Punch Royal Recipes

Steps:

• Peel the lemons with a small knife, trying to get as little of the white pith as possible. Put the lemon peels in a large serving bowl and add the sugar and muddle. Let the lemons and sugar sit for about 1 hour.
• When the hour is up muddle the peels and the sugar again. Add the lemon juice and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the port, rum and cognac and mix to combine. Add the water and a large block of ice (you can freeze water in a smaller bowl the night before or just use available cubes). Grate some nutmeg over the top and ladle into sherry glasses.

Steps:

• Place the peels in a glass pitcher or bowl with the sugar (save the lemons for juicing). Muddle the peels until the sugar looks slightly moistened, then cover and let sit for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
• Add the lemon, cucumber, grapefruit, and orange wheels, Pimm's, orange juice, and lemon juice. Stir until the sugar has completely dissolved and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. You can make this the night before to cut your workload down on New Year's Eve.
• When you are ready to serve, transfer the mixture (including the fruit) to a punch bowl and slowly add the Champagne and the ice. Garnish the bowl with the strawberry slices.
• To serve, ladle into punch glasses.
• This punch can also be served Sangria-style in a pitcher and poured over ice.