Recipe
- 1.5oz white agricole rhum (JM 100)
- .25oz Mahina Coconut coconut liqueur
- 1 small barspoon allspice liqueur (St. Elizabeth)
- Small disc of lime
Add all liquids into a glass. Squeeze and drop in lime disc. Swizzle together and optionally add a cube of ice.
About
The Ti Punch is one of my most-drank, most-loved libations, and consists of the extremely simple combo of agricole (sugarcane-based) rum, sugar, and a disc of lime. The disc part (not wedge, not slice, not wheel) is super important because the purpose it serves is to add the oils from the peel with just minimal tart juice.
It’s a very casual drink in Martinique (French island in the Caribbeans), where it’s imbibed sans ice on the beach, over an afternoon hang with friends, with meals, any time of day really. It’s not really a ‘cocktail’ but a way of life.
That said, it’s also been likened to an Old Fashioned. Wait…huh? An Old Fashioned is historically also a simple drink – a strong spirit with sweetener and dash of aromatics (bitters). In the case of the Ti Punch, we’ve got rum in place of whiskey, and lime oils in place of the bitters. It works.
Running with that idea, I’ve spiced up this classic using local flavors you’d find in Martinique – a coconut liqueur as the sweetener, and an extra boost of aromatics from an ultra-concentrated allspice liqueur.
As much as I absolutely LOVE the OG Ti Punch and do not think any riffs are necessary for perfection, I gotta say – I did enjoy this. It very much retains the characteristic of a Ti Punch. As they do in Martinique, adjust the proportions of the ingredients to taste – the common phrase is “chacun prépare sa propre mort” – each prepares their own death.