Mikes Milk Punch Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Make the vanilla syrup: Combine 1 cup water, the sugar and vanilla bean in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool, then remove the vanilla bean.
• Make the cocktail: Combine 1 ounce vanilla syrup, the rum, bourbon and heavy cream in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until frothy.
• Strain the drink into a coupe glass. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Steps:

• In a pitcher, combine milk, half-and-half, bourbon, sugar and vanilla and stir. Place in freezer until slushy, at least 3 to 4 hours or up to 24 hours. Stir well and serve in chilled glasses, sprinkled with nutmeg.

Steps:

• In a mixing glass three-quarters filled with ice, pour the bourbon, rum, milk or cream, vanilla and simple syrup. Shake vigorously until chilled, about 30 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass. Dust with nutmeg.

Steps:

• Make simple syrup: Over medium heat, combine the sugar with 3/4 cup of water in a saucepan. Stir occasionally, until the mixture is boiling. Reduce heat and let simmer until the mixture is clear and the sugar has completely dissolved, about 8 minutes. Pour into a jar and cool. Refrigerate until cold.
• For the punch, whisk the milk and the ice cream or the heavy cream together in a large pitcher or punch bowl until it is blended. Stir in the spirits and the simple syrup to taste. Refrigerate until chilled. To serve, pour into highball glasses and grate the nutmeg on top.