Recipe

A Crowd-Pleasing Porch Punch

Name: Rum Sweet Tea (Off-Day Porch Punch)
Yield: 6–8 servings
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 3 cups water; ½ cup cane sugar; 3 bags of black tea; 1 lemon, sliced into wedges; 1 orange, sliced into wedges; 1 lime, sliced into wedges; 1 cup rum of choice; Lime wheels and mint, for garnish

6–8 servings

Rum, sweet tea, and citrus come together in this warm-weather drink

By Danielle Wallace
Recipe by Duane Nutter

April/May 2025

Sweet tea punch in a glass with a larger pitcher and sliced oranges

Photo: Johnny Autry

“Whenever we chilled on the porch, I’d whip up a batch and enjoy the day off,” says Duane Nutter of this punch.

When the chef and comedian Duane Nutter moved in 2016 from his award-winning gig at Atlanta’s One Flew South to open Southern National in Mobile, he discovered that locals had a soft spot for rum. That gave him an idea: “Make some sweet tea, spike it with a little rum, hang out on the porch, and check out my new city.” The recipe has now made its way into his new (and first) cookbook, Cutting Up in the Kitchen. And although he’s since returned to Atlanta, and brought his restaurant along with him, the punch is still a go-to for get-togethers, along with other nonnegotiables: “potato chips, deviled eggs, and Marvin Gaye.”

Ingredients

Rum Sweet Tea (Off-Day Porch Punch) (Yield: 6 to 8 servings)
- 3 cups water
- ½ cup cane sugar
- 3 bags of black tea
- 1 lemon, sliced into wedges
- 1 orange, sliced into wedges
- 1 lime, sliced into wedges
- 1 cup rum of choice
- Lime wheels and mint, for garnish

Preparation

In a small saucepan, combine water and sugar and bring to a boil over high heat. Turn down heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring, until all of the sugar is dissolved.
Pour the sugar water into a punch bowl or pitcher and add tea bags. Let those steep for 10 to 15 minutes. For less strong tea, let steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove and discard tea bags. Add lemon, orange, and lime wedges and rum, and mix well. Refrigerate until chilled. To serve, pour into collins glasses with lots of ice, and garnish with lime wheels and mint.

Danielle Wallace joined Garden & Gun full time in March 2024 as the editorial assistant after interning in 2023. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, she lives with her sister, Nicole, in Charleston, South Carolina. When she’s not writing or fact checking, she’s most likely crocheting or spending time with her cat, Holly.