Bloody Rum Punch for Halloween

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/21/21
Don Q bloody rum punch recipe

​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Chill: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 10 mins
Servings: 13 servings
Yield: 1 3/4 quarts
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
257 Calories
0g Fat
31g Carbs
1g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 13
Amount per serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 24g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 73mg 366%
Calcium 49mg 4%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 286mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

The bloody rum punch is a take on the traditional sangria, and its dark red color makes it perfect for an eerie Halloween party punch. It also has a well-earned reputation as being a very strong punch, so consider yourself warned.

This is actually a very simple punch to put together. It uses just a few common ingredients and ideally should be made up ahead of time to let the flavor develop. It needs a couple of hours to chill but can be made and refrigerated the night before you're going to serve it. The recipe makes close to 2 quarts (55 ounces), which is enough for 13 four-ounce servings.

Have fun decorating the outside of your punch bowl with fake spiders or cobwebs. You could also make up some creepy garnishes like eyeballs or pumpkin tops using oranges and limes to float in the punch. Go all out with Halloween cupcakes, freaky deviled eggs, or plenty of other Halloween treats.

Ingredients

  • 1 (750-milliliter) bottle light rum

  • 1/2 (750-milliliter) bottle red wine

  • 3/4 cup triple sec

  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, from 6 limes

  • 3/4 cup simple syrup

  • 2 limes, sliced into thin wheels

  • 2 red oranges, sliced into thin wheels

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for Don Q bloody rum punch
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  2. In a large punch bowl or pitcher, combine the rum, red wine, triple sec, lime juice, simple syrup, and lime and orange slices.

    Sliced limes and oranges floating in a bowl of Halloween rum punch
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  3. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving (overnight is better).

    Halloween rum punch covered with plastic wrap
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

  4. Serve over ice in punch glasses and enjoy.

    Serve bloody rum punch over ice
    ​The Spruce / Teena Agnel

Tips

  • The longer you can let the punch chill, the better. It's the secret to great-tasting sangria because all those flavors marry, including the juices from the fruit slices, becoming one bigger, more complex flavor.
  • For the red wine, it may be best to go with medium-bodied wine, such as malbec, merlot, or Chianti (or blends that include these grapes). They're not so light as to get lost in the punch but also won't dominate it like full-bodied cabernet sauvignons.
  • Fresh lime juice is recommended, and there's no reason to skip it since you're already using fresh lime slices. To get the 3/4 cup (6 ounces) needed, count on juicing at least six limes. The fruits typically yield between 1/2 and 1 ounce of juice, so have a few extra on hand.

How Strong Is a Bloody Rum Punch?

Unlike many sangrias, the rum outweighs the wine, so this is going to be one of the more potent punches you can mix up. In fact, it's as strong as most martini drinks with an alcohol content of 21 percent ABV (42 proof) without factoring in ice dilution. That's twice the typical strength of a standard punch, so be sure your guests are aware of that fact and don't drink too much.