Chef notes

I like rum punches, but sometimes find them too sweet for my taste, so I set out to create a more bitter version of a punch cocktail inspired by one of my friends who we call "Le Fun" because he is excessive in everything that he does — just like this drink! While traditional rum punch, features, well ... rum, I l wanted to mix it up by using green Chartreuse, which is very boozy so proceed with caution! You may be familiar with Chartreuse, which comes in both yellow and green flavors. Green Chartreuse is a vibrant green liqueur that is minty and spicy and more intense than the yellow kind, which is lower in alcohol. It packs a floral/herbal punch, with elements of citrus, rosemary and cloves, which add a unique flavor that works well in many types of drinks.

Green Chartreuse is more difficult to find in stores than yellow, so feel free to use whatever kind you can find or have on hand. I also wanted to swap ginger beer for juice, which is often used in rum punches, to pare back the sweetness. You may think this recipe screams summer, but the ginger beer and green Chartreuse are incredibly warming flavors, making this the perfect drink to serve in fall and winter. And while I like to add raspberries here to give it a pop of color, you can leave those out if you don't have any. In my opinion, a fun punch is great any day of the week, but it's perfect for a party. It's super easy to make ahead and serve for a crowd: Just scale up for the number of guests you have and put it in a drink dispenser to allow people to serve themselves. It means less work preparing and more time partying.