Switchel Recipe: How to Make Old-Fashioned Haymaker’s Punch

Switchel, also known as Haymaker’s Punch, is a refreshing old-fashioned drink made with water, apple cider vinegar, ginger, and a sweetener such as molasses or maple syrup. This tangy beverage was traditionally enjoyed by farmers while working in hot summer fields, particularly during haying season.

With its tart, gingery flavor and simple ingredients, switchel is easy to make at home and makes a refreshing summer drink. Try this classic switchel recipe from The Old Farmer’s Almanac and discover why this traditional beverage has remained popular for centuries.

What Is Switchel?

Switchel has a long history as a traditional drink with Colonial Americans. (Read about the history of switchel.) It’s easy to make with just a few ingredients—apple cider vinegar, ginger, water, and a sweetener. 

Switchel contains ingredients that provide potassium, including molasses and apple cider vinegar, but its main appeal is its distinctive tart, gingery flavor and long history as a refreshing drink.

You can also learn more about its cold-weather cousin, fire cider.

We tested a few great switchel recipes to see if they lived up to their old-fashioned fame… we are a huge fan! Try them for yourself!

Old-Fashioned Switchel Recipe

Here’s a classic Haymaker’s Punch recipe, which was unearthed from the archives of The Old Farmer’s Almanac:

Ingredients

• 1 gallon water
• 1 1/2 cups molasses
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 

Instructions

1. Combine the water, molasses, apple cider vinegar, and grated ginger in a large pitcher or container.
2. Stir well until the sweetener is thoroughly incorporated.
3. Chill before serving.
4. Taste and adjust the sweetness or acidity if desired.
5. Serve cold over ice.

An Alternative Switchel Recipe

Here’s an alternative switchel recipe to try, courtesy of Dennis Miles, an Almanac Facebook fan and full-time blacksmith. He drinks his Haymaker’s Punch from a mid-19th century haymaker’s jug.

• 1 gallon water
• 2 cups raw or dark brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ginger (fresh)

Serve in mason jars.

We Tried This Switchel Recipe

My friend Wendy and I decided to make a pitcher one summer’s day using our Almanac recipe.

Mmmm! Switchel is so refreshing and delicious! It tastes pleasantly tart and, surprisingly, not too sweet.

And, boy, is it drinkable—much more so than plain water. I’ll say that it did quench my thirst for water, but not for switchel. We drank half the pitcher!

You can make the switchel last longer or less sweet by adding more water or a bubbly seltzer. (My guess is it could turn into a cocktail drink, too.) 

If you enjoyed switchel, try out our other refreshing drink recipes:

• Kombucha Tea 
• Fruit Kvass 
• Beet Kvass 
• Kvass with Turmeric
• Fire Cider
• Dog Days Iced Tea