Planter's Punch

History

Invented in the late 19th century by the founder of Myers's rum, Fred L. Myers. The recipe on the back of each bottle of his rum is known as the "Old Plantation formula" and uses the classic rum punch proportions: 1 sour (lime), 2 sweet (sugar), 3 strong (rum), and 4 weak (water).

Rather than this, or the American formula: 1 sour, 2 sweet, 3 weak, and 4 strong, I've followed David A. Embury's recommendation (in his 1948 The Fine Art of Mixing Drinks) of 1 sweet, 2 sour, 3 strong and 4 weak.

1 part Sugar Syrup
2 parts Lemon Juice
3 parts Jamaica Rum
2 or 3 dashes Angostura to each drink.
Shake vigorously with crushed ice and pour, without straining, into Collins glasses. Pack glasses to top with crushed ice, fill to within 1/2" to 1/3" of top with charged water and churn with a bar spoon until glasses start to frost. Decorate with fruit as desired and serve with straws.

David A. Embury, 1948