Clarified Pumpkin Spice Latte Milk Punch

This whiskey and rum punch tastes like a pumpkin spice latte, but it’s made completely transparent, thanks to an old-school method that's had a bit of resurgence in recent years. The bar team at Ai Fiori in New York adjusts their big-batch milk punch recipe for each season; this one has pumpkin purée, coffee, and lots of spice. The milk, though, is the key ingredient here, making it possible (with a little lemon) to clarify the drink, so the final cocktail appears a see-through gold. The bold coffee and citrus cut through the richness of the pumpkin, rye whiskey, and rum, while the spice blend’s flavors shine through, steeped for a few days in your fridge. We recommend making your own pumpkin spice blend so you can balance the spices to your taste, but store-bought blends are also perfectly fine to use. Since the process takes several days of hands-off time, this is the perfect make-ahead punch for fall tailgating, bonfires, or Halloween parties. Put it in a punch bowl, drink dispenser, or swing-top bottles and let your guests help themselves. 

This clarified milk punch recipe conveniently uses full bottles of spirits and an entire can of pumpkin purée, but if you don’t have a large enough stockpot or food storage container or you’re hosting a smaller group, feel free to cut the recipe in half and mix in a large mixing bowl.