Fish House Punch Recipe

It Packs a Punch !

Favorite Restaurant Drink Recipe



The Story of The Fish House Punch Recipe


History of Fishing

One day some years ago a "long-liner" (a fisherman for halibut and salmon) who was also a regular customer at the restaurant asked me if I had ever heard of Fish House Punch. I hadn't that I could recall.

He briefly described it and asked if I would serve such a punch to him and his fishermen friends each year when they returned home, the season being over and a cause for their annual celebration.

Once a year since then, the lounge has been home to a group of about 15 long-liners and their wives. The Fish House Punch is always ready for them.

A Fish House Punch is a very old punch recipe from the East Coast dating back to at least the late 1700's, as far as I can determine.

The original version of a Fish House Punch was created for an annual get-together around Christmas time with the ladies also invited. The purpose of the punch was to please the ladies and make them even livelier than normal. (Some things, I think, never change.)

These annual affairs (oops) were apparently quite successful, or should I say the punch recipe performed well?

In 1885 the Philadelphia Inquirer published a poem that had been written specifically about the strength of the punch.

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.
(The Cook -1885)


This punch recipe is at least very close to the original. It is the one I use for the fishermen and their wives and once in a while for certain parties if they make the request.



Fish House Punch Recipe

Restaurant Drink Recipe


Preparation time: 30 minutes but must be refrigerated for several hours. Serves 30.


Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces dark rum
  • 24 ounces light rum
  • 12 ounces brandy
  • 24 ounces lemon juice
  • 4 oz peach brandy
  • 3/4 pound superfine sugar
  • 40 oz water
  • Ice

 

Instructions:

  • In a punch bowl, dissolve sugar in some of the water
  • Add lemon juice and the rest of the water and stir
  • Add liquor 2 hours before serving and refrigerate
  • Serve in a punch bowl with ice (no garnishes needed or your choice)

Please remember, this Punch Recipe packs a powerful punch. You may need to monitor your guests as I have to at the restaurant.



Enjoy your restaurant Fish House Punch Recipe and the company of those you share it with!

Donna