Mezcal Royale Punch

By Rebekah Peppler

Total Time: 15 minutes, plus at least 3 hours’ chilling
Rating: 4(105)
Notes: Read community notes

This bright, thoroughly modern combination of lime, blanc vermouth, mezcal and Cognac is topped, in a nod to classic Champagne punches, with sparkling red wine. If you don’t have sparkling red, opt for a dry Lambrusco, sparkling rosé or even a sparkling white. Using a sparkling white eliminates the festive color but keeps the effervescence. When choosing glasses or tea cups or ceramics to serve punch, be sure to err on the smaller side. Punch should be served in smaller portions — and refilled often.

Featured in: These 3 Punches Will Get the Party Started and Keep It Going

Learn: How to Make Cocktails

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Ingredients

Yield:18 to 20 (4-ounce) drinks

8limes
¾cup granulated sugar
1½cups/12 ounces blanc vermouth
¾cup/6 ounces mezcal
¾cup/6 ounces Cognac or brandy
3cups/24 ounces club soda
1(750-milliliter) bottle cold, dry sparkling red wine, Lambrusco or sparkling rosé

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Step 1
Peel 4 limes and place the peels in a medium bowl (if using a muddler) or a medium jar (if using the end of a rolling pin to muddle); reserve the limes. Add the sugar and work it into the peels until they start to turn slightly translucent, about 2 minutes. Set aside at room temperature for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Step 2
Juice the reserved limes (you should have about ¾ cup juice; you may need to juice 1 or 2 of the remaining limes) and add to the lime peel mixture. Stir (or cover and shake the jar) until the sugar dissolves. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing on the solids and transfer to a large bowl. (The mixture can also be stored in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.)
Step 3
Add the vermouth, mezcal, Cognac and 2 cups cold water; stir to combine. Pour the mixture into resealable bottles or jars, and cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
Step 4
To serve, pour the mixture into a large punch or serving bowl. Add the club soda and stir gently to combine. Fill individual punch glasses with ice and ladle the punch into the glasses; top each with a splash of sparkling red wine and a lime slice.

Ratings

4 out of 5

105 user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Wallace Watson1 year ago

Just wondering — okay to put sparkling wine in the bowl rather than top off each glass? Would save a lot of work…

IH5 months ago

Loved this recipe! Was a huge hit at my party. If your going for that look make sure to serve them small otherwise they will just look like sparkling red wine. I used Lambrusco and it was perfect.

LF5 months ago

Followed another reviewer's suggestion to increase the mezcal and brandy to 1 cup each and another's reviewer's suggestion to decrease the sugar to 1/2 cup. Topped each glass with a lambrusco float. Complex and refreshing, will make again.

Scratch6 months ago

This was excellent (I had an empty punch bowl to take home). The mezcal is cut by everything else and is discernible but not pronounced. For those asking about the sparking float - my Lambrusco was nearly rose, so I added the bottle to the punch bowl once I realized that the float wasn’t going to give me the result from the photo. It turned the punch a lovely pale rose, and I really liked the slightly sour note it added. I also added ice to the punch bowl (large cubes that melted slowly).

Jessica6 months ago

This was a huge hit at my Christmas party! People were asking for the recipes. A well balanced drink. Will definitely make again!

MC6 months ago

I made this for a Christmas party, and everyone loved it. I couldn't believe how complex it tasted given how little work was involved. The mezcal is present, but it's not too overpowering. Just a well balanced and festive drink. Will definitely make this again!

Elizabeth1 year ago

I made this for Christmas exactly as written and it was a huge hit! Don't add the wine to the punch bowl -- it won't be as pretty (see the picture with the recipe -- that's how it will look if you add the wine to each punch glass).

MikeSee9011 year ago

Big hit at the holidays with palettes of all kinds : ) Not to smoky, a bit complex. We did Rosa Regale to add more sweet for the crowd. Will be making this one again!

lonima1 year ago

The punch was a huge hit. I did make a few modifications. I switched tequila for mezcal (I didn’t know if the guests would all like the smokiness of mezcal) and increased the brandy and tequila from 3/4 cup to 1 cup. It was a HUGE hit. Everyone wanted the recipe. And don’t sub out the Lambrusco. It was so colorful and festive.

mark1 year ago

Thought this was great. Made exactly as directed, except 2/3 sugar and 3/4 cognac to cut down on sweetness and pungency. Was a hit at a holiday dinner party and looked pretty too.

Not a bartender1 year ago

In response to the other comment, use the Lambrusco for a splash, don’t mix it in. We used honey (maybe 1/4 cup) instead of sugar and it tasted great.

Wallace Watson1 year ago

Just wondering — okay to put sparkling wine in the bowl rather than top off each glass? Would save a lot of work…

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