The first known print reference to Planter’s Punch was in the August 8, 1908 edition of The New York Times:
PLANTER’S PUNCH
This recipe I give to thee,
Dear brother in the heat.
Take two of sour (lime let it be)
To one and a half of sweet,
Of Old Jamaica pour three strong,
And add four parts of weak.
Then mix and drink. I do no wrong —
I know whereof I speak.
Translation:
Quantities refer to ounces.
Sour: lime juice
Sweet: simple or grenadine syrup
Strong: rum, preferably a dark rum like Jamaica’s Appleton Estate.
Weak: ice water
Also add a dash of Trinidad’s Angostura bitters and a dusting of nutmeg.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry, if you want to dress it up.
