Grandma’s NOT YOUR PUNCH S outh Carolina may be known as the birthplace of sweet tea, but the state’s longstanding ties to sweet yet refreshing Planter's Punch reinforces its reputation as a hub for Southern hospitality. Planter’s Punch is a potent blend of rum, citrus and spices that originated in Jamaica, though local hearsay has it this cocktail was invented in Charleston at the Planters Hotel, a favorite respite for the elite when they moved from the country to the city in winter. (It wasn’t actually invented in Charleston, but 18th-century Charlestonians loved their rum and frequented “punch houses” for creative versions of their favorite drink.) Planter’s Punch is easy to make in large batches for a crowd, so it became a staple cocktail at social gatherings throughout the Lowcountry. Today, you can find small-batch versions on menus all over the South. Ready to try it for yourself? Here are a few places that put their unique spins on a classic. Preservation Society of Charleston’s archives. The drink pays homage to Charleston’s “Light Dragoons,” a quasi-military gentlemen’s society that was as much about socializing as anything else. Husk’s ingredients include brandy, Caribbean rum, peach brandy, black tea, lemon juice and raw sugar. CLARIFIED MILK PUNCH Classic Planter’s Punch has been revived with a completely modern twist at Thoroughbred Club, an elegant cocktail bar in The Charleston Place hotel. The drink starts with a base of spirits, citrus, spices and sweeteners, and then is combined with milk. CHARLESTON LIGHT DRAGOON’S PUNCH In Charleston, Husk restaurant's version of Planter’s Punch, Charleston Light Dragoon Punch, is made from a 1792 recipe discovered in the Montage Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton 28
South Carolina Vacation Guide SC 2025: Page 28
