Concord Ginger Punch

Name: Concord Ginger Punch
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: about 3 quarts (2.8 L); 12 glasses
Ingredients: 5 cups Concord grape juice, 100% juice, chilled (1.2 L); 1.5 cups bourbon, or 1 1/2 cups more ginger beer for the alcohol-free bowl (360 ml); 0.75 cup fresh lime juice (180 ml); 4 cups ginger beer, chilled (960 ml); 2 oranges, in thin wheels; ice ring or plenty of ice

Concord grape is the flavour of an American autumn, and it makes a punch dark, jammy and different from the usual red. Ginger beer keeps it from tasting like juice. Make it with bourbon for the adults, or make it without and it is a proper drink for everybody.

about 3 quarts (2.8 L); 12 glassesYield

EasyDifficulty

What you'll need

5 cups Concord grape juice, 100% juice, chilled (1.2 L)
1.5 cups bourbon, or 1 1/2 cups more ginger beer for the alcohol-free bowl (360 ml)
0.75 cup fresh lime juice (180 ml)
4 cups ginger beer, chilled (960 ml)
2 oranges, in thin wheels
ice ring or plenty of ice

How to make it

Stir the grape juice, bourbon (if using) and lime juice in the punch bowl.
Add the orange wheels and a big block of ice or an ice ring.
Pour in the ginger beer just before serving and stir once.
Glass: Short tumblers. Garnish: Floating orange wheels.

Chef's secrets

Use a spicy ginger beer; the grape is sweet.

An ice ring made in a bundt pan melts far slower than cubes.

Good to know

Make ahead

Mix the base up to a day ahead. Add ginger beer and ice at the last minute.