Earl Grey Rum Punch Food

CLARIFIED MILK PUNCH

Steps:

• Heat 2 1/4 cups of water to 208 degrees F. If you have an electric kettle with a temperature setting, great. If not, bring the water to a boil in a saucepan, kill the heat and count to 20. Pour the water over the teabags into a quart vessel and steep 3 minutes before removing the bags. (Do not wring out or squeeze the bags.)
• Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir to dissolve. Then add the port, rum, Allspice Dram, and lemon juice. Cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
• Pour the milk into a glass pitcher and then follow with the tea mixture. (Yes, it will curdle.) Park on counter for 1 hour. Do not shake, stir or molest in any way. Just let the magic happen. Oh, and make sure the tea goes into the milk, not the other way around.
• Line a large, fine-mesh sieve with a commercial-sized coffee filter (we like those made for 1.5-gallon machines) and strain the mixture into a wide, 4-quart container. Once completely filtered, typically about 1 hour, transfer to a quart jar or pitcher and chill to serve. (See Cook's Note.)
• Store tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
• Heat a heavy skillet over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Toast the allspice berries until fragrant, about 1 minute, then roughly crush.
• Combine the rum and crushed allspice berries in a quart-sized glass jar, seal the lid tightly and give it a good shake. Steep for 10 days.
• Strain the allspice-infused rum through a fine-mesh sieve into a small saucepan and add the sugar. Heat over low, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature before storing in a glass jar or bottle.
• Note: Any overproof rum will work here, meaning any rum over 50 percent ABV. But navy-strength rum, typically bottled at 57 percent ABV, is my favorite. Just remember: The higher the ABV of the rum, the higher the ABV of your resulting dram.

EARL GREY-BOURBON PUNCH

Steps:

• Combine tea and 1 1/4 cups boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Let steep 5 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a measuring glass (you should have 1 cup). Let cool.
• Meanwhile, bring honey, thyme, 2 rosemary sprigs, and 1/2 cup water to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring to combine. Let cool; discard herbs.
• Combine tea, honey syrup, lemon juice, bourbon, Cognac, and bitters in a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add 2 cups ice and stir until ice is melted and punch is very cold.
• Serve punch in tumblers filled with ice, garnished with rosemary sprigs and lemon wheels.
• Do Ahead
• Syrup and tea can be made 3 days ahead; cover separately and chill. Punch can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

EARL GREY RUM PUNCH

Steps:

• Mix rum and tea in small bowl; let stand 1 hour. Strain mixture into 2-cup glass measuring cup. Mix in pineapple juice and next 5 ingredients. Fill 2 highball glasses with ice. Pour punch over. Garnish with fresh apricot wedges, if desired.

SPARKLING EARL GREY PUNCH

Steps:

• Cut 3 clementines into wheels and thin wedges. Pour 6 cups of cold water into a Bundt pan and arrange clementines and thyme sprigs around the pan pushing into the water. Freeze until solid, about 6 hours.
• Remove zest from remaining 1 clementine, in wide strips with a vegetable peeler, leaving white pith behind. Combine zest, tea, ginger, honey, cloves and 6 cups boiling water in a large, heat-proof bowl or pitcher. Cover and let steep 5 minutes. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, discard remains and transfer tea to a large pitcher. Let cool; stir in orange juice and whiskey and chill until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 8.
• When ready to serve, dip the Bundt pan into a bowl of hot water to loosen the ice and place in a punch bowl. Pour tea and Cava into punch bowl. Serve in tea cups.

EARL GREY RUM PUNCH

Steps:

• Mix rum and tea in small bowl; let stand 1 hour.
• Strain mixture into 2-cup glass measuring cup.
• Mix in pineapple juice and next 5 ingredients.
• Fill 2 highball glasses with ice.
• Pour punch over.
• Garnish with fresh apricot wedges or pineapple chunks, if desired.