Ti' Punch
A French Caribbean classic of raw rhum agricole, cane syrup and an oily disc of lime: simple, sharp and aromatic.
Ingredients
- Rhum Agricole, raw rhum agricole blance.g. Rhum Clément60 ml
- Lime, cut as a thick disc from the side of a lime, peel on1 wheel
- Simple syrup, cane syrup (1 part Sugar, 1 part Water)5 ml
Method
- Put the cane syrup in a small rocks glass.
- Add the lime disc and press it lightly against the glass to release its oils and juice.
- Add the rhum agricole.
- Stir or swizzle briefly until the syrup and lime oils are mixed; don't shake it.
- Serve with one large ice cube, if you like, and a small spoon so the guest can adjust the balance.
About this drink
Ti' Punch is the everyday drink of Martinique and Guadeloupe, built on rhum agricole, rum distilled from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, which gives it its green, grassy character. The name means 'little punch', and tradition says each guest adjusts the balance of rum, sugar and lime to taste: 'chacun prépare sa propre mort', each prepares their own death. It is built straight in the glass and never stirred too hard; the oils in the lime peel matter as much as the juice.
Questions and answers
Why is a Ti' Punch built in the glass without a shaker?
That is the drink's whole philosophy: a minimal, honest mix of rum, lime and syrup where the guest adjusts the balance with a small spoon, instead of a bartender shaking it to a fixed recipe.
Which rum should I use for a Ti' Punch?
Traditionally rhum agricole from Martinique or Guadeloupe, made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses. Its green, grassy funk is the whole point of the drink.
