Ti' Punch
Serves 1 · 5 minutes · Small old-fashioned glass
Last updated 24 October 2026
Ti' Punch is Martinique's national serve: unaged rhum agricole, a little sugar-cane syrup and a disc of lime, built in the glass. It is deliberately simple and traditionally strong — the agricole's grassy character is the whole point, and a molasses-based rum makes a different drink.
Ingredients
- — 45ml Trois Rivières Blanc rhum agricole (50% ABV)
- — 7.5ml sugar-cane syrup
- — 1 disc of fresh lime, cut with a little flesh behind the peel
- — Ice, optional
Method
- Pour the agricole and cane syrup into a small glass.
- Squeeze the lime disc between finger and thumb so a little juice and oil fall in, then drop the disc into the glass.
- Stir briefly. Add ice if you want it — traditionally it is often served without.
- Serve immediately. This is a short, strong serve, not a long drink to top up.
Why it works
With three ingredients there is nowhere to hide: agricole supplies the character, cane syrup softens the edges without masking them, and the lime disc adds a measured whisper of acidity and oil. The drink's strength is traditional, which is why the unit statement below matters.
The classic vs the spiced version
The cited Difford's Guide specification uses 45ml unaged agricole, 7.5ml sugar-cane syrup and a lime disc, built in the glass. We keep those measures and name a verified UK-stocked 50% agricole. A Dilay version must be labelled Ti' Punch-inspired: molasses-based spiced rum with cardamom and ginger is a different drink from the agricole original, not a substitution within the classic.
Tips for getting it right
- — The named bottle is 50% ABV, stronger than most rums on this site. The 45ml measure at 50% contains 2.25 UK units — more than a 50ml pour of a 40% rum.
- — Agricole is distilled from fresh sugar-cane juice, not molasses. Its grassy, vegetal character defines this drink; check the bottle says rhum agricole.
- — The lime is a disc with a little flesh, not a measured juice quantity. Squeezing a whole lime in would make a different, sharper drink.
- — Traditionally each drinker adjusts their own syrup. Start with the measured 7.5ml and adjust the next serving, not the rum.
Related serves
For another three-ingredient classic, make a Planter's Punch
For a longer lime serve, try a Daiquiri
Frequently asked questions
What is rhum agricole?
Rum distilled from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, associated with Martinique. It tastes grassier and more vegetal than molasses rum and is the defining ingredient of a Ti' Punch.
Can I make Ti' Punch with spiced rum?
Not as the classic. A spiced-rum version is a Ti' Punch-inspired drink — label it that way. The agricole base is central to the original's identity.
Does Ti' Punch have ice?
Optional. It is traditionally often served without ice, sometimes with a little. Ice dilutes the drink but does not reduce its 2.25 UK units.
Why is the unit count high for a small drink?
The named agricole is 50% ABV. A 45ml measure at 50% contains 2.25 UK units — stronger per sip than most cocktails on this site. Sip it slowly; it is not a long drink.
Try Dilay 1949 Panjabi Spiced Rum in this recipe.
BUY DILAY 1949 PANJABI SPICED RUMRecipe references
Our method and spiced adaptations are described separately from the referenced classic specifications.
Approx. 2.25 UK units per serving from the measured alcoholic ingredients. 2.25 UK units per serving with the named 50% agricole. Other agricole bottlings range widely in strength; check the label. The syrup and lime add no alcohol.
Please drink responsibly. 18+. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.