Fish House Punch
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Fish House Punch
Serve in a Collins glass
| 1 oz | Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. cognac |
| 1 oz | Light gold rum (1-3 year old molasses column) |
| 2⁄3 oz | Giffard Crème de Pêche de Vigne liqueur |
| 1 oz | Cold black breakfast tea |
| 1⁄2 oz | Lemon juice (freshly squeezed) |
| 1⁄3 oz | Monin Pure Cane Syrup (65.0°brix, equivalent to 2:1 rich syrup) |
How to make:
- Select and pre-chill a Collins glass.
- Prepare garnish of lemon slice & dust with grated nutmeg.
- SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
- STRAIN into ice-filled glass.
Strength & taste guide:
No alcohol
Medium
Boozy
Sweet
Medium
Dry/sour
Upcoming
Cocktail of the day:
25th June 2025 is Catfish Day
Review:
Tea tannins and lemon juice dry and sour this cognac and rum-laced punch with rich peach liqueur balancing and adding fruit appeal.
History:
Probably the most famous of all punch recipes this is believed to have originated at a Philadelphia fishing and social club called the State in Schuylkill Fishing Corporation which was established in 1732 with a clubhouse built on the banks of Pennsylvania's Schuylkill River (pronounced Skoo-kul). When the drink was first made is unknown, but drinks historian David Wondrich says the first written reference to the Fish House Punch appeared in 1794.
Others say it was first made in 1848 by Shippen Willing of Philadelphia to celebrate women being allowed into the Fish House for the first time for a Christmas Party. Whatever the origin, as with all traditional punch recipes this should properly be made with oleo saccharum (rather than lemon juice and sugar) in larger quantities and served from a punch bowl. This recipe is our cheat's single-serve.
The inclusion of peach liqueur is a modern substitute for the traditional barrel-aged peach brandy. However, some believe the Schuylkill original omitted peach entirely.
The following poem may be recited when serving a Fish House Punch.
There's a little place just out of town,
Where, if you go to lunch,
They'll make you forget your mother-in-law
With a drink called Fish-House Punch.
Also see Punch history
Nutrition:
One serving of Fish House Punch contains 221 calories
Alcohol content:
- 1.4 standard drinks
- 14.81% alc./vol. (14.81° proof)
- 20 grams of pure alcohol
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Difford’s Guide remains free-to-use thanks to the support of the brands in green above. Values stated for alcohol and calorie content, and number of drinks an ingredient makes should be considered approximate.
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Alternatively, I found that the often recommended grated nutmeg doesn't work well for this recipe so it shouldn't be added. If you substitute lemon and simple for an equal amount of lemon sherbet, you get a sweeter softer version of the drink and the nutmeg starts making sense again. But sherbet or no sherbet; this is an awesome, light, contemporary version of this punch.
Thinking about trying again with a small variation - addition of of pimento dram (small amount - 1 teaspoon) either as a float on the top with the nutmeg or shake into the cocktail.