This is a drink that has become an Independence Day tradition -- Fish House Punch. This drink dates back to Philadelphia's Schuylkill Fishing Club in 1732, and was a favorite of our Founding Father George Washington during the American Revolution.
Slack sugar in punch bowl; when completly dissolved add lemon juice and let stand. Combine rest of ingredients and let stand in separate container. Two hours before serving time, combine lemon juice mixture and liquor in punch bowl with large cake of ice and let chill to acquire proper dilution. In winter, when ice melts slowly, more water may be used, but in warm weather the melting ice will dilute the mixture sufficiently.
Recipe should make enough to at least last through the day.
From Trader Vic's Book of Food & Drink (Garden City: Doubleday, 1946). Trader Vic warns of woe unto to those who treat this libation with irreverence.