Zodiac Punch

Recipe: Justin Hazelton , Leah & Louise , Charlotte, North Carolina

Photo: Jonathan Cooper

September 10, 2020

Rum and plums star in this seasonal gem.

At Leah & Louise in Charlotte, North Carolina, Justin Hazelton uses seasonal ingredients in the rotating Zodiac Punch to highlight qualities of each astrological sign. For the fall edition, he uses plums at their ripest to “display a balance and detail that only the perfectionist Virgo can attain,” he says.

Ingredients

2 oz. añejo rum (Hazelton uses Havana Club)
1 oz. mint syrup
1 oz. plum purée
½ oz. fresh lime juice
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Soda water, top

Tools:shaker, strainer
Glass:oversized snifter
Garnish:mint sprig, dehydrated lime wheel (or fresh)

Preparation

Combine all of the ingredients in a shaker with ice, then shake to chill. Strain into large snifter over crushed ice, top with soda water, then garnish.

Mint syrup: Combine 12 oz. of simple syrup (1:1) with 6 mint sprigs (blanched) in blender for 1 minute. Let flavors infuse for 2 minutes. Strain through fine mesh strainer.

Plum purée: Peel the skin of 6 plums and remove seeds. Blend the plums with 8 ounces of water and 4 ounces of sugar. Strain through fine mesh strainer.