It’s been cold (by Southern California standards) here lately, so I tried to find a recipe for Whiskey Punch.
I found a few different recipes, so I tried a happy compromise. Then I tried it with Irish Tea instead of hot water. Eventually I ended up with a hot cup of Irish Tea, 3 cloves, a spoon of sugar to taste, a squeeze of lemon, and a goodly splash of Whiskey. I like it, though it may be very wrong.
So here’s my questions:
What’s a basic traditional recipe for Irish Whiskey Punch?
Is making it with tea instead of hot water some kind of heresy?
Do people order Punch in a Pub in Ireland, and if “yes” what would you call it?
Might one order Punch with tea instead of hot water in a Pub in Ireland without fear of being boxed about the ears?
Most places I’ve been in Ireland it’s called a 'Hot Whiskey". I’ve never heard of it being made with tea, usually hot water, but, hey, if you like it that way, more power to you. I’m sure about the ear boxing stuff, though, never thought to ask for it that way. When I make it at home (for the wife of course, I don’t drink) I make with a cup of hot water, stir in the sugar, pierce a lemon wedge (thinnish) with 4 or 5 cloves, add that to the hot sugar water, then add a shot or so of good whiskey. Hey, the smell enough is enough to knock me on my a**. Lovely stuff. Great for a cold, too!!
The term “Punch” comes from the Hindi “panch” meaning five. (There’s a particular blend of spices which is called “panch foran” which I use to cook caulifower.) The term dates from the days of the Raj.
So there are five ingredients.
Whiskey or whisky. Your choice.
Boiling water. Hot water in America, as it seems that’s all you can get.
3 whole cloves. Chuck them in.
A spoonful of honey. Some people prefer sugar. Your choice.
The juice of a quarter of a lemon.
A wonderful specific against colds and flu. And a very agreeable drink, especially on a cold night. A whisky tumbler holds half a pint, and should have a thick base, so that the boiling water doesn’t crack the glass. If you put the whiskey in first, that is unlikely anyway.
Is making it with Tea instead of water some kind of heresy?
Yes. But we are tolerant people. We don’t mind you having it that way as long as you don’t force it on us.
Do people order punch in a pub in Ireland?
I have never heard of such a thing. Not since Victorian times. Possibly there are pubs where it might be done, but I would be inclined to make careful and discreet enquiries rather than simply asking for a “whisky punch”. Pubs in the UK and Ireland are not quite so geared up to “complicated” drinks: a whisky punch would be regarded as a cocktail in many places. Hotels (generally speaking) might be a better bet. In my experience American Bars will happily claim to make cocktails, but might substitute something like wood-alcohol for rare (in America) liquors like Raki and Pernod. In the UK and Ireland they will simply tell you “no”. But we do have some bottles of stuff which seem not to make their way across the Atlantic.
In many pubs asking for a whisky punch will furnish you with entirely the wrong kind of punch. Outside of Dublin in the more hospitable places they will do their level best to supply you with what you desire, but the puzzlement will be persistent.
Will asking for it to be made with tea result in being boxed about the ears?
If you manage to get that far, you are probably safe. You could ask for it to be made with lychee juice or malt vinegar with much the same puzzlement, but a hospitable willingness to please.
I dunno why it’ so hard to find a kettle…I have three; one for upstairs, one for downstairs, and an emergency backup.
All three are made by Revereware, all three bought locally, and they’re quite nice! This is what my kettles look like, though they make others that are neat looking.
My wife uses kettles for making tea. I use the microwave to boil 1-2 cups of water at a time as needed when cooking. I imagine a lot of folks use the microwave method these days.
Have you ever tried nuked water next to kettle boiled water? To me it tastes slightly different.
I also like the way that I have better control over the actual temperature of my water in the kettle (for Yerba Mate, one does not use “boiling” water)
Maybe I should have said electric kettle - in the UK we don’t bother mentioning electric as 95% of people have this sort.
I needed a (preferably small travelling) kettle to make a cup of tea in the various hotel rooms we stayed in on our trip . I can keep milk fresh in the ice bucket (ice machines are one area where the US is light years ahead of the UK).
Most UK hotels and B&Bs rooms will be provided with a kettle, teabags and instant coffee, and usually some biscuits (the UK kind), as they know if you give the English a cuppa and a digestive, they won’t complain about the curtains that don’t meet, the dripping showerhead, or the 5’ long sheets on the 6’ bed.
Well over here we just ask for a hot whiskey and usually state whether you want “jamie”/"paddy"etc.
You can usually ask for it without cloves and lemon!
why you can even ask for it without the sugar and hot water
but best of all is if you use poitin instead of whiskey (at home of course!)
…well, since Doug makes such amazing PVC simple system flutes for such low prices, I just assumed he was entitled to a few eccentricities.
You have my permission to drink whatever you want Doug. Oh, and thanks for the great flute - considering the material and the price, it’s downright astonishing (good).
Hmmmm “Bunratty Pocheen” sounds like something really tacky and touristy!
I meant something from erm say the likes of a “certain” area on the Cavan/Fermanagh border
Anyways feel quite free to stroll into any irish bar and ask for “a hot jameson please with cloves/lemon and sugar thanks!” (quite confidently!).
You could always get an irish coffee!!
Irish Coffee
Ingredients
1 Measure (3 cl) of Irish Whiskey
1 teaspoon of raw sugar
1 heaped desertspoon of whipped cream
Hot strong coffee to fill the glass
Pre-warm a stemmed glass. Add the whiskey.
Add the sugar and stir in the coffee.
Float the whipped cream on top.
Drink the coffee through the cream (ie do not stir after adding the cream).
It’ so true!
