Out of Office: A Clarified Tequila Milk Punch

Recipe: Matt Koch , Redd Wood , Rochester, New York

Photo: Abby Quatro

August 18, 2025

Margarita vibes in a silky sipper.

For a summery take on clarified milk punch, batch up this Out of Office cocktail by Matt Koch of Redd Wood in Rochester, New York. The mix of reposado tequila, watermelon pink peppercorn juice, and lime gives watermelon Margarita vibes in a silky sipper.

Ingredients

Yield:7 servings

Clarified Milk Punch
8 oz. watermelon pink peppercorn juice
6 oz. reposado tequila
4 oz. fresh lime juice
3 oz. agave nectar (or simple syrup)
1 healthy pinch of salt
10 oz. milk

Tools:mixing glass, barspoon
Glass:Old Fashioned
Garnish:isomalt peppercorn candy

Preparation

Watermelon pink peppercorn juiceBlend 1 mini watermelon (about 1l) with 3 tsp. of pink peppercorn, fine strain, and set aside. Will keep for 1 day.
Clarified Milk PunchCombine 8 oz. of watermelon juice with all of the cocktail ingredients, except the milk, and combine to fully incorporate. Slowly pour the mixture over the milk in another container and let sit for 15-20 minutes on the counter.

With a paper cone or coffee filter and 2 empty vessels, pour the curdled mix and strain into one vessel. Watch for the stream to slow down and immediately transfer to the other vessel. Slowly pour the contents from the first vessel back into the filter. It will take a while for the contents to fully strain. Will keep for 2 months properly sealed and refrigerated.
To Serve the CocktailTake 3 1/2 oz. of your clarified mixture, stir in a mixing glass, and serve over a large ice cube. Garnish.