Rum Front Punch

A visit to Bitter End Yacht Club would be enjoyable even if you were to only lounge on the porch of your bungalow or on the beach all day.

Stir in the views of the boats at anchor and the hillsides of flowers, splash in the activities, botany, sand, sea, food, drinks and…well, an island of splendor is yours.

Here are some favorite things we left with: a collection of coral orbs found scuba diving and snorkeling,

memories of evenings spent watching movies in the Sand Palace. Located just off the dining room, the outdoor sand floored theatre plays an after dinner movie for the kids first, followed by a movie for the grown-up crowd.

It’s a unique experience to watch a movie while digging your toes in the sand and enjoying a tropical breeze.

Thoughts of the warm, fragrant breezes rushing by, along with the lights from the marina, on evening rides to the hillside bungalows in the golf cart taxis.

One of our most memorable experiences were made on board the Ponce de Leon, a canvas topped, flat bottom boat which makes daily outings to the best snorkeling locations in the area.

Depending on currents, breeze and passengers the captain sets the course. On some of the outings the captain will anchor, other times snorkelers are dropped in one location and will snorkel to a pick up location.

As one dips beneath the surface of the bright blue waters they find an endless show of colorful fish, shells, coral, stones and the beautiful reflection of water ripples on pure white sand.

When the snorkelers are satisfied, the captain turns up the reggae music, serves up a fruity rum punch and everyone shares stories from the silent world below. The warm towels, breeze and sun dry the skin; and all are on watch for passing turtles and rays.

A taste of the islands can always be yours no matter what your true longitude and latitude may be. Turn on your favorite island music and have some friends over for a glass of Rum Front Punch…

Following is a recipe for a fruity rum punch, similar to what is served on the Ponce de Leon. It is easy to make and expand. The recipes below will allow you to whip up batches of Rum Front Punch for 1, 10, or 100 – 1 cup glasses of punch. We recommend you plan on 1 – 3 glasses per guest, depending on what other beverages will be available.

Rum Front Punch

Ingredients

Makes 1 – one cup serving
35 ml light rum
35 ml dark rum
50 ml pineapple juice
50 ml fresh squeezed orange juice

60 ml mango nectar
25 ml fresh squeezed lime juice

10 ml triple sec
a splash of cocktail bitters
a float of grenadine syrup

recommended garnish
a lime slice, cut in 1/2 almost all the way, leave the last bit of rind in tact
2 pineapple chunks
1 decorative bamboo pick

Ingredients

Makes 10 – one cup servings

1-1/2 cups light rum

1-1/2 cups dark rum

2 cups pineapple juice

2 cups fresh squeezed orange juice

2-1/2 cups mango nectar

1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice (about 3-1/2 limes)

1/2 cup triple sec

3 tablespoons cocktail bitters

3 tablespoons grenadine syrup

recommended garnish

10 lime slices, cut in 1/2 almost all the way, leave the last bit of rind in tact

20 pineapple chunks

10 decorative bamboo picks

Ingredients

Makes 100 – one cup servings
15 cups light rum
15 cups dark rum
20 cups pineapple juice
20 cups fresh squeezed orange juice
25 cups mango nectar
10 cups fresh squeezed lime juice (about 35 limes, citrus juicers available at Splendid Items)
5 cups triple sec
2 cups cocktail bitters
2 cups grenadine syrup

recommended garnish
100 slices of lime, cut in 1/2 almost all the way, leave the last bit of rind in tact

200 pineapple chunks
100 decorative bamboo picks

Preparation: Combine all ingredients. The punch can be made the night before and stored in air tight containers in the refrigerator.

To make garnish: Pierce skewer through lime slice, with the rind facing out. Skewer a chunk of pineapple, wide end facing out. Twist lime slice and pierce through second portion of lime slice, then add another chunk of pineapple, wide side out. Finally, pierce through bottom section of lime slice.