Bourbon Smash cocktails are some of my favorite summers cocktails. I have experimented with a wide variety of fruits and berries when making Bourbon Smash recipes. One of my all-time favorites is the Peach Bourbon Smash! Sweet, cool, and refreshing, it’s easy to drink and easy to make. I use peaches in this cocktail, but all stone fruits are excellent with bourbon. Apricots, plums, and nectarines have all been amazing as substitutes for this Bourbon smash, and I mix it up quite a bit. I usually just go by what looks best when selecting the fruits.
I’ve found that peaches are usually at their peak roughly around the first or second week in August. They’re sweet, juicy, and just about the most perfect thing you’ve ever tasted. Mix in a little ice-cold bourbon, and some lemon and you’ve got yourself a party. I always taste a slice of the peach before making my Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail in order to determine how sweet it is. Not all peaches were created equal and some will be sweeter than others. I vary the amount of simple syrup based on the quality of the peach to get the best result.
Peach Bourbon Smash Ingredients
- Bourbon is an American whiskey, it is believed that Bourbon gets its name from Bourbon County, Kentucky. The American Bourbon Association website has great information about this amazing whiskey. Firstly, in order for whiskey to be called Bourbon, it must be made in the USA. The mash must contain at least 51% corn, with no additives or artificial colorings. Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels that are aged on their sides to allow good airflow. In order to be considered ‘Straight Bourbon Whiskey’ it must be aged for a minimum of 2-years. That being said, this is a very condensed version of what makes Bourbon, Bourbon.
- Peaches: Any variety of peach will work, they add a nice sweetness and color to the Peach Bourbon Smash. Peaches have always been one of my favorite additions to Bourbon. Stone fruits contain 88% water and freeze well. I place 1/2-cup of diced peaches into little plastic baggies and have them ready to go in my freezer.
- Aperol: Aperol is a slightly bitter, slightly sweet Italian apértif that highlights the best qualities of the Bourbon. Adding bitters to cocktails adds complexity, depth, and character. Aperol is a magnificent orange color, which gives the Peach Bourbon Smash great visual appeal as well.
- Lemon Juice and Sugar: A little goes a long way, so use just a squeeze of lemon per cocktail.
The Peach Bourbon Smash is as pretty as it is delicious!
There are a lot of peaches being muddled in this cocktail and it will clog up your cocktail shaker in the blink of an eye. For best results, muddle the fruit and liquor together in a tall glass without then strain the mixture into a cocktail shaker over ice. You’ll save yourself a big mess!
Here is my favorite Peach Cocktail recipe
Peach Bourbon Smash
Equipment
- Muddling Stick
- Cocktail Shaker
- Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 Peach Fresh or frozen
- 4 Ounces Bourbon
- 2 Ounces Aperol
- 1-2 Ounces Simple Syrup
- 1 Lemon Juice Only
Garnish
- 2 Mint Sprigs
- 2 Slices Lemon
- 2 Slices Peach
Instructions
- Slice the peach in half and remove the stone, slice each half into 6-8 slices (depends on the size of the peach), taste a slice to determine how much simple syrup to use.
- Reserve 4 slices for garnish
- Place the remaining peach slices into a tall glass, add the liquor and simple syrup, muddle the mixture well
- Add ice to a cocktail shaker and strain the muddled liquor into it, cover and shake well
- Strain into a tumbler over ice
- Garnish with peach slices, lemon slice, and mint
Nutrition
