Perfect Pink Punch

March 29, 2015 12:14 PM

I'm looking for a not-too-sweet, alcoholic punch recipe to serve at an upcoming party. Caveat: must be some shade of pink.

My Google-fu is failing me today. Most of the concoctions I've found rely on juice concentrate. I'm not against using a concentrate, but I am worried that the punch will be sickening sugary after the first drink or two. Do you have any tried-and-true pink punch recipes? I won't have a chance to experiment before the event, so I need to get it right on the first try.

Thanks MeFites!

posted by turniphead to Food & Drink (23 answers total)

What about something with a tiny bit of beet juice in it? You could adapt a recipe for beet cocktails to make a punch - like this one: http://www.marthastewart.com/920464/beet-and-lemon-shrub-cocktail
posted by aka burlap at 12:30 PM on March 29, 2015

There's always the fraternity tested and approved "Skippys" or Jungle Juice. It sounds gross, but is actually delicious!

1 handle of vodka, 30 light beers (I always used Coors Light), 1-2 packages of Country Time Pink Lemonade to taste, lots of ice. Done.
posted by Arbac at 12:31 PM on March 29, 2015

Best answer: You want to add Campari, which is red and bitter. Campari plus clear ingredients will come out pink. It goes well with grapefruit and gin - I bet a mixture of grapefruit juice (the real, not too sweet stuff), gin, Campari, and prosecco would rule. That mixture would also lend itself well to the addition of a fresh herb like basil, mint, or rosemary.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:36 PM on March 29, 2015 [13 favorites]

Yesss! Keep it simple:

-Several bottles of Safeway Organics Pink Grapefruit Italian Soda
-Plain seltzer added to reduce sweetness to your desired level
-Vodka
-Ice
-One thinly sliced grapefruit for garnish.

Also, here's a tasty-sounding variation.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:37 PM on March 29, 2015

After 30 years in education - many, many, teas, receptions, parties, retirements, new babies, promotions, going away parties, etc., etc., this is the only punch I ever liked. Not too sweet and it's pink! Although non-alcoholic I do not see why you could not add Vodka to the mix.

3 small cans frozen lemonade
1 quart cranberry juice
1 quart ginger ale
1 (12 ounce) can frozen orange juice

Mix lemonade by directions on can. Add remaining ingredients. Serves 20.

I also freeze the mixture in cubes or a ring - use this for your ice - it will not dilute.
posted by pamspanda at 12:37 PM on March 29, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Pinterest can be good for this kind of thing. That's where I found this gin punch from the Speakeasy cookbook. I haven't tried it, but now I kind of wanna.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:38 PM on March 29, 2015

Best answer: How about a rosé wine punch or a rosé sangria?
posted by needled at 12:39 PM on March 29, 2015 [2 favorites]

Argh. Scratch that: one of the reviews mentions it being super sweet.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:45 PM on March 29, 2015

If you use a punch that involves beer, please please please label it. It would never cross my mind to put beer in punch, and the barley malt in it would have me (and anyone else with gluten issues) sick for days.
posted by joycehealy at 12:53 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If you don't want Campari, you could try Aperol, made by the same company by less bitter and less alcohol. It goes wonderfully well with champagne, so a punch made with champagne and ginger ale and Aperol would be great.
posted by chocolatepeanutbuttercup at 1:00 PM on March 29, 2015

Yes, the Aperol Spritz is all the rage this year
posted by mumimor at 1:02 PM on March 29, 2015

I would make something based on hibiscus. Here is a recipe involving rum.
posted by BibiRose at 1:10 PM on March 29, 2015

Pink Panty Dropper sounds terrible but it's really quite a surprisingly delicious drink. Includes beer, hard liquor, and lemonade.

It's not too terribly sweet, but is quite strong!
posted by noonday at 1:19 PM on March 29, 2015

I'm drinking this right now, and it's delicious. Yay cocktail Sunday!

1 part vodka (you could get away with less for a big batch of punch)
2 parts not-so sweet lemonade...I have a big jug of organic lemonade that I love (for a large batch you could do frozen lemonade concentrate + however much water you want for the sweetness level)
.5-1 part cranberry pomegranate juice (or you could use regular cranberry juice cocktail but this looked interesting at the store).

If the finished product is too sweet, just add more water (or vodka! woo!)
posted by AlisonM at 2:05 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

I would use unsweetened juice. R. W. Knudsen makes a line of them.
posted by brujita at 2:24 PM on March 29, 2015

1 part peach schnapps
1 part lemon vodka
2 parts white cranberry juice
2 parts pink grapefruit juice

All in a bowl, consume. Dangerously drinkable.

Alternatively, a white sangria:

Equal parts
White wine (unoaked Chardonnay is probably your best bet)
White cranberry juice
White grape juice

Sliced pear (can or fresh) and frozen grapes as garnish.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 2:29 PM on March 29, 2015 [3 favorites]

Oops.. the sangria you should leave for a few hours to let the pear flavour meld into the liquid. In case it's not sweet enough, you can use canned pears and add some of the can liquid later to boost.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 2:34 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Fish house punch! Not that sweet. Can add a bit of grenadine to make it pinkish. A nice classic punch.
posted by jessamyn at 3:23 PM on March 29, 2015

Yes, the Aperol Spritz is all the rage this year

Thirding. Delicious, not sweet, and light. It's kinda light orange in colour, but perhaps some additive to make more pink-like.
posted by qwip at 3:42 PM on March 29, 2015

I also assumed a grapefruit juice base would be ideal, since it's both pink and non-sweet. I wanted to add, therefore, that if you use grapefruit you should absolutely label it as such near the bowl. Lots and lots of prescription medications interact with grapefruit juice.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 4:24 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]

Last spring I made rhubarb syrup, and served it with sparkling wine, and it was delicious.
posted by cpdavy at 5:05 PM on March 29, 2015

I'm a fan of this Aperol & gin punch. Not at all sweet.
posted by crush-onastick at 6:37 PM on March 29, 2015

Response by poster: Such great suggestions! You guys gave me a lot of options to consider. Based on the prosecco/sangria ideas, I ended up choosing this raspberry limoncello prosecco punch with the addition of muddled raspberries, raspberry vodka, and a splash of juice to give it a pink tint. I've made negroni's for this crowd before with mixed reactions--guess I'll stick to the Campari in my own cocktails.

ArbitraryAndCapricious, that gin punch looks fantastic. I'm absolutely going to make it, but perhaps adjusting the simple syrup/crème de framboise ratio.

Thanks everyone.
posted by turniphead at 11:27 AM on April 3, 2015