CAPE FEAR PUNCH

Cape Fear Punch image

Provided by Alton Brown

Time P1DT30m

Yield approximately 160 ounces or 40 (4-ounce) servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

750 ml rye whiskey
750 ml water
1/2 cup Demerara sugar
3 bags green tea
375 ml rum
375 ml Cognac
4 whole lemons
2 small oranges, thinly sliced
4 small lemons, thinly sliced
2 (750 ml) bottles sparkling wine or Champagne
1 liter seltzer or sparkling water
Ice block
Freshly grated nutmeg

Steps:

For the base:
Pour the rye whiskey into a 4-quart container. Fill the now empty rye whiskey bottle with water, pour into an electric kettle, and bring to a boil. Add the sugar and stir until the temperature drops to 190 degrees F. Place the tea bags in the kettle and steep for 3 minutes.
Add the tea, rum, and Cognac to the whiskey. Peel the zest from the lemons, being careful to remove the white pith. Wrap the lemon bodies in plastic wrap and reserve in the refrigerator. Add the lemon zest to the mixture, and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
For the punch:
Strain the base into a large punch bowl. Juice the reserved lemon bodies and add to the punch bowl. When ready to serve, add the oranges, lemons, sparkling wine, and seltzer water; stir to combine. Add the ice block and serve with freshly grated nutmeg.