Charles Dickens’ best characters tend to have a certain propensity for alcohol.
You have your beleaguered Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield, who recovers from “despondancy,” and “despair,” as soon as he’s asked to make a bowl of punch.
And then you have the fictional man of my teenage dreams, Sydney Carton, the brilliant but hopeless drunkard in A Tale of Two Cities. “I am a disappointed drudge, sir,” he says as an explanation for why he drinks to excess. “I care for no man on earth, and no man on earth cares for me.” (I care for you Sydney.)
And of course there’s good old Ebeneezer Scrooge who after his visits from the three spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future goes to discuss Bob Crachits’ affairs over “a Christmas bowl of smoking Bishop!” The Crachits also enjoy “hot gin punch,” as part of their modest Christmas dinner.
Bishop, in case you aren’t up on your Victorian beverages, involves hot red wine, sugar, and oranges.
It’s not a surprise then that Dickens himself was a fan too.
While he was at the height of his popularity in the 1850s and 60s, England teetotalism was very much in style—but Dickens would have none of it.
“I have no doubt whatever that the warm stuff in the jug at Bob Cratchit’s Christmas dinner had a very pleasant effect on the simple party,” he once wrote in defense of his character’s alcohol consumption.
“I am certain that if I had been at Mr. Fezziwig’s ball, I should have taken a little negus—and possibly not a little beer—and been none the worse for it, in heart or head.”
Dickens passionately loved a good cup of punch himself, preferring it to the trendy cocktails of the day. In fact, his punch recipe is the very punch Mr. Micawber loves to make so much.
We can assume that this punch is the “seething punch” that surrounds the Spirit of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol. The recipe, which is a delightful combination of brandy, rum, and lemon juice, will warm you in more ways than one. Also once everyone’s had a few glasses of punch it will be much easier to convince them to watch The Muppets Christmas Carol with you.
Every party is improved by a bit of fire and any silly fool who says “Bah humbug,” to the idea of consuming a Charles Dickens inspired drink will probably change their tune when you lower a lighter to the surface of your concoction and set the whole thing alight.
Depending on the size of your party (and serving bowl) this recipe can be doubled as needed. And if you’re interested in drinking the punch cold, add ice at the end and let sit.
Here’s how to do it:
Ingredients (serves 3-4)
8 oz. rum
5 oz. brandy
1 cup of sugar
The juice and rinds of 1-2 lemons
½ a litre of boiling water
Instructions 
1. Put the lemon rinds, rum, brandy, and sugar in a fireproof bowl.
2. Stir contents.
3. Use the lighter to set the contents of the bowl on fire. Hold the lighter against the liquid and circle around the surface until the flames grow to a light blue.
4. Warm yourself with that Christmas cheer until it burns out. Maybe Instagram it. Send some Snapchats. Use the Twitter. Whatever the young kids are doing.
5. After the fire burns itself out add the boiling water and lemon juice. Stir all contents and serve! You might want to put the punch in a pot and leave it on a burner set low, to keep the temperature constant.
6. Drink it all and—like Scrooge—you’ll be sure to keep Christmas in your heart all year round.
Dickens himself and many others recommend using Cognac specifically for the brandy. But Bob Cratchit couldn’t afford such extravagance! I suggest getting a more authentic experience by picking out a cheaper rum and brandy.
Charles Dickens punch is very much like his novels—lemony sweet, and warm but with a sharp edge.
In fact the punch tastes so unlike alcohol your guests may forget how potent the beverage is. You’ll all be very merry indeed in no time at all. And remember, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
Happy Christmas!
