Everyone has a Rum Punch Story.
Our story
Proper Punch started the same way a lot of good things do. At home.
Back in lockdown, Carlene moved from East London to Essex to live with Danny sooner than planned. Like everyone else, we suddenly found ourselves with something we never normally had enough of… time.
Before that, life was busy. Work, the school-run, business, and everyday life. Cooking proper Caribbean food wasn’t always something there was time for. But during lockdown, the kitchen became a big part of our days. Carlene started reconnecting with recipes, flavours and dishes she’d grown up around but never really had the time to make regularly.
At the same time, our local off-licence started selling rum punch. We loved it. So did everyone else because it kept selling out. But every time we bought a bottle, Danny would say the same thing:
“Come on, Carlene, surely we can make some proper rum punch.”
At first, Carlene wasn’t convinced as she had never made it before. Every Caribbean family has their own recipe, their own way of doing things. Rum punch is personal. It’s what turns up at family parties, BBQs, gatherings, and celebrations. Nobody just makes up a new version and no one really gives away their recipe.
But eventually we started experimenting ourselves.
Different rums. Different balances. Different flavours. Tweaking it until it felt right.
And then one day, we made one we both loved.
That was it.
At the time, it was never meant to become a business. It was just ours. Something for family, friends, and the people around us. Proper homemade rum punch for the garden, for gatherings, for good times.
Then came Cockney and Caribbean
As our events grew and our community grew, so did the rum punch. We started bringing it to events, offering tasters and serving it at parties while Danny DJ’d. The response was always the same:
“Where can we buy this”, “Wow, this is proper rum punch”, “You need to bottle this.”
So eventually, we did. And here we are.
Proper Punch is inspired by Caribbean culture, music, family, gatherings and shared moments. It’s our version of the drink that has always been part of Caribbean celebrations and community.
The word “proper” came naturally. It’s an East London thing. It’s how we speak. We didn’t just want any rum punch. We wanted proper rum punch.
And that’s exactly what this is.
Crafted using Caribbean rum, inspired by real moments, and made to be shared.
Your Story…
Went to Barbados nearly 7 years ago and left my wife sunbathing while I went swimming. My wife always used to lay a small towel over her face because of the sun.
When I came back from swimming I laid down next to my wife with her green towel over her head and cuddled her as I was wet and cold from the water. Problem was, my wife’s towel was blue and I didn’t notice and I cuddled some poor young lady who started shouting at me in a different language, German I think.
Four towels along my wife heard the commotion sat up right and called me! I left the beach instantly!
—Brett’s Rum Punch Story
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