While most people tend to think of summer and beaches when they hear the words “rum punch,” this fall rum punch recipe is here to change all that. The deep, caramelized notes of rum are perfect matches for autumnal flavors like pear and cardamom.
When you’ve been developing homemade cocktail recipes for over a decade like I have, you tend to have some favorite spirits in the bar cabinet. Rum is a favorite of mine for many reasons, but lately it’s been increasing in popularity among other folks, too.
This recipe was inspired by my cardamom simple syrup and my vanilla infused rum recipe. I do recommend making your own cardamom simple syrup. The warm, floral taste of cardamom pairs perfectly with pears (say that three times fast).
why you’ll love this Autumn rum punch recipe:
🪵 warm & cozy. When the seasons are changing, but you’re not into cramming pumpkin puree into anything and everything, this punch is here to help. 🤝 While most traditional rum punch is perfect for summer, this recipe evokes warming flavors that are perfect for cooler fall weather.
🥳 party perfect. It’s always nice to have a good stash of big-batch cocktails ready during the holidays. This rum punch has a fall twist that’s sure to be a huge hit at your next fall gathering!
🍐 harvest pear flavor. Apples and pumpkins tend to take the focus of harvest season, but pears are just as deserving of the spotlight! This punch puts the sweet and delicate flavor of pears at the center of attention!
🛒 ingredients
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🏆 best brands of rum for rum punches
If you think of Malibu, Captain Morgan, or Sailor Jerry when you think of rum…let’s talk. 🥰 Sure, some of my favorite rums have colors and flavors added, but a good rum is meant to be featured, not hidden.
- spiced rum – I love using Old St. Pete spiced rum, Kaloa spiced rum, or Chairman’s Reserve Spiced Rum. If you can’t find any of those, a quality option will always be Bacardi spiced rum!
- dark rum – Contrary to popular belief, aged rum and dark rum are not the same thing. I love using brands like Hamilton Demerara rum, Coruba Dark rum, and Plantation Original Dark rum.
- overproof rum – this type of rum gives regular rum a run for it’s money because it’s like the grappa or everclear of the rum world. Some are light, like Wray and Nephew brand, and some are dark in color, like Hamilton 151 overproof.
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Thinly slice one pear to use the pear slices as a garnish. You’ll need 3 slices per drink.
Step 2: Juice 4-5 lemons to get 1/2 cup of lemon juice, then add it to a pitcher.
Step 3: Pour in the cardamom simple syrup next.
Step 4: Then, add in the pear juice.
Step 5: Lastly, add in the blend of rums.
Step 6: Pour the punch in a pitcher that has been filled with ice if you are serving it right away. Otherwise, store it in the fridge.
Step 7: When serving the punch, garnish each glass with three slices of pears.
Step 8: Top off with a few cardamom pods and a pod of star anise. Serve immediately.
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💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
Choose your glass
- The traditional glass for a rum punch is a collins glass, which has a 12 ounce capacity, but you can use whatever glasses you have on hand. Since this punch is potent, I like using a slightly smaller glass with a 10 ounce capacity.
- Don’t worry about the serving size being 6 ounces—filling the glass with crushed ice ensures that there’s plenty of room for the ice and the punch. The ice is also part of the “weak” part of the rum punch rhyme!
- You can also use cubes of frozen pear nectar!
Garnish
- A garnish is a great way to give “flavor cues” to your guests.
- Garnish with a few cardamom pods and a few thin slices of pear. I also like adding in a whole pod of star anise.
- You can also use a whole cinnamon stick in each glass. Or you can great fresh nutmeg overtop of each drink just before serving!
ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
- too strong – if your punch is still too strong for your preference, you can add in some more pear juice or even water to mellow things out. Classic cocktails like planter’s punch and rum punch have chilled water in the original recipes to compensate for the volume of rum.
- too sweet – if your fall rum punch is too sweet, you can add a floater of rum to your glasses as you serve them.
- too tart – if your lemons are particularly acidic, you may want to add in 2 ounces more of cardamom syrup or pear nectar.
🔆 top tip
You can prepare this punch in advance of your party and keep it in the fridge for up to 48 hours before serving it.
♻️ substitutions & variations
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- silver rum & vanilla extract – if you don’t have time to infuse your own homemade vanilla rum, you can use silver rum and vanilla extract. Follow the quantities on the recipe card for this substitution!
- ground spices – if you don’t have whole sticks of cinnamon and whole nutmeg seeds, you can use a mix of ground cinnamon, ground cardamom, and/or ground nutmeg to lightly dust the top of each cocktail before serving.
- booze-free – if you want to make a zero-proof punch, you can omit the blend of rums and add in ginger beer instead! Ginger beer (or ginger ale) gives this punch an added little fizz, which also adds some fun! You may want to
- apple cider – if you can’t find pear nectar near you, you can make this punch using apple cider! Fresh apple cider mixed with a nice aged rum is one of my favorite fall cocktails to make!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🫙 storage tips
This punch is easy to prepare ahead of time, but I don’t recommend storing it longer than a few days. It’s best to drink it within 48 hours after making it.
💬 q+a
What kinds of rum are best for rum punch?
While the original recipe for rum punch only contained one type of rum, punches have evolved. Most rum punches use a blend of rums, like light rum, dark rum, and spiced rum. Overproof rum, or 151, is also a great choice for homemade rum punch recipes.
Where can you buy pear nectar?
Look for pear nectar, or pear juice, in the juice aisle of your local grocery store. It will likely be by the apple juice on the shelf!
What is the rhyme about rum punch?
The rhyme about the recipe for rum punch is said to come from Barbados. It goes: one of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, and four of weak. While this used to be the best way to get a classic rum punch, this rhyme was made before sugar was easy to get. For today’s sweeter juices and syrups, it’s best to keep a ratio of 1:1:4:6, according to David Wondrich.
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Fall Rum Punch (Easy Autumn Rum Punch Cocktail)
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Equipment
- 1 pitcher
- cocktail glasses
- 1 citrus juicer
- 1 small cutting board
- 1 pairing knife for slicing pears
Ingredients
- 4 ounces lemon juice freshly squeezed, from about medium 4 – 5 lemons (1/2 cup)
- 4 ounces cardamom simple syrup (1/2 cup)
- 6 ounces vanilla infused rum can substitute silver rum + 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract (3/4 cup)
- 6 ounces spiced rum can substitute dark rum (3/4 cup)
- 4 ounces overproof rum (1/2 cup rum)
- 22 ounces pear nectar
- whole spices for topping, such as star anise or freshly grated nutmeg, or a cinnamon stick.
Instructions
- Thinly slice a fresh pear for the garnish.
- Combine all liquid ingredients in a pitcher.
- Give the mix a good stir. Throw some ice cubes in if serving within the hour. If not, put it in the fridge for a couple hours for the flavors to meld.
- Fill each glass with crushed ice or pebble ice.
- Pour 6 ounces of punch into each glass.
- Garnish each glass with a few slices of pear, a few cardamom pods, and a whole star anise pod. You can also use a cinnamon stick or freshly grated nutmeg.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
