Orange Basil Rum Punch

By SippitySup

This Orange Basil Rum Punch is a great party drink. It serves quite a few and is best made by the pitcher or jug. Oranges keep it fun, and sweet. But I love the way the basil and lime cuts through the rum to give this cocktail a refreshing edge.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 2 cups semi-packed fresh basil leaves, divided
• 1 (750ml) bottle white rum
• 2 oranges, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• Club soda to taste
• Garnish of your choice

Details

Servings 10
Preparation time 60mins
Cooking time 60mins

Preparation

Step 1

Make the basil simple syrup: Place the sugar and the water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar has dissolved remove the syrup from the heat.

Add 1 cup of the basil leaves to the saucepan. Allow the syrup to sit for at least 1 hour before straining through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the basil leaves. Store the syrup in an airtight container and place in the refrigerator until ready to use. Syrup will keep, refrigerated, for several weeks.

Make the cocktail: In a large pitcher combine basil syrup, rum, orange slices, and lime juice. Let the mixture sit for about one hour so that the flavors may come together.

Just before serving add the remaining basil leaves to the pitcher.

To Serve: Fill a festive party glass with ice cubes and pour about 6 ounces of the rum mixture into the glass. Top with club soda to taste. Garnish with sprigs of basil, mint, and/or orange or lime slices according to your preference.