"Death Punch" with Floating Eyeballs

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By Food & Wine

This is Grace Parisi's take on the Dark and Stormy, a classic rum and ginger beer drink. Floating in the punch bowl are round ice cubes made with lychee syrup and lychees stuffed with brandied cherries, which have an uncanny resemblance to eyeballs. Halloween Cocktails

Dark and Stormy Death Punch
Dark and Stormy Death Punch

Dark and Stormy Death Punch
INGREDIENTS
One 20-ounce can lychees in heavy syrup
1/4 cup thinly sliced peeled fresh ginger
16 brandied cherries
1/4 cup superfine sugar
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
12 ounces dark rum
Three 12-ounce bottles ginger beer
Ice cubes

DIRECTIONS
1. In a small saucepan, bring the lychee syrup and ginger to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, stuff 16 lychees with brandied cherries. Set each lychee in the cup of a mini muffin pan or in an ice cube tray. Strain the lychee-ginger syrup and pour it over the lychees. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours.
3. Meanwhile, in a pitcher, stir the sugar into the lime juice until dissolved. Add the rum and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
4. Unmold the lychee ice cubes into a small punch bowl. Pour in the lime-rum mixture. Add the ginger beer, stir gently and serve in ice-filled glasses.

Make Ahead The lychee ice cubes can be frozen for up to 1 week.

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