Blackberry Rose Party Punch

We love stirring up big pitchers of punch for summer parties - if you're careful about the mixology, you can sip a punch all afternoon in the sun and just feel a little more loving to all mankind. At Joe's birthday and my graduation party, we served White Summer Sangria. At a lot of neighborhood parties and summer BBQs we've stirred up a concoction that a friend in the Caribbean taught us, an authentic Caribbean Rum Punch.

We were ready for a different party punch for Memorial Day and all the graduation and summer parties ahead. Blackberries are already flooding our grocery stores, and a gorgeous holiday weekend brought out the best in Joe's bartender instincts. I poured out a lot of cups of punch last Saturday night.

Rose wine, lime juice, vodka, berries, and herbs make a bright party drink!

When we downsized from a house to a lakeside apartment after our girls went out on their own, we wondered if we could find a neighborhood tribe as friendly as our wonderful friends in the old neighborhood. We missed Friday night Drinks on the Drive and family bonfires and all our kids playing together in the pools or flashlight tag in the back yards.

While some of our apartment neighbors have come and gone, a few of us get together for weekend Bags games and a few beers in good weather. One of our friends brought a huge supply of fireworks to the 4th of July party two summers ago and we all had a ridiculous amount of fun with fire. This year, we promised them a new punch and Joe totally delivered with this berry and blush wine chiller.

We'll probably keep playing with this punch all summer. I'm thinking blueberries with lavender sprigs, cherries and the tarragon from our pots, and any fresh fruits and herbs we can drop into the drink. Like we always say, use your own favorites or whatever's in season, and make this easy punch recipe your own!

Ingredients

1 bottle of Rose wine (750 ml)

1 cup vodka

1/2 can frozen limeade

1 pint blackberries

2 tbsp fresh marjoram (optional)

Lime slices

Ice

3 cups sparkling water

Instructions

In a pitcher, stir together the wine, vodka, and limeade. Squeeze the berries to release their juice while you drop them into the punch. Put the marjoram in an infuser or tea ball, and drop into the pitcher. Add lime slices and some ice cubes and chill for at least 2 hours.

Before serving, remove the herb infuser and stir in the sparkling water or club soda. Serve over ice.

Makes about 12 cocktails.