Remember when you were a kid, and you used to mix a bunch of fountain drinks in one cup because you wanted more from life than one single beverage could offer on its own? Well, that’s sort of the impulse behind a Rum Punch. You’ve probably seen this cocktail on a lot of menus, and maybe you’ve wondered what exactly it was. The answer is: a bunch of different stuff. This drink is pretty much a grab bag of various juices (and rum), and it’s perfect for when you want to quickly pour some stuff in a glass and stretch out like a cat.

How It Tastes: Juicy, Tropical, Like A Beach Day

Drink If You Like: Mai Tais, Painkillers

You’ll Need:

• Ice
• Highball
• 2 ounces rum
• 1.5 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 ounce orange juice
• .75 ounce lime juice
• .5 ounce grenadine
• Club soda

Step One: Pineapple Juice

Let’s get things started with pineapple juice. If you have a pineapple, and you’re willing to juice it, we salute you. That’ll make for a slightly better cocktail. But if you just have a can of juice, that’s fine too. Put 1.5 ounces directly into a highball filled to the rim with ice.

Step Two: Orange Juice

You might have a carton of orange juice in your fridge - but, please, leave it there. Fresh orange juice is key, and it’s extremely easy to make. Just cut an orange in half, and give it a squeeze. Add 1 ounce fresh orange juice to your highball.

Step Three: Lime Juice

Remember what we said about orange juice? The same goes for lime. Fresh-squeezed lime juice is essential, so juice a lime, and add .75 ounce of that juice to your highball. It’ll provide a good pop of acidity.

Step Four: Grenadine

To be perfectly honest, grenadine is mostly just here for aesthetic reasons (although it does add a little complexity). Still, it’s an important part of this cocktail - if only because it changes the color. Pour .5 ounce grenadine into your highball - and if you don’t have grenadine on hand, feel free to substitute 1 ounce cranberry juice.

Step Five: Rum

Amazingly, pretty much any rum works here. (Except for spiced or flavored rum, both of which are too sweet for this drink.) If you want something lighter, go for a white rum, or, if you want to add some rich molasses flavor, use a dark rum. Or use both. That’s what we like to do. Go ahead and add 2 ounces of rum to your Rum Punch.

Step Six: Club Soda

A traditional Rum Punch doesn’t call for club soda, but a bit of sparkling water will lighten up this cocktail and cut through the sugar. So fill the remainder of your highball with club soda (it should be about 2 ounces), and give everything a brief stir. Finally, garnish your magnificent cup of various juices with a lime wheel, an orange slice, a mint sprig, a cherry, or all of the above. This is a festive drink, so don’t hold back. You deserve a well-garnished Rum Punch.