Perhaps your first encounter with punch was sneaking a sip of something warm and tingly at a “grown-up” holiday party when you could barely see over the buffet table. Maybe it was later in life, at a wedding shower or anniversary party or another momentous, festive occasion.
Regardless of when and where you had your first sip of punch, the sentiment remains: Punch is for celebration. Community. Warmth. Joy.
All of these make punch the perfect drink for the holiday season.
“The holidays are about enjoying the company of family and friends, and nothing seems to enhance the celebratory spirit of the season quite like a fragrant, easy-drinking punch,” said Michael Lennox, owner and managing partner of Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall. “Especially in this fast-paced world, there’s something uniquely old-fashioned and comforting about gathering around a table and sharing a classic punch bowl with loved ones.”
Trip Sandifer, the Painted Pin beverage manager, agreed: “The idea of sharing libations and dipping into a punch bowl is a throwback to an era of celebration.”
That throwback theme sees punch popping up on beverage lists in bars across the country, including Atlanta.
Another reason: In an era of $15 hand-shaken cocktails, punch is easy on the pocketbook
“Not only are punches a great centerpiece for a group outing or celebration, but they are a less expensive alternative to an individual cocktail or bottle service,” said David Reed, owner-bartender at Supply & Demand.
So, grab your friends and head to one of these five bars for a taste of punch that captures the flavor and spirit of the holidays.
Plantation eggnog at H. Harper Station
It doesn’t get more seasonal than eggnog. And what’s not to love? Cream, eggs, booze and more booze. H. Harper makes this seasonal drink from scratch daily, mixing the cream, egg whites and yolks by hand, pouring in bourbon and rum for double the kick, and then sprinkling it with nutmeg for extra holiday flavor. The punch is available by the glass for $5, but call ahead by 6 p.m. the day of your visit, and the staff will whip up a bowl for you and serve it in one of the many antique punch bowls that proprietors Krista and Jerry Slater have collected over the years. The bowl of punch is $60 and serves six to eight, depending on how much you feel like sharing.
904 Memorial Dr. S.E., Atlanta. 678-732-0415, hharperstation.com.
Gin punch at the Painted Pin
Generally, bowling means ugly shoes and a cheap bucket of brew, but Painted Pin is not your typical bowling alley. This Buckhead hotspot, which also boasts indoor bocce courts, ping-pong tables and more, serves cocktails and punches on par with the best bars in town. You can’t go wrong with the gin punch, which layers bubbly on top of gin for holiday pizazz. Sandifer adds lemon, plus grapefruit and orange extracts, for extra, well, punch. It’s $9 by the glass or $36 by the bowl.
737 Miami Circle N.E., Atlanta. 404-814-8736, thepaintedpin.com.
Holiday punch at Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall
While taking a stroll or ride on the Belt Line, stop by Ladybird for shareable snacks and seasonal punches. The bar is known for its custom punch batches, like the holiday punch, made with spice-infused rum for warmth and holiday flavor, blood orange syrup for tartness and brightness, and ginger beer for extra sugar and booze. A small bowl serves eight and costs $55. Priced at $100, the large bowl serves 16 — or maybe just the same eight thirsty people.
684 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-458-6838, ladybirdatlanta.com.
A Midwinter’s Night at Publik Draft House
Fend off the winter chill with this gin-based punch. Aperol, an Italian aperitif with flavors like bitter orange and rhubarb, plus orange and Angostura bitters, adds extra bite and nuance. As if that’s not festive enough, Publik tops this bountiful bowl — which serves eight to 10 and costs $40 — with a bottle of Champagne, along with oranges and fresh berries.
653 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-885-7505, publikatl.com.
A-Always. B-Be. C-Closing at Supply & Demand
Buckhead speakeasy Supply & Demand is known for its vesseled cocktails — ornate, etched decanters with mixed drinks served on ice and designed to share among four to eight people. In the A-Always. B-Be. C-Closing, the sweetness of bourbon is combined with mint syrup, pink grapefruit juice and Angostura bitters for a balanced mix of sweet, tart, bitter and boozy, plus a splash of tonic water for some extra sparkle and fizz.
3223 Cains Hill Place, Atlanta. supplydemandatl.com.
