21 Alcoholic Punch Recipes To Liven Up Any Party

Long live the punch bowl!

By

Updated on August 14, 2024

Blood Orange Holiday Punch — Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Any holiday is a good excuse to break out the punch bowl or drink dispenser. We've got plenty of festive options for Christmas, including our Texas Santa Punch and Sparkling Pomegranate Punch. Need a big-batch Thanksgiving cocktail? Our Thanksgiving Rum Punch and Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch have all the cozy flavors of fall. If you're hosting a bridal shower or ladies' luncheon, try a sparkling punch recipe. No matter the occasion, there's a punch that's just right. Check out these easy punch recipe options and you'll find the perfect one.

01 of 21

Mississippi Punch

Southern Living Mississippi Punch in glasses to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This porch-approved boozy punch only calls for five ingredients, three of which are dark liquors. The recipe only has measurements for single servings, but you can make a big batch ahead of time by doubling the quantity in your shaker and repeating a few times until your punch bowl is full.

02 of 21

Easter Punch

Easter Punch — Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Though we love this pretty pink punch for springtime holidays, it's irresistible year-round. This tasty combination of strawberry lemonade, grapefruit juice, sparkling rosé, and fresh fruit will please your crew no matter the occasion. Serve with sliced fruit to soak up the flavors.

03 of 21

Chatham Artillery Punch

Chatham Artillery Punch — Will Dickey

This punch is steeped in history and three different alcohols, plus champagne. Start the process by preparing the Oleo-Saccharum, a homemade lemon oil that was popular in cocktails in the 19th century. Don't worry—we'll walk you through it.

04 of 21

Sparkling Punch

Sparkling Punch — Photo: Jennifer Davick

This pink cocktail recipe is a gorgeous addition to your bridal shower, or any just-because occasion when you feel like sipping on something pretty and pretty delicious. We use white cranberry juice and pink lemonade, then spike it with Champagne and orange liqueur.

05 of 21

Thanksgiving Punch With Rum

Thanksgiving Rum Punch — Hannah Zimmerman/Southern Living

Quick enough to make right before guests arrive, this refreshing punch will get your Turkey Day festivities started on the right note. This punch is perfect for make-ahead preparations, too. Our recipe includes apple cider, cranberry juice, ginger beer, cloves, and cinnamon sticks.

06 of 21

Triple B Milk Punch

Triple B Milk Punch — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Bourbon, brandy, and buttermilk are what give this holiday punch its famous name. Have you ever heard of a more heavenly combination? The addition of lemons, oranges, cinnamon sticks, and star anise makes this milk punch as spicy as it is sweet.

07 of 21

Retro Rum Punch

Retro Rum Punch — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

This five-minute recipe can be thrown together right before guests arrive. Spiced rum and white rum join forces in this old-school sipper you'll love. Whole cranberries and pineapple chunks make it festive and fun.

08 of 21

4th Of July Punch

4th of July Punch — Jennifer Causey

There's nothing better than an ice-cold, refreshing sipper on a hot, humid Southern day. Especially when it's a tropical punch that features watermelon, pineapple, and lime juice. With this recipe, you get to choose your punch poison: vodka, rum, or tequila all go great.

09 of 21

Alabama Yellowhammer Cocktail

Southern Living Yellowhammer Slammer in glasses to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This punch is popular across Alabama's and with just one sip, you'll understand why. With two juices (orange and pineapple), four liquors, and maraschino cherries there's no shortage of sweetness, booze, or color in your punch bowl when it's filled with this cocktail recipe.

10 of 21

Peach Sangria

Southern Living Peach Sangria in glasses to serve — Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Sangria might not be a traditional punch, but it has all the same components—fruit, sweetness, water, and booze. Plus, luncheons, showers, and brunches always benefit from a pretty sparkling punch so why not make this bubbly one.

11 of 21

Big-Batch Spiked Arnold Palmers

Southern Living Spiked Arnold Palmer in glasses to serve — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Sweet tea and fresh squeezed lemonade on their own will always be a hit at a Southern bash, but this bourbon-spiked punch just might change the game. Unsweetened tea, lemonade, and bourbon come together with a little simple syrup and mint to make the most refreshing summer punch we've ever had.

12 of 21

Party Punch

Southern Living Party Punch in a bowl to serve — Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

If you're searching for a boozy brunch or shower beverage, look no further than this delicious and fruity party punch. Have the fruit floating in the punch or freeze it into an ice ring for a beautiful way to keep the punch chilled.

13 of 21

Alabama Slammer

Southern Living Alabama Slammer in glasses ready to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Okay, so this recipe might not inherently be a punch, but the vibrant fruity mixture can easily be turned into one by increasing the ingredient quantities as needed. Slice a few extra orange wheels to dress up the bowl as well.

14 of 21

Cranberry Poinsettia Punch

Cranberry Poinsettia Punch — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This holiday-occasion punch can be adorned with a fancy ice ring from a bundt pan. In this fizzy, fruity cocktail, cranberry juice and blood orange juice balances out the sweetness of the orange liqueur and sparkling wine.

15 of 21

Shoo-Fly Punch

Shoo-Fly Punch — Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Bright citrus and cozy bourbon make this cocktail a winner every time we serve it. However, it's the refreshing ginger beer, enhanced by ginger liqueur, that really takes this punch to the next level. A splash of bitters balances the sweetness.

16 of 21

Cherry Limeade

Southern Living Cherry Limeade in glasses to serve — Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Deliciously sweet and fizzy, this cocktail recipe is naturally non-alcoholic, but can easily be turned into a spiked punch by just adding an ounce of vodka per serving. This refreshing drinks is perfectly suited to backyard barbecues and warm-weather tailgates alike.

17 of 21

Cranberry Sangría Punch

Southern Living Cranberry Sangria Punch in glasses to serve — Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This wintry twist on a sangria recipe has a beautiful ruby-red color. The cranberry-and-orange-flavored punch will go fast, so make two batches for your Christmas party. It can be prepared in advance to take a load off your shoulders—just add the champagne before serving.

18 of 21

Blood Orange Holiday Punch

Blood Orange Holiday Punch — Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This ruby red punch is the perfect citrus season sipper for all your late fall, winter, and holiday shindigs. All it takes is your favorite vodka, maraschino liqueur, fresh squeezed blood orange and lime juice, then a bottle of prosecco to top it off. Garnish with citrus wheels and star anise for a picture-worthy beverage.

19 of 21

Harvest Punch

Harvest Punch — Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey

Give fresh apples and cinnamon time to tango so that all of their rich flavors can blend together before pouring yourself a glass. Spiced apple flavors with a hint of citrus do a great job of masking bourbon, making this punch delightfully dangerous. Serve immediately after mixing.

20 of 21

Mississippi Bourbon Punch

Mississippi Bourbon Punch — Southern Living

This punch starts with Muscadine wine, deliciously brightened up with grenadine, bourbon, fruit, and soda. Muscadine grapes sliced in half make an appropriate garnish. This cocktail was made to serve a crowd, so it's ideal for your next tailgate or holiday party.

21 of 21

Ambrosia Party Punch

Southern Living Ambrosia Party Punch in the punch bowl to serve — Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch

Turn your holiday party up a notch with this beautiful punch. Similar to an ambrosia salad, this punch includes the same flavor profile—coconut, cherry, pineapple, and citrus thanks to a variety of fruit juices, coconut water, and fresh fruit for garnish.

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