Drinks served from a pitcher — or any other big, beautiful container — are the calling card of a happy, casual party. Serve-yourself style has never been prettier or easier with the help of cocktail and entertaining pro Colleen Mullaney.
Mango Tango (above)
Serves 12
4 cups mango nectar
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups dark rum
1 cup light rum
1 cup guava nectar
1 cup apricot juice
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
Lime and lemon slices for garnish
Combine ingredients for punch and
mix well. Add ice, then serve immediately from a punch bowl
or drinks dispenser.
Nantucket Lemonade
Serves 12
5 cups lemonade
2 cups cranberry juice
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 cups vodka
2 cups ginger ale, chilled
4 cups ice cubes
Frozen cranberries and lemon slices for garnish
Combine the lemonade, cranberryjuice, lime juice and vodka in the punch bowl or drinks dispenser and mix well.
Just before serving, pour in the ginger ale. Add the ice cubes. Garnish with the frozen cranberries and lemon slices and serve immediately.
Melon Melody
Serves 8
4 cups pineapple juice
2 cups vodka
¾ cup Midori (melon liqueur)
½ cup cream of coconut
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
½ cantaloupe, chilled
¼ honeydew melon, chilled
2 slices watermelon, chilled
4 cups crushed ice
Mix all of the ingredients in punch bowl or drinks dispenser.
Cut the melons into ½-inch balls using a melon baller. Thread the melon balls onto large cocktail picks.
Add crushed ice to the punch. Garnish glasses with the melon ball swizzles and serve immediately.
Margarita Madness
Serves 12
3 cups agave silver tequila
2 cups pear nectar
1 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup Cointreau
½ cup Grand Marnier
3 limes, thinly sliced
6 cups ice
Coarse salt to rim glasses (optional)
Combine tequila, pear nectar, lime juice, Cointreau and Grand Marnier in a punch bowl or drinks dispenser. Place lime slices around the rim for guests to serve themselves. Add the ice and serve immediately. If desired, moisten rims of glasses with lime slice and dip in shallow dish of salt.
Get more great drink recipes in Punch by Colleen Mullaney. $22, amazon.com
Photo Credit: Jack Deutsch
