Friday Cocktail: Red Nose Punch

By Eliza Martin

Credit: Helen Rosner

In one of my favorite childhood memories, I curl up in my mother's lap as the characters from the movie White Christmas dance and sing merrily on the TV screen. My mother holds her night cap in one hand while the other softly scratches my five-year-old head. The warm aroma of her habitual mix of bourbon and cranberry juice wafts from the glass tumbler, which reflects the soft living room light, making me feel completely at ease.

Now an adult, my love for bourbon is inescapable. When throwing a holiday party, I have to include it in my beverage offerings�ideally with something fruity and bold yet sweet and mellow that balances the bourbon and can satisfy a range of tastes. So when I found this punch recipe, I couldn't have been more delighted. The honeyed warmth of bourbon is enhanced with the addition of a sweet, spicy cinnamon syrup while Mom's favorite, cranberry juice, mingles with lime to create a delightfully tart nip. But the best part of this punch is the surprising addition of beer, which adds just the slightest earthy note and the perfect amount of fizz to make my punch and party-ready.

See the recipe for Red Nose Punch »