Party Punch Cocktail Recipes
If you’re the kind of host that likes to make the most out of their parties, then a party punch is a great way to start. A party punch is a large-batch beverage (either with or without alcohol) that you make in advance of a gathering, so guests can help themselves rather than wait for a drink to be mixed on the spot. Typically, a party punch is both fruity (containing juices) and fizzy (containing bubbles such as tonic, seltzer or soda). The trick with fizzy ingredients is that it’s best to add them to any cocktails upon serving. Otherwise, the bubbles may go flat.
At Mad River Distillers, we’ve created a few different cocktail recipes that scale up really well, so you can mix up a big batch from home in advance of your next social gathering.
Here are three of our favorite party punch recipes:
Ingredients - Yields 12 Cocktails:
-12 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-24 oz. of fresh Apple Cider
-3 oz. of Vermont maple syrup
-6 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-6 oz. of fresh orange juice
-1 Tbsp of Angostura Bitters
-Stowe Cider Dry & High (hard cider to top)
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients, except for the hard cider, in a large bowl. Mix well. Serve into a punch cup over ice, and top with the hard cider. Add an orange and lemon wedge for garnish.
Ingredients - Yields 5 Cocktails:
-1 container of Newman's Own Orange Mango Tango
-3 oz. of Rum 44
-3 oz. of First Run Rum
-1 oz. of Vanilla Rum
-1 oz. of Maple Cask Rum
-1 oz. of PX Rum
-1 oz. of Angostura Bitters
-1.5 oz. of fresh lemon juice
-1 oz. of fresh lime juice
-12 dashes of Grapefruit Bitters
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a large glass jar or pitcher. Give the ingredients a gentle shake, then store in the refrigerator overnight. Serve in a Collins glass filled with ice, and garnish each glass with a lime wedge.
Ingredients - Yields 12 Cocktails:
-18 oz. of Rum 44
-12 oz. of unsweetened cranberry juice
-9 oz. of simple syrup
-6 oz. of fresh lime juice
-36 dashes of Floyd Wild Plum Bitters
-Fever Tree Tonic
Instructions:
Add all ingredients, except the tonic, in a punch bowl. Stir well to combine. Serve over ice into a stemless wine glass, then top with tonic. Garnish with a candied cranberry (cranberry rolled in sugar), an orange wheel and fresh mint.
Want a couple other tips to serve your party punch without a hitch? Don’t add ice to your punch in advance. Instead, chill it in the fridge before the party, and only add ice when serving. Adding ice in advance will dilute the drink. Also, consider the strength of the cocktail. If you decide to experiment with your own party punch ingredients, you’ll want more ounces of the non-alcoholic ingredients, so the beverage isn’t too strong for your guests.
As always, if you find yourself in need of ingredients to make your own party punch, be sure to visit the retail section of our Burlington Tasting Room. Not only can you find all the rums you’ll need to make our famous Rum Punch, but you can find other ingredients like simple syrup, bitters, tonic and even maple syrup. Cheers!
Written and published by Brianne Lucas on October 13, 2025.
