Hello, I’m Anastasia Haddad, and today I’m excited to share a recipe that is near and dear to my heart. As a Lebanese fashion designer, I grew up surrounded by celebrations, family gatherings, and delicious food. Food plays a significant role in our culture and is an essential part of any celebration. That’s why I love this Toast to Graduation: Sparkling Boozy Punch recipe. Not only is it a refreshing and delicious drink, but it also reminds me of home and all the happy times spent celebrating with my family.
Anastasia Haddad is a Lebanese fashion designer, who has a passion for traveling and exploring different cultures. She is always on the lookout for new foods and recipes to add to her repertoire, and loves experimenting with different ingredients and flavors.
Anastasia Haddad currently resides in France and grew up in Lebanon.
This sparkling boozy punch recipe is a popular Lebanese party drink called Champagne and Grenadine. Our version usually has a different twist on it, with the addition of orange juice and cranberry juice. It’s served at any celebration, from birthdays to weddings to graduations. The punch is the perfect way to toast any occasion or milestone, and I’m delighted to share it with all of you today. A fun fact about our version is that we use a sparkling Vouvray wine instead of champagne, which gives it a unique and delicious taste!
The month of May is always a special time in the United States, and this year it’s an even more remarkable milestone for graduates who have persevered through challenging times. Celebrating graduation might be a little different this year, but that does not mean we will not raise a glass and toast to this momentous accomplishment. This Toast to Graduation: Sparkling Boozy Punch is the perfect way to celebrate and make your graduation day feel extra special. Grab your friends, mix up a batch of this punch, garnish it with some mint leaves and frozen berries, and cheers to all the hard work that got you here today!
What you need
Looking for a drink that fits perfectly with your graduation or any celebratory moments? Then, this Toast to Graduation: Sparkling Boozy Punch recipe is for you! With the perfect blend of fizzy champagne, sweet orange juice, tart cranberry juice, and a healthy serving of good old vodka, this punch recipe is bound to get your party started. Plus, the addition of frozen berries and mint leaves provides a burst of freshness that balances the flavor profile and gives you the perfect patio sipper to beat the heat. Preparing the punch is easy-peasy, just mix the ingredients, chill in the refrigerator, garnish with mint leaves and berries, and voila! A punch bowl inviting all graduates to cheers with this festive, delicious, and refreshing concoction.
Ingredients:
- Champagne – Champagne adds the classic fizz and celebratory feel to this punch. You may swap it for prosecco or sparkling cider for a non-alcoholic version.
- Orange juice – The citrusy flavors of orange juice blend perfectly with the champagne and balance the sweetness in the punch.
- Cranberry juice – The fruity and tart flavors of cranberry juice give the punch a vibrant hue and a taste that complements the champagne and orange juice.
- Vodka – Vodka gives the punch the boozy kick and enhances the overall flavor, but you may swap it for rum or leave it out for a non-alcoholic version.
- Frozen berries – Frozen berries add a refreshing and colorful touch to the punch and keep it chilled.
- Fresh mint leaves – Mint leaves provide a fresh and herbaceous note to the punch that balances the sweetness and acidity. You may swap them for basil or skip them altogether.
Utensils:
- Punch bowl
- Large spoon or ladle
- Knife – To cut the fruits for garnishing
- Champagne flutes or glasses – For serving the punch
Mint leaves
Mint is one of my favorite herbs. I love that it provides a refreshing and herbaceous taste to any recipe, especially drinks, and this sparkly boozy punch recipe is no exception. Mint is also known for its health benefits. It helps promote digestion, is a natural stimulant, and clears up congestion. For the punch, mint helps balance out the sweetness from the fruits and the acidity from the juices. Plus, the scent of mint is known to help boost mood and memory. That’s why it’s perfect for a graduation celebration! Not to mention, it’s a beautiful garnish that adds a pop of green color to the punch. So you could say mint is truly a versatile and lovely addition to this recipe.
Cranberry juice
Cranberry juice is an interesting ingredient for this punch because it provides both tartness and sweetness to the drink. Cranberries are a seasonal fruit that’s often associated with Thanksgiving, but it should be used more often in other occasions—like graduation celebrations. Cranberries have high nutrient and antioxidant content, and they have also been shown to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. But not only that, cranberry juice enhances other flavors and ingredients in this recipe. It balances the sweetness of the orange juice and helps the flavor of the punch pop. Plus, the bright red color adds a festive touch, making this drink a standout on any celebration. So go ahead and give cranberry juice a try in this recipe — you won’t regret it!
What to serve it with?
I love serving this Toast to Graduation: Sparkling Boozy Punch with a mezze platter. Mezze is a selection of small dishes commonly served in the Middle East and Mediterranean, almost like tapas. In Lebanon, we serve mezze for lunch, snacks, or dinner, and it’s perfect for any occasion. Mezze includes dishes like hummus, tabbouleh, stuffed grape leaves, pita bread, olives, and so much more. The flavors are fresh, simple, and delicious, and it’s a great way to provide a range of different tastes and textures that complement the fizzy and fruity punch. I find mezze to be a perfect and versatile option for hosting a group of friends, especially during the summer months.
Summary
As a fashion designer, I’m always on the lookout for the perfect blend of colors and flavors, and I guarantee that this Toast to Graduation: Sparkling Boozy Punch recipe hits all the right notes. I’m so excited to share this celebratory punch recipe with you all, and I hope you’ll give it a try for your next big moment.
Now, I want to hear from you! What’s your favorite celebratory drink, and how do you make it your own? Do you have any Lebanese or Mediterranean-inspired cocktails or mocktails that you can share with us? Leave your thoughts and comments below, and let’s keep the conversation going.
Cheers to your success, and cheers to this delicious punch recipe!
Here’s the recipe:
Toast to Graduation: Sparkling Boozy Punch Recipe for a (un)Memorable Celebration
Equipment
- Punch bowl
- Large spoon or ladle
- Knife
- Champagne flutes or glasses
Ingredients
- 1 bottle Champagne
- 2 cups Orange juice
- 2 cups Cranberry juice
- 1 cup Vodka
- 1 cup Frozen berries
- A handful Fresh mint leaves
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the punch bowl - The first step in making this punch is to make sure your punch bowl is clean and dry. You want to use a large bowl that can hold all the ingredients in this recipe. You could also chill the bowl in the refrigerator to keep the punch cooled longer. - If you don't have a punch bowl, you could use a large non-reactive container like a glass pitcher or a pot. Just make sure that the container is large enough for all the ingredients.
- Step 2: Combine the ingredients - Add the champagne, orange juice, cranberry juice, and vodka to the punch bowl and stir gently to combine. If the punch is too sweet, you can add a splash of lemon juice or a bit of tonic water for a slightly sour kick. - Don't pour all the champagne in one go because it might overflow with the addition of the other ingredients. Add it slowly and mix gently each time until all the ingredients are combined.
- Step 3: Add frozen berries and mint leaves - Once all the ingredients are combined, add the frozen berries and fresh mint leaves. Stir again gently. - The frozen berries can also be swapped with fresh ones depending on the season. Be mindful not to crush the berries too much while stirring as they will release their color into the punch and can cause staining.
- Step 4: Chill the punch - Cover the punch bowl with a plastic wrap and chill the punch in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or until you're ready to serve. - Make sure the punch is well chilled before serving. You can also add a few ice cubes to the punch bowl if the punch is not cold enough.
- Step 5: Serve and enjoy! - When you're ready to serve, ladle the punch into champagne flutes or glasses. Garnish with a mint leaf and a frozen berry, and toast to the graduate!
