You’re having a gathering at home, and you’ve seriously been planning to absolutely wow your guests. This cocktail is definitely an absolute staple at Chili’s Restaurants, where it’s been featured.
It’s no surprise why, though. Its tropical notes, pineapple, and fruitiness transport you back to your holidays. It’s an absolute winner of a cocktail, and you should definitely try it out sometime. The best thing about this recipe is that it really does not take all that long to make.
Let’s indulge in our take on the Chili’s Tito’s Punch recipe.
Chili’s Tito’s Punch Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Tito’s Handcrafted Vodka
- 1-1/2 oz. Malibu Rum
- 2 oz. Fresh Sour (You can make your own, or buy ready-made.)
- 2 oz. Pineapple Juice
- Grenadine
- Pineapples (chunks)
Ingredients for the Fresh Sour:
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
Directions for Fresh Sour:
The first step is to make syrup. Add sugar to the water in a pan to boil.- Make sure all the sugar is dissolved in the water. This can take up to 7 minutes.
- Once it is done, turn off the heat and set it aside to cool.
- Pour the fresh lemon and lime juice into a bottle or container. Make sure there’s no pulp in there.
- Pour the simple syrup into the bottle.
- Shake everything together. You can use it immediately or refrigerate it.
Directions for Chilis Tito’s Punch:
- Get a cocktail shaker and pour in your Vodka, Rum, Fresh Sour, and pineapple juice. Shake the contents thoroughly to ensure they’re smooth.
- Pour into a glass and top it off with a splash of grenadine and small pineapple pieces for garnish.
The Show Stopper: The Vodka
Vodka is probably one of the most crucial parts of the recipe. Chili’s uses Tito’s Handcrafted Vodka. This craft vodka has been around since the mid-90s and has garnered a name for itself.
If you are not able to get Tito’s vodka, don’t worry about it. Some different premium brands on the market will be a decent replacement for this iconic vodka.
To be fair, there is a reason Tito’s handmade vodka has become so popular. It’s a no-frills and clean tasting beverage which goes well neat or mixed in a cocktail.
However, a couple of other options you could consider would be Absolut Vodka, which is readily available virtually everywhere. It’s not on par with Tito’s in terms of quality, but it’s not a terrible vodka either.
What makes Tito’s Vodka quite unique is the fact that it’s a corn-based vodka, making this drink gluten-free. It’s also distilled in old-fashioned stills, so they really are taking their handcrafting seriously here.
If you need a Gluten-Free alternative to Tito’s, there’s also the Gluten-Free Stolichnaya option which is also made of corn, so you could find your way around this issue, although opting for Tito’s would probably be the best solution if you can get your hands on a bottle. I would definitely recommend that.
How to Serve the Drink?
At Chili’s, this drink would be served by the glass, which is fine. Naturally, you can opt for that, too, if you’d rather have the drink as a starter for people, like a welcome drink where you serve the cocktail per glass.
Another thing you can do is quadruple all the measurements and serve it in a punch bowl or jug. You can leave it in the center of the room to take care of itself, and people can serve the punch themselves.
It is excellent if you have a larger gathering at your house. After all, you don’t want to be stuck mixing drinks all night.
When Is it Appropriate to Serve?
This drink is a little higher on the alcohol content, but that’s fine. Its light tropical notes make it an excellent option for a sunny day out. However, be careful. You can get a little tipsy from that.
I personally serve this more like a welcome drink for a late afternoon summer do. However, at a house party, it’s definitely more of a punch-bowl evening kind of thing.
Serving it in a punch bowl, perhaps during a movie night with the girls, makes it a great alternative to a bottle of wine.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy your cocktail and the Chili’s Tito’s Punch Recipe was an absolute hit. Remember to drink responsibly, but also have a great time.
