The Bar-tender's Guide/Imperial Arrack Punch

The Bar-tender's Guide: How to mix all kinds of plain and fancy drinks (1887)
by Jerry Thomas
3879720The Bar-tender's Guide: How to mix all kinds of plain and fancy drinks — Cocktail Drinks1887Jerry Thomas

Imperial Arrack Punch.[1]

  • Take 1 quart of old Batavia Arrack.
  • Take 6 lemons.
  • Take 2 pound of loaf-sugar.
  • Take 1 quart of boiling water.

Cut the lemons into thin slices, and steep them in the Arrack for six hours. Remove the lemons without squeezing them. Dissolve the sugar in the water, and add it while hot to the Arrack. Then let it cool. This makes a fine liqueur which should be thoroughly iced before serving.


  1. Most of the Arrack imported into this country is distilled from rice, and comes from Batavia. It is but little used in America, except to flavor punch the taste of it is very agreeable in this mixture.