Felicitation Punch

Ingredients

• 1 cup Demerara sugar
• ½ cup water
• 12 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 4 ounces maraschino liqueur
• 1 1/2 liters chilled club soda
• Ice, preferably 1 large block
• 6 ounces Irish whiskey
• Strips of zest from 4 lemons
• 1 (1-liter) bottle gin

Steps

1. In a small saucepan, warm the sugar and water over low heat and stir until a thick syrup forms. Remove from the heat, let cool, and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 month.
2. In a punch bowl, muddle the lemon zest with the whiskey. Add the gin and let stand for 2 hours. Stir in the maraschino liqueur, lemon juice, and 3 ounces of simple syrup, and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Just before serving, stir in the club soda and add ice.