Who: The Taverner, LLC performs punch presentations as James Taverner, a fictional itinerant punchmaker from the 1700s in your choice of first-person or third-person interpretation.
What: A step-by-step demonstration of how early America’s favorite drink was made, followed by a tasting. You get to choose the recipe from the nine categories below, how much is made, and how long you need the performance to last.
When: A few Fridays and Saturdays each month. Bookings required two weeks in advance.
Where: Public events, private parties at home, historic sites, distilleries, or independent living communities.
Why: A unique way to kickstart an event, or a perfect addition to an educational program.
How: You provide the alcohol, and the Taverner provides the tools, ingredients, and experience. For public events, the event host must have an ABC license on display.
Dramatis Personae: Meet The Players
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Rum Punch
The classic. Centuries before the trademark “Dark ‘n’ Stormy”, rum punch took England and her colonies by literal storm aboard Royal Navy vessels and pirate ships alike.
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Whiskey Punch
The subtle difference between a humble farmer and a rebel turns out to be a liquor’s origin. This bold, local concoction can be served hot, for those willing to try.
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Brandy Punch
Everyone ought to have access to a good time. The middling classes had copious amounts of homemade brandy to implement their own sweet spin.
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Gin Punch
For fans of anachronism. Available at a ninth of the price of rum, gin was the destroyer of public decency. What became a Regency favorite was first engineered by chaos.
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Punch Royal
The uppercase “Royal” that dotes upon this bowl is wine. Deceptive, and faux-classy unless you’re using Madeira wine…prepare for a historic hangover.
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Orange Punch
Mild, pleasing, and casual; perfect for a hot day. Skeptical mixologists will be delighted to learn the choice of liquor can be as varied as Jonathan Swift’s own satirical salutes.
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Champagne Punch
Dislike rum, whiskey, and brandy? No problem. Hope you don’t like water either, because this French forerunner omits the element entirely.
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'Rack Punch
The grandfather of all punches. By the will of the mysterious “hogo” flavor in arrack rum, this mixture filled the cups of many an ancient Indian king before the common era.
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Fancy Punch
Our Founding Fathers sponsored a gallery of unique, performative mixtures. Claret and tea, rum and porter, Cognac and Madeira—you name it.