Clementine Agave Pitcher Punch

Clementines are the reason this punch works. They are sweeter than a navel orange and less acidic than a Valencia, which means the base tastes finished before you have added any sugar at all. The half cup of agave in the recipe is there for texture, not sweetness.

Everything except the sparkling water can be built an hour ahead and left in the refrigerator. That is the entire point of a pitcher drink: the host should not be squeezing citrus while people are standing in the kitchen.

The Recipe

Serves 6 to 8 · 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh clementine juice
• 1 cup blanco tequila (optional)
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup agave syrup
• 2 bottles (12 fl oz each) Tehuacan Brillante sparkling mineral water, chilled
• Clementine wheels for garnish
• Ice for the pitcher and glasses

Method

1. In a large glass pitcher, combine the clementine juice, blanco tequila, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and agave syrup.
2. Stir the mixture vigorously until the agave syrup is completely dissolved into the liquids.
3. Add a few handfuls of ice and the fresh clementine wheels directly to the pitcher.
4. Just before serving, slowly pour in the Tehuacan Brillante sparkling mineral water to preserve the carbonation.
5. Give the pitcher one gentle stir to incorporate the sparkling water without losing the bubbles.
6. Pour into plain smooth glasses over fresh ice.

Notes

The tequila is marked optional and it truly is. Leave it out and this is a bright citrus punch that children and drivers can drink all afternoon. Leave it in and it becomes a party.

Pour the mineral water in slowly, down the inside wall of the pitcher, right before the first glass goes out. Carbonation added early is carbonation wasted, and a flat punch is a sad thing to serve out of a glass pitcher.

Tehuacán Brillante is sparkling mineral water from the Tehuacán Valley in Puebla, naturally mineralized on a journey of roughly eight years through volcanic rock. Family run since 1983, Mexican owned, bottled in 12 fl oz glass. Find us at @drinktehuacan.

Must be 21+ to enjoy. Please drink responsibly.