product or another sensible reason...but I'm guessing most were just written on little pieces of paper, thrown into a giant hat, and drawn by someone's kids.

That said, I'm down.  I'll take no reason at all to highlight and celebrate a certain food, drink, or custom.  Take for instance Rum Punch.  If I'm being honest {she says in her best Simon Cowell voice}, I may have gone my entire life without trying it.  Or realizing that there even was such a beverage.  But sometimes you get lucky and a bottle of golden, caramely liquid arrives on your doorstep.  And then you find out that National Rum Punch Day will be rolling around in a few weeks time.

So, of course you take your introduction into the land of punch bowls and hanging cups seriously.  But not as seriously as your mission to enjoy said rum, Diplomático Añejo, with its notes of raisins, cocoa, caramel, "sweet milky coffee", and a hint of oaky spice.

Can a rum punch exist if rum is the only ingredient?  No, of course not...  Now, traditional rum punches usually have most of the things that I put into mine: pineapple juice, citrus such as orange, lemon, and lime...and sometimes soda water.  Often you'll find a dash or bitters (which I means to use, but quickly forgot), and maybe some grenadine...sometimes even a grate of nutmeg.  I switched mine up just a bit and went with cinnamon...and kept it golden (aka no grenadine) since I used a perfectly sweet pineapple and I wanted the flavor to shine through, and to compliment the Diplomático Añejo.  Oh yeah, and I added some cream of coconut.

So tell me, will you be breaking out the punch bowl today?  Or at least a bottle of rum?  If you've got a great rum punch recipe, I'd love to try it!

Tropical Rum Punch

by Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: n/a

Keywords: beverage vegan soy-free nut-free dairy-free pineapple rum

Ingredients (4 cocktails)

• 8 ounces fresh pineapple juice (pineapple pureed & strained)
• 4 ounces Diplomático Añejo Rum (or your favorite)
• 2-3 ounces cream of coconut
• juice of 1 orange
• juice of 1/2 lime
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• big pinch of ground cinnamon
• 8 ounces tonic water
• ice cubes

Instructions

Shake or stir all of the ingredients, except tonic water and ice cubes, together until well blended.

Fill 4 glasses with ice, then divide the punch mixture evenly amongst them. Top off with tonic water.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

I received a free bottle of Diplomático Rum at no charge to do with as I pleased. I received no compensation for this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own.