Two industry professionals have partnered to bring a cocktail collaboration to the St. Louis market. Punch 5 Libations launches early next week, just in time for holiday imbibing and gift-giving.
Chef/restaurateur Ben Poremba and Kevin Lemp, owner of 4 Hands Brewing Co. and 1220 Artisan Spirits, are the brains behind the boozy idea. The concept of providing a means for people to infuse liquors at home was inspired by the COVID environment and the encouragement to remain safer at home. “This was Kevin’s thought, originally,” Poremba says. “I came up with the ingredient pairings that go into the infusions.”
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But Lemp says that’s only partially true. When he was in an outdoors shop in Utah, he saw a non-alcoholic cinnamon stick and marshmallow infusion concoction packed in a Mason jar. “I thought, Why not do this with alcohol, fruit, and botanicals, and make a cocktail out of it?” he says. “Ben’s thought was to call it a punch, which are the inspirations behind most cocktails anyway.”
The method is simple: Add 16 ounces of a spirit to the jar containing the dried ingredients, refrigerate for three days, strain, and serve, “enough for eight thoughtful cocktails,” according to Lemp. “Craft cocktails are intimidating to a lot of people,” he says. “We took the risk factor out and left the quality component in.”
Punch 5 Libations come in five variations—Julep, Passion, Metropolitan, Mauresque, and Orangeade. Each jar contains instructions, a spirit recommendation, suggested garnish, and even a recipe or two to jazz up the results. The jars arrive sealed with a small piece tape, each containing a timely message, like Willa Cather’s “There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.”
The jars are sold individually, but as the brand matures, combination and seasonal packs will be offered. Collaborations with local spirit suppliers are in the works as well. Lemp says to also expect mocktail varieties (steeped in hot water and finished with ginger beer or tonics) after the first of the year.
On December 7, Punch 5 Libations (priced at $18 per jar) will be available at 4 Hands Brewing Co. (1220 S. 8th) and at AO&Co (1641 Tower Grove), Poremba’s specialty foods market/coffee bar/gift shop in Botanical Heights. The products will also be available at each company’s online store for curbside pickup. The duo hope to market Punch 5 to other retail outlets as well.
Poremba says the libations are ideal for gifts, trips, and long winter nights at home. And we would be remiss not mentioning Origin Gin and Encrypted Vodka (both products of 1220 Artisan Spirits), which can be used as the base spirit in the Mauresque and Metropolitan, respectively. It was 1220’s Kevin Lemp who came up with the Punch 5 idea, after all.
