Planter’s Punch vs. Spicy Fifty

The difference, by the numbers

Both have lime juice. Only the Planter’s Punch has Jamaican rum and sugar cane juice; only the Spicy Fifty has vanilla vodka, elderflower cordial, honey syrup and red chili pepper. In parts, a Planter’s Punch is 3 rum, 1 lime and 2 cane juice; a Spicy Fifty is 5 vodka, 1½ elderflower, 1½ lime and 1 honey. By volume, the Planter’s Punch is 50% spirit, 33% syrup and sugar and 17% citrus; the Spicy Fifty is 55% spirit, 28% syrup and sugar and 17% citrus. That makes them close cousins on the ratio map.

The Planter’s Punch is the stronger drink in the glass (16.0% ABV against 12.5%), but being smaller it holds about the same alcohol (1.01 and 0.99 standard drinks). The Spicy Fifty has more calories (about 149 against 124) and more sugar (12.8 g against 5.4 g). The Planter’s Punch is built and served in a rocks glass; the Spicy Fifty is shaken and served in a coupe.