Cardinal Punch

Name: Cardinal Punch Recipe (Classic Brandy & Champagne)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 dz lemons; 1 pt Old Mr. Boston Five Star Brandy; 1 pt Old Mr. Boston Imported Rum; 1 pt Champagne; 2 qt Claret; 1 qt Carbonated Water; 1/2 pt Sweet Vermouth

Cardinal Punch is a sophisticated party punch that combines brandy, rum, Champagne, and Claret with fresh lemon juice and vermouth. It's designed as a large-format mixed drink for gatherings, balancing strong spirits with wine and carbonation.

🏷️Equipment: punch cup

Total

5 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Medium

Est. Cost

$16–$26

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From Mr. Boston Drinks · by Old Mr. Boston De Luxe Official Bartender's Guide

Ingredients

1 dz lemons
1 pt Old Mr. Boston Five Star Brandy

1 pt Old Mr. Boston Imported Rum

1 pt Champagne

2 qt Claret

1 qt Carbonated Water

1/2 pt Sweet Vermouth

7 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Juice of 1 Dozen Lemons
2
Add enough Powdered Sugar to sweeten.
3
Place large block of ice in punch bowl and stir well.
4
Boston Five Star Brandy
5
Boston Imported Rum
6
Carbonated Water
7
Sweet Vermouth
8
Some prefer to add the strained contents of a pot of tea.
9
Stir well and decorate with fruits in season.
10
Serve in 4 oz.
11
punch glasses.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is essential—bottled juice will dull the bright citrus balance that defines this punch.
Add carbonated water just before serving to maintain carbonation and prevent the punch from going flat.
Chill a large punch bowl with ice and strain the pre-mixed spirits and wines into it before adding the carbonated water.
Taste and adjust lemon juice to your preference; the proportions given are traditional but flexibility allows for personal tartness.

Substitutions

Old Mr. Boston Five Star Brandy → any neutral, non-oak-forward brandy (e.g., VS Cognac); flavor will soften slightly
Old Mr. Boston Imported Rum → light or gold rum; avoid dark rum as it will overpower citrus notes
Champagne → dry sparkling wine or Prosecco (drier style preferred)
Claret → dry red wine (Bordeaux blend, Pinot Noir) of similar tannin structure

Storage & make-ahead

Cardinal Punch is best served fresh; prepare components separately up to 4 hours ahead and combine just before serving. Do not store mixed punch overnight.

Equipment

punch bowl · citrus juicer · large mixing pitcher or bowl · strainer or bar spoon

Common Questions

Can I make Cardinal Punch ahead of time?

Mix the brandy, rum, vermouth, and lemon juice several hours ahead, then add Champagne, Claret, and carbonated water just before serving to preserve fizz.

What's the difference between Cardinal Punch and other punch recipes?

Cardinal Punch uses equal parts brandy and rum with Champagne and Claret wine, creating a spirit-forward, wine-enriched base rather than a fruit-juice-based punch.