Hunch punches are popular drinks that combine fruity juice blends with alcohol.
The most famous types of hunch punch include pomegranate-based punches like POM Wonderful’s Hunch Punch (Pom) and Sunkist’s Citrus Crush, as well as cranberry-based punches such as Stoli Cranberry Vodka and Absolut Cranberry Cocktail.
However, there are many other variations on this theme. A few examples include Berry Blast, Orange Twist, and Red Bull Gotta Have It!
- This article explains what a hunch punch is and how it’s made.
- Read about some of the health benefits of drinking hunch punch.
- Want to know more about the history of hunch punches? Check out these articles:
- A brief history of hunch punches includes information about their origin and popularity.
- Learn why people love hunch punches so much by reading these articles:
- Here’s everything you need to know about hunch punches including their ingredients, flavors, and recipes.
- Check out these articles if you want to learn about all things related to hunch punches:
- If you’re curious about the health benefits of hunch punches, check out this list of ways they could help your health.
- You might be wondering where the name “hunch punch” comes from.
- It’s likely that someone named the drink after its taste or because of the way it looks when poured into glasses.
- We have plenty more tips and guides available here on HowStuffWorks.
What Is A Hunch Punch Recipe?
A hunch punch recipe can take many forms depending on who makes them and where they’re sold.
However, one thing remains consistent across nearly every variation—the beverage consists of a mix of fruit juices blended with flavored sugar syrups and sometimes alcohol.
People often add ice cubes to hunch punches to cool them down before serving.
While some hunch punch recipes call for adding rum or vodka, others don’t contain either ingredient.
Some even exclude booze altogether in favor of nonalcoholic versions.
When making hunch punches yourself, keep in mind that using too much sweetener will overpower the flavor of the fruit used in the drink.
So go easy on the sugar syrup and aim to use just enough to give your punch a good balance between sweetness and tartness.
How Do You Make A Hunch Punch?
Making a hunch punch can be simple or complex depending on how much time you have and how many different components you plan to use.
If you don’t have any or enough time to prepare them ahead of time, then just grab a bottle of vodka or another spirit and mix up a batch of cocktails on the spot.
But if you’re looking to save money and effort, try making them ahead of time.
- Put the fruits, citrus zest, sugar, and herbs/spices in separate containers before going shopping.
- When you get home, put all the ingredients together in one large container.
- Pour over ice cubes until chilled down.
- Serve immediately.
- Drink responsibly.
What Are The Ingredients In A Hunch Punch Recipe?
When making a hunch punch, you can use any number of fruits to blend together but common options include pineapple, orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, cherry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, mango, kiwi, and watermelon.
Because the ingredients are blended before adding them to the cocktail shaker, the end result will vary depending on which combination you choose.
For example, different combinations may add additional sweetness or tartness to the final product.
While some hunch punch recipes call for ice, others don’t.
If you prefer to serve your drink without ice, try using crushed ice instead.
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing hunch punch ingredients is whether they contain sugar.
Because the aim of a hunch punch is to create a refreshingly sweet drink, you should avoid mixing high-sugar fruits with low-sugar liquids like ginger ale or club soda.
How Do You Make A Hunch Punch Drink?
To create a delicious hunch punch drink, start off by choosing an appropriate base liquor.
For example, if you’d prefer a light drink, go with vodka.
If you want something stronger, try gin instead.
Next, add fruits.
You can choose any combination of fresh fruits you’d like.
Some common combinations include blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, peaches, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, kiwis, apples, watermelon, mangoes, cherries, grapes, plums, and cantaloupe.
Finally, top off your drink with sparkling water and ice cubes before serving it up to your guests.
Make sure to use only natural sugar in your hunch punch beverage recipe.
What Is The Best Hunch Punch Recipe?
There isn’t one definitive hunch punch recipe since each variation has slightly different flavor profiles and may contain different types of fruits.
However, we can provide a few suggestions based on our own research and personal experience.
When making hunch punches, think about which fruits will complement the base spirit.
For example, if you’re using vodka, then you should use grapefruit-flavored vodka instead of lemon-flavored liqueur.
Also, don’t forget to adjust the amount of sugar in your hunch punch depending on whether you prefer sweet or savory cocktails.
For instance, if you want a sweeter drink, then reduce the amount of simple syrup used in the recipe.
If you prefer your hunch punch to be less sweet, then increase the amount of simple syrup.
To get started, try mixing equal parts of fresh orange, lemon, lime, and/or grapefruit juice with 1 part of good quality vodka.
Next, add a bit of simple syrup until desired sweetness level is achieved.
Once you’ve got the proportions right, you can start adding additional ingredients.
These ingredients could include anything from citrus zest to mint leaves to berries.
In addition to adding flavor, certain types of fruits also add vitamins and minerals.
So, while you’re deciding which fruits to use in your hunch punch, consider which ones offer the greatest nutritional value.
Also, if you’d like to boost your drink’s antioxidant content, then choose fruits rich in vitamin C.
How Do You Make A Hunch Punch Cocktail?
There really aren’t any hard and fast rules concerning making a hunch punch.
In general, however, hunch punches can contain both fresh fruits and canned/bottled ones, along with different types of spirits.
You may also add ice cubes, sugar, spices, or even carbonated beverages to the mix.
In addition, hunch punches can vary in flavor depending on which ingredients you choose to use.
Some common combinations include raspberry, orange, lemon, pineapple, mango, grapefruit, pomegranate, blueberry, strawberry, cherry, melon, black currant, and kiwi.
For example, POM Wonderful makes two varieties of hunch punch: The first one contains frozen raspberries and lime juice while the second uses fresh raspberries.
Both versions also come with vodka, but the former has rum, while the latter features tequila.
Other brands offer similar options.
For instance, Stoli offers three hunch punch cocktails: One uses cranberry juice, another uses pineapple juice, and the third combines cranberry juice with orange juice.
All three variants also feature vodka.
Some bars and restaurants will let customers customize their own hunch punch drinks by choosing specific fruit juices and adding additional ingredients to them.
However, this isn’t always possible due to time constraints and space limitations in small establishments.
Finally, some hunch punches don’t actually require alcohol.
Instead, they simply provide an alternative to regular alcoholic drinks.
For example, Red Bull Gotta Have It!, a combination of apple cider and ginger ale, doesn’t count as booze.
Similarly, a variety of nonalcoholic hunch punches exist, too.
As mentioned earlier, not every hunch punch needs to involve alcohol.
If you prefer having a nonalcoholic version, look no further than the following:
- Cranberry vodka punch
- Ginger beer punch
- Kiwi punch
- Mango soda pop
- Orange juice punch
- Raspberry vodka punch
- Sparkling water punch
- Vitamin C punch
What Is A Hunch Punch Made Of?
When making a hunch punch, the first thing you should consider is which flavor profile will appeal to your guests.
You can use any number of different fruits in your hunch punch, but you may also choose to add spices or herbs to create an extra kick.
Another option is to mix two or three flavors together in one hunch punch.
For example, you can blend orange juice with vodka and then top your glass off with fresh squeezed lemon juice to give it a citrusy zing.
In addition to adding flavoring agents to your hunch punch, you may also add sweeteners.
These options include honey, agave nectar, brown sugar, maple syrup, molasses, vanilla extract, and even stevia leaf powder.
These additions can turn your basic hunch punch into something special.
They let you customize the flavor profiles of each individual drink depending upon the preferences of your guests.
How Do You Make A Hunch Punch Nonalcoholic?
There are two main methods for making a hunch punch without any alcohol.
One method involves blending different fruits together, then adding a sweetener like honey or sugar to balance out the tartness of the citrus flavorings.
The second method involves using carbonated water instead of plain tap water, which gives the drink an effervescent quality.
For example, here’s one variation on the hunch punch recipe below, which uses sparkling water (instead of plain water):
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup grapefruit juice
Preparing the Fruit Juices
To prepare the fruit juices, peel, core, and cut each fruit into small pieces, and place them in separate bowls.
Place the bowl over a pot filled with simmering water until the fruit has softened enough to puree easily.
Then strain the fruit through cheesecloth, food mill, or strainer to remove seeds and fiber.
Discard the pulp left behind in the strainer.
When the fruit has been strained, add 1/2 cup of sugar to each bowl of fruit juice.
Stir thoroughly to dissolve the sugar completely before refrigerating overnight.
Next day, pour the chilled fruit juices into a blender, along with 3 ounces of vodka (or another spirit).
Blend until smooth, then pour into serving cups.
Finally, top off each cup with 2 tablespoons of honey (if desired), stir gently, and serve immediately.
Alternatively, you can skip the step of preparing the fruit juices and simply use bottled versions of each fruit.
These will work fine, but may not provide the same depth of flavor as homemade versions.
What Is In A Hunch Punch?
When we think of a hunch punch, we often imagine something sweet and sugary, but that isn’t always true.
Some hunch punches contain nothing but sugar while others feature healthy fruits and vegetables.
For example, one variation of a hunch punch contains only apple juice, fresh lemon, and strawberries, while another version may also include pineapple juice.
The reason behind this is simple.
Fruit juices tend to taste better than plain water or sparkling water, and adding a splash of vodka improves the flavor even further.
Some versions of hunch punch also add rum, tequila, gin, or bourbon, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the drink without making it overly boozy.
Another common ingredient found in hunch punches is grenadine syrup, which can be used instead of sugar to achieve sweetness.
Grenadine syrup has a strong and distinctive flavor, and it works particularly well with orange varieties of hunch punch.
In general, any kind of punch will work fine as long as it contains citrus fruit, sugar, and booze.
However, certain styles of hunch punch are preferred over others based on personal preference and regional trends.
How Do You Make A Hunch Punch Punch?
To make a hunch punch, you can use any kind of juice blend that suits your fancy. In general, however, you’ll find that the following combinations work best:
Watermelon + orange juice blend
Mojito + pineapple juice mix
Grapefruit + mango juice mix
Cranberry + peach juice mix
Orange + grapefruit juice mix
Lime + strawberry juice mix
Apple + kiwi juice mix
Raspberry + blueberry juice mix
Black cherry + raspberry juice mix
Pear + watermelon juice mix
Bassnectar’s Bass Juice (Sage)
Blue Moon Belgian White Ale
Tequila Sunrise
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
Absolute vodka
Vodka
Rum
Brandy
Whiskey
Scotch whisky
Champagne
Margarita Mixer
Here are a couple of recipes that show you how to make a simple hunch punch and a more complex version called a “tartan shot.” Read More: 5 Ways to Make Your Own Tartan Shot Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 parts Everclear
- 3 parts Vodka
- 3 parts White Rum
- 1.5 parts Orange Juice
- 1.5 parts Pineapple Juice
- 4 parts Hawaiian Punch
- Sliced fruits (Pineapple, strawberries, lemon wheels, orange wheels…)
Instructions
- In a huge punch bowl, spouted beverage dispenser, or enormous plastic tub, combine all the ingredients.
- To blend, stir.
- Add two ice cube trays or a sizable chunk of ice to the mixture.
- Sliced fruit of your choosing, as well as lemon and orange wheels, can be used as a garnish.
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.