Cocktail Recipe: Planter's Punch at Rex 1516

South Street West’s recently opened Rex 1516 is all about old-fashioned, Dixieland comfort, from chef Regis Jansen’s menu of reinterpreted down-home faves (think crawfish pot-pie and sweet potato cheesecake) to the faded mansion interior decor. Manager Heather Rodkey’s beverage program follows the same lines, full of juleps and rickeys, and — our Drink of the Week, Planter’s Punch.

Though Planter’s Punch is associated with the American South (and much enjoyed there), the drink seems to have originated in Jamaica, as long ago as the late 1800s. Over the years, the recipe has much evolved, and Rex’s take on the tipple is below. Mix one up yourself, or head to 1516 South Street to taste one from the pros.

Planter’s Punch

1½ oz. dark rum
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz. lime juice
¼ oz. Luxardo Maraschino
2 dashes Angostura bitters

Combine all ingredients in a pint glass with ice and shake well. Pour into a snifter on the rocks, finish with a splash of tonic water and garnish with a brandied cherry.