A Memorial Day Punch with Steve Wildy

We’re celebrating the unofficial start of summer with a tropically-inspired cocktail that’s light and fruity without being too sweet and simple enough to make in big batches for parties - the perfect Memorial Day punch! And as Steve Wildy, beverage director for our terrain cafes tells us, it’s easily customizable to suit your beverage needs all season long. Read on for the recipe and his suggestions for making it your own. And if you're looking to seriously stock up your bar cart, our collection of handmade Morris Kitchen cocktail mixers are our secret weapon at summer parties, no matter the occassion.

Watermelon Tiki Punch

2 oz. watermelon juice
2 oz. Morris pineapple lime tiki mixer
1.5 oz. white rum
1 dash Absinthe (optional)
Ice
Garnish with blueberries and white straw

Combine contents into a cocktail shaker and shake. Multiply recipe by six to fill a one quart pitcher without ice.

Steve says, “nothing kicks off summer like adding a touch of tiki to your backyard beverages. This drink begins with two all-American summer fruit staples - watermelon and blueberries - and then veers off into the exotic with the addition of Morris' delightful vanilla and coconut-scented Pineapple Lime Tiki mixer. Batch this in pitchers as an easy way to punch up your Memorial Day festivities, then keep the recipe handy to riff throughout the summer with other fruits and spirits.”

And for mixology aficionados, Steve encourages “further exploring authentic tiki notes by layering aged rums, adding dashes of Absinthe, bitters, high-end Curacao, and spiced syrups, or even making your own orgeat! Don't forget to add a white garnish (flowering mint, edible orchid, etc) or white straw to play of the red and blue as an easy nod to the holiday theme.”