The Cocktail Scientist
T I’ P U N C H
INTRODUCTION
Ti’ Punch is a captivating cocktail which is traditionally made using AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole. Called the national cocktail of the French Caribbean island of Martinique, Ti’ Punch is also a symbol of social camaraderie on the island. Ti’ Punch is best enjoyed with friends in a social setting due to the construction of the cocktail being quite interactive and the consumer making the cocktail themselves. And although the ingredients used to construct the cocktail may seem strikingly similar to the ones used to build the Daiquiri, Ti’ Punch is complex and unique in its own right, making it one of the most popular cocktails throughout the French West Indies.
Ti'Punch
MATERIALS & METHODS
Ingredients:
- AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole – 2.0 oz (60 mL)
- 1 Barspoon of Sugarcane Syrup
- 1 Lime Coin
Directions:
- Into an old-fashioned cocktail glass, squeeze lime coin to exude 6 to 10 drops of fresh lime juice. Drop lime coin into glass.
- Add 1 barspoon of sugarcane syrup.
- Pour in 2 ounces of AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole.
- Add one ice cube (optional). Mix by using a swizzle stick, or Le Bois LeLe, for 10 seconds.
DISCUSSION
Origin
Ti’ Punch (pronounced “Tee Pounch”) is short for Petit Ponch and is French for “small punch” and is widely popular throughout the West Indies (1). The cocktail eerily similar in ingredients to the Daiquiri has long been considered the French Caribbean answer to the Cuban popularized Daiquiri. However, this is where the similarities end and the differences begin between the two cocktails. Ti’ Punch uses Rhum Agricole, a variation of rum made from sugarcane juice, and not molasses like most rums. Ti’ Punch is higher in ABV (Alcohol by Volume) and Proof than the classic Daiquiri, and uses cane syrup over simple syrup, and much less lime juice.
It is likely that Ti’ Punch was created before the availability of ice in the Caribbean as ice in the cocktail is very much optional and considered a fashionable addition. The cocktail, which is traditionally made with 100 Proof Rhum Agricole, would also have likely been developed for enjoyment and social occasions as the addition of cane sugar adds a significant level of sweetness to the drink and the minimal use of lime juice balances the sweetness just enough. However, the limited volume of lime juice added to the cocktail is not enough to fend off scurvy which was a significant ailment for sailors during Colonial times (2).
It is important to also note that traditionally a Le bois Lele, a swizzle stick, is used in the preparation of Ti’ Punch in Martinique. Made from a white-flowering tree, Martinicans whittle sticks down from this tree and have been using it to mix cocktails for many generations (3). The use of this swizzle stick ensures that a cocktail shaker is not needed.
Flavor Profile
First time Ti’ Punch drinkers notice immediately that the flavor profile of the cocktail is nothing near that of the Daiquiri and that Ti’ Punch is much more complex. The higher ABV of the cocktail provides a character that is easily recognizable with being higher proofed as the spirit is not diluted nearly as much as a Daiquiri or even other cocktails, especially if it served neat without ice. Ti’ Punch consumers will also recognize that the limited lime juice added to the cocktail allows the Rhum Agricole and the cane syrup to present themselves forward.
Rum
As mentioned, AOC Martinique Rhum Agricole is the base spirit used in the construction of Ti’ Punch. Rhum Agricole is made from sugarcane juice. To be labeled with the Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC) decree, manufacturers of Rhum Agricole must follow strict government guidelines around cultivation, fermentation, distillation and aging (4). This standardization in the process provides consistency to the distinct characteristics and aromas known to Rhum Agricoles. The aromatic properties of Rhum Agricole again are complex, and the undertones are botanical, earthy, and quite funky. These notes are noticeably present as Rhum Agricole is a much different style of rum than traditional rums which originate from molasses and not sugarcane juice.
Additional Ingredients
Cane Syrup
Boiling sugarcane juice to cane syrup creates a product that is naturally thinner and mildly sweet (5). Cane syrup developed in the French West Indies was likely created as an alternative sweetener due to the colonial price of sugar as a sweetener not being economically favorable at the time. Cane Syrup is added to the cocktail to help balance the souring properties of the lime juice.
Lime Juice
As with most cocktails, the addition of lime juice, which is acidic with a pH of 2, helps balance the cocktail. Acidic ingredients tend to be sour in nature which are the perfect counterbalance for sweetening ingredients like cane syrup which is also present.
NUTRITION
In the cocktail world, Ti’ Punch is a relatively healthy cocktail. The drink has almost half as many carbohydrates and sugar per one fluid ounce when compared to other cocktails like the Bushwacker and the Bahama Mama. The higher calorie count is due to the cocktail being at 100 Proof and the increased ABV adds additional calories. It is also important to note that the cocktail possesses 0 g of total fat and 0 mg of Cholesterol.
NUTRITION FACTS
(Amount Per 1 Fl oz in a 2.5 oz Fl oz Cocktail)
Calories: 92.0
Total Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 3.0 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 3.1 g
Dietary Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: 3.02 g
CONCLUSION
Today the Ti’ Punch cocktail roots extend from Martinique and the French West Indies to homes, restaurants and bars all over the world. Its fame is largely due to the rising popularity of Rhum Agricoles. A popular cocktail at social occasions, its construction is often a fun interactive activity allowing the consumer to put their fingerprint on the build when making it themselves. And although the French have a saying for this “chacun prepare sa propre mort (each one prepares’ his own death), its more likely the drinker will likely prepare another cocktail.
REFERENCES
Wikipedia. (2020). Ti’ Punch. Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti%27_Punch
Glass, D. (2005). A Lime a Day Kept Scurvy Away. A Moment of Science. Retrieved from: https://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/a-lime-a-day-kept-scurvy-away.php Uncommon Caribbean Shop. (2020).
Le Bois Lélé Swizzle Stick of Martinique. Retrieved from: https://www.uncommoncaribbeanshop.com/products/le-bois-lele-swizzle-stick-of-martinique
The Rum Collective. (2013). Ti Punch in Martinique: More Than Just a Cocktail. Retrieved from: http://www.therumcollective.com/2013/04/ti-punch-in-martinique-more-than-just.html
Hitt, J. (2014). Cane Syrup: The Forgotten Harvest. Garden and Gun. Retrieved from: https://gardenandgun.com/feature/cane-syrup-the-forgotten-harvest/
