Ti’ Punch

Short for French “petit” punch, this is the national drink of the French Caribbean island of Martinique.

This drink has a bit of a tradition in Martinique. If you call for a Ti’ Punch, you’ll often be served a small dish of sugar, a few lime coins, and a whole bottle of rum agricole. “Chacun prépare sa proper mort” or “each prepares his own death,” as they say. You have all the means to do so at your table.

Interesting that they also assume you’re a good person and won’t swig the whole bottle…

• 2 oz rum agricole (unaged; traditionally, or aged)

• 1 tsp cane sugar syrup (1:1)

• quarter-size lime disk, with ~10 drops of lime juice

Mix rum and simple syrup in an old-fashioned glass (no ice). Extra points for using a swizzle stick. Cut a quarter-sized lime disk with some flesh still attached and squeeze juice over – should yield about 15 drops of lime juice. Traditionally served up without ice.

Honestly, the drink is however you want it. We tried it with ice, and can see some days calling for it 

So how does it taste? Very funky, fruity, and powerful. Rum Agricole is a French-style “rum” distilled from fermented cane juice as opposed to typical molasses.