NAPA VALLEY WINTER PUNCH

Napa Valley Winter Punch image

Provided by Scott Beattie

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 1/2 3- to 4-inch-long cinnamon sticks
2 whole nutmegs
1 1/2 tablespoons whole allspice berries
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups Simple Syrup
2 1/4 cups Charbay Rum or 10 Cane Rum
1 1/4 cups fresh lemon juice
1 1/4 cups fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon Fee Brothers Peach Bitters or other bitters
1 block of ice
Lemon and orange slices

Steps:

Place cinnamon and nutmeg in resealable plastic bag; crack into pieces using mallet or rolling pin. Transfer to spice grinder. Add allspice; blend to coarse powder. Transfer 1 tablespoon to shallow dish; mix in 1/3 cup sugar. Set spiced sugar aside.
Stir remaining spice powder in medium saucepan over medium-high heat until just beginning to smoke, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool 5 minutes. Repeat heating and cooling process 3 more times until spices are very fragrant but not burned. Add syrup; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes. Strain through sieve into bowl. Cool.
Mix 3/4 cup spice syrup, rum, lemon juice, orange juice, and bitters in punch bowl. Add ice and citrus slices. Rub 1 orange slice around rim of 8 glasses to moisten; dip glasses into spiced sugar. Place glasses around punch bowl.