Our second Derby Festival Punch collaboration with Four Roses is our Rose Island Punch. Tiki in its roots, it combines the baking spices of our 7 Syrup along with Four Roses Bourbon and Dark Rum to create a laid back party in your glass. If you would like to sample this for yourself, come down to the Mellwood Arts Center on March 16 for Festival Unveiled where we will be sampling both of our Festival punches!
Rose Island Punch
1 oz citrus mix (equal parts lemon, lime, and orange juice)
1 oz 7 Syrup
1.5 oz Four Roses Bourbon
1.5 oz Blended dark Rum
2 shakes Aromatic Bitters or Tiki Bitters
Orange Cherry flag garnish
Add ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until very cold. Strain onto crushed ice and garnish with an orange peel and Amarena cherry.
Rose Island is located just a few miles northeast of Louisville on the Ohio. It was an amusement park in the late 1800’s originally called Fern Island. It started as a church camp and it is located on the Indiana side of the river. It was bought by Louisville businessman, David Rose and turned into an amusement park. It had cabins, a dance hall, and the first filtered swimming pool in the Midwest. Live bands, dancing, and a restaurant made it a huge draw for the Louisville folks. They would take the steam boats up the river to the park to unwind and play.
The Depression curbed much of the business and then the flood of ‘37 completely destroyed the park. Today it is part of the Charlestown park system and has lots of cool walking paths and tells the history of the park. This cocktail is a nod to that famous party destination on the water.
Video Courtesy of The Indianapolis Star, Retro Indy, by Dawn Mitchell, 2018