When I was home for my Father’s birthday a few weeks back, my mother planned a giant party that was full of family and longtime friends. It was a wonderful affair and a hell of a party. As we were prepping for the party, she told me she had found a punch recipe and I was in charge of making it. She tells me to get my phone and look it up. Then she tells me the name.

Mother’s Ruin Punch.

Ummm…. What?

For real. Mother’s Ruin Punch. Hilarious. So, I hop on my phone and find the Food and Wine site and make this punch.

It was delicious.

It was also incredibly alcoholic. This punch packs a serious punch. It made many a partygoer stumble on their way out the door. It tasted of gin and summertime. Apparently, gin has been known as “mother’s ruin” in UK slang for a very long time.

This punch is beautiful, yummy, boozey, and fun. Check it out. It would be an excellent addition to any summer party.

Mother’s Ruin Punch– as provided by Food and Wine

Ingredients

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup chilled club soda

1 1/2 cups gin

1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice, plus 3 thinly sliced grapefruit wheels, for garnish

3/4 cup fresh lemon juice

3/4 cup sweet vermouth

2 1/4 cups chilled Champagne or sparkling wine

Ice

Directions

1. In a large pitcher, stir the sugar with the club soda until dissolved. Stir in the gin, grapefruit and lemon juices and sweet vermouth and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
2. Transfer the punch to a large bowl. Gently stir in the Champagne and float the grapefruit wheels on top. Serve in punch glasses over ice.