Labour Day Grilled-Pineapple Rum Punch (Large-Batch, Grill-Ready)

Ingredient Spotlight

Ginger beer

A carbonated, spicy ginger-fermented soft drink originally from 18th-century Britain and popular across the Caribbean; it’s commonly used as a cocktail mixer (not to be confused with milder, sweeter ginger ale). It has a sharp, warming ginger bite, pronounced ginger aroma, and more ginger-forward intensity and less sweetness than ginger ale. Find it in the beverage or mixer aisle of most supermarkets, liquor stores, or in specialty/ethnic markets. Substitute with ginger ale spiked with fresh grated ginger and lime or with club soda plus a ginger syrup or bottled ginger concentrate for similar flavor and effervescence.

Ingredient Spotlight

Smoking wood chips (apple/hickory) — optional, for smoky finish

Chunks or chips of fruitwood (apple) or hardwood (hickory) used for smoking foods on a grill or smoker to impart a specific aromatic smoke character; this is a staple in barbecue traditions from the American South and elsewhere. Apple wood gives a mild, sweet, fruity smoke while hickory delivers a stronger, savory-bacon-like smoke. Buy smoking chips at BBQ shops, hardware stores, supermarket grilling sections, or online; use a small pouch or smoker box on a gas grill or in a charcoal fire. If you don’t have chips, approximate the effect with a few drops of liquid smoke, a pinch of smoked salt or smoked paprika, or briefly char pineapple over a grill to add a touch of smoke.