Cheers!

Drink Easy and
Mix Up Some Punch

Back in the day, when Americans wanted to efficiently spread some holiday cheer, they pulled out their ladles and mixed up a punch—as complex as a cocktail and as drinkable as Champagne, while being more potent than both. Not to mention, a helluva lot more easy to mix up. When you're hosting, the day is hard enough. Trying to man a bar and shake cocktails would be a suicide mission. Punch, however, is a self-serve proposition and adds some old school, festive charm to a holiday event. You can even mix it up the night before—meaning no mess or worries on the day of. Here are four of our favorites to try this season.

Earl Grey & Bourbon Punch

Earl Grey & Bourbon Punch

This one's almost healthy—honey, earl grey tea and fresh lemon juice ground the elixir that's finished with fresh thyme and a few heavy splashes of bourbon and Cognac.

Get the recipe at Bon Appétit »

Gin Mezcal Grapefruit Punch

Gin Mezcal Grapefruit Punch

Fresh grapefruit and lime juice bring a rush of seasonal citrus into this big-batch cocktail that mixes the botanical crispness of a gin with the smoky smoothness of a mezcal.

Get the recipe at Apartment Bartender »

Chilled Cider Punch

Chilled Cider Punch

Effervescent with ginger beer and hard cider, and spiked with a generous dose of whiskey, this combines the fall flavors of a mulled cider with the celebratory feel of a sparkling cocktail.

Get the recipe at Savuer »

Smoky Sage Punch

Smoky Sage Punch

A bright and citrus-packed gin punch that balances the herbaceous flavors of a good gin with deep, earthy notes from fresh sage leaves and the unexpectedly smoky tea.

Get the recipe at Serious Eats »

How to Serve It

A traditional punch bowl works, of course, but you can go a number of ways.