No. 3487 — Cold Punch
English historical translation of Molokhovets recipe No. 3487 from the 1901 Russian cookbook, retaining original methods and measures.
Break 3 pounds sugar into ordinary tea-sized lumps and rub them over zest from 10 lemons and 3 oranges.
Remove and discard all peel and pith from the fruits, slice the flesh into rounds and take out every seed. If available add a very small sliced pineapple and other fruits.
Put the fruit into a bowl and pour over 3½ bottles, which the source equates to 10 glasses, boiling water. Add the scented sugar and stir thoroughly.
Once the sugar has dissolved and the hot liquid has cooled, add 2 glasses cognac and 1 bottle French vodka.
Cover the bowl promptly with a lid, or preferably a napkin topped by a pillow, so the spirit does not evaporate. Leave about three hours, strain and press through a napkin, then bottle, cork and seal with resin.
The author praises the pleasant flavour of this cold punch.