Your Best Punch

The lineup, a study in brown liquids: rye whiskey, hard cider, bitters and apple cider.  

And there are just three simple steps to punch heaven ...

Pour ...

dash ...

... and stir.

Cheers!  

To make this zippy punch, you'll need: fresh ginger, sugar, vanilla, lemon, brown sugar and vodka.  

First, you whip up some lemon-juice ice cubes.  

Slicing fresh ginger -- and lots of it -- for the syrup.  

The syrup calls for both white and brown sugar; the latter gives it a lovely rich depth.  

The syrup bubbles away until it's reduced by about half and infused with the ginger.  

Luscious!  

Straining the syrup.  

If you'd like, save the ginger slices to flavor sparkling water, prosecco, etc.  

Time for some more lemon juice.  

And a little vanilla extract.  

To make the punch, first you add a little vodka to the ginger syrup.  

And then top it up with soda water.  

Bottoms up!