Ti' Punch

Ti Punch has only a few ingredients and is extraordinarily simple to prepare. The Ti Punch looks much like a daiquiri or a caipirinha, but the distinctive flavor of rhum agricole makes this a particularly musky and rugged drink. Using a white agricole is traditional, though the aged agricole, or rhum vieux, are a bit more user-friendly for the agricole novice.

Isla Bonita Punch (Sparkling Pineapple-Rum Punch)

This fizzy, vanilla-laced pineapple punch, created by Laura Newman of Mother of Pearl in NYC, tastes luxurious and complex, but is easy to batch in advance.

Pineapple Rum Punch

This tropical punch gets its flavor and fragrance from ripe, fresh pineapple, which infuses a simple syrup for a few hours (or overnight.)

(Not Exactly A) Painkiller

First things first: this is not a Painkiller. This may resemble that drink that originated some 40 years ago at the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands, but the Painkiller was adopted as the mascot drink by Pusser's Rum around a decade after its birth (the drink's birth, that is.)

Painkiller

Yes, it's kinda fruity, and yes, you're venturing into umbrella-drink territory; but we're at the dawn of summer—it's okay to put on your flowered shirt and relax a little bit. A Painkiller can help you shake out whatever winter stiffness remains, and prepare you for the long, hot months ahead.

Test Pilot

This Don the Beachcomber classic was created around 1941. As Paul Clarke notes on his blog, Cocktail Chronicles, the key is the combination of Angostura bitters and Pernod.

Kenny McCoy's Peg Leg Punch

Brugal Extra Dry Rum meets Cocchi Americano and Gran Classico in this punch from Kenny McCoy of Ward III and The Rum House. If you're used to thinking of rum punches as sugary, tropical concoctions, this will change your mind.

Admiral Schley Punch

Cruzan Blackstrap rum from St. Croix is deep and rich, and goes surprisingly nicely with the warm sweetness of bourbon. Tons of tart lime balances it out.

Painkiller Cocktail

The Painkiller cocktail was invented at the Soggy Dollar Bar at White Bay on the island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands. It's the ultimate tropical drink whether you're beachside, poolside, or inside.

Ultra-Tropical Piña Colada

Taste the tropics, not ice water.