I just made a Summer Peach Cocktail that tastes like liquid peach pie and will absolutely wreck your plans to be sensible tonight.

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I am obsessed with the Bourbon Peach Smash because it hits the part of me that wants messy fruit and a drink that refuses to be boring. I love biting into a peach wedge while 2 oz bourbon (good mid‑range bottle) warms the back of my throat.

And the contrast is good. I crave it on a long porch night or when I’m pretending elegant and failing.

This Summer Peach Cocktail feels like a Fresh Peach Cocktail, honest, not fussy. I keep 1 small ripe peach, cut into 3 to 4 wedges (or about 1/2 cup diced) always within reach.

Ingredients

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Bourbon: warm caramel and oak, it’s the drink’s confident, cozy backbone.
Peach liqueur or peach schnapps: sweet and juicy, basically candy for grownups.
Fresh lemon juice: bright acid that wakes everything up, makes it pop.
Simple syrup: soft sweetness that smooths edges, keeps things balanced.
Small ripe peach: fresh fruitiness and soft texture, it’s summery and real.
Fresh mint leaves: herbal lift and cool smell, it’s refreshing and clean.
Crushed ice: fast chilling and slushy texture, perfect sip-after-sip.
Club soda or sparkling water: light fizz to loosen the sweetness a bit.
Extra peach slice: pretty and fragrant, plus it looks like you tried.
Mint sprig for garnish: aromatic finish and a pretty green pop.

Ingredient Quantities

2 oz bourbon (good mid‑range bottle)

1/2 oz peach liqueur or peach schnapps (optional but tasty)

3/4 oz fresh lemon juice

3/4 oz simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)

1 small ripe peach, cut into 3 to 4 wedges (or about 1/2 cup diced)

6 to 8 fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish

Crushed ice, enough to fill the glass

Splash of club soda or sparkling water (optional, to top)

Extra peach slice and mint sprig for garnish

How to Make this

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1. Put the peach wedges and 6 to 8 mint leaves in a sturdy glass or shaker and muddle gently until the peach breaks down and the mint is fragrant but not shredded, a few good presses will do it.

2. Add 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz peach liqueur or schnapps if using, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice and 3/4 oz simple syrup to the muddled fruit and herbs.

3. Fill the shaker or glass about halfway with crushed ice, then give it a firm shake if using a shaker, or stir hard for 10 to 15 seconds if you’re in the serving glass.

4. Dump the contents, ice and all, into a rocks glass or short tumbler already packed with more crushed ice so the drink stays cold and slushy.

5. Taste and if you want it lighter or a touch fizzier add a splash of club soda or sparkling water to top.

6. Spoon or press down any remaining peach bits so they sit nicely in the glass, they look better and keep releasing flavor as you sip.

7. Garnish with an extra peach slice and a sprig of mint, clap the mint between your hands first so it smells brighter.

8. Serve with a short straw and a napkin, warn friends the crushed ice makes it melt fast so sip or refill soon.

Equipment Needed

1. Sturdy cocktail shaker or a heavy mixing glass (for muddling and shaking)
2. Muddler (or the butt of a wooden spoon if you dont have one)
3. Jigger or measuring tools for ounces and fractions
4. Small citrus juicer or reamer for the lemon juice
5. Bar spoon or long stirring spoon (10 to 15 second stir)
6. Ice crusher or sturdy bag and mallet to make crushed ice
7. Rocks glass or short tumbler for serving
8. Paring knife and cutting board for slicing the peach and garnishes
9. Short cocktail straws and napkins for serving, plus a spoon for pressing peach bits

FAQ

Q: Can I make this without peach liqueur or schnapps? A: Yes, you can skip it and the cocktail will still be great. The fresh peach adds most of the flavor, the liqueur just makes it sweeter and more pronounced.

Q: What if I don't have a cocktail muddler? A: Use the back of a wooden spoon or a sturdy pestle. Press and twist gently so you bruise the peach and mint without turning them into mush.

Q: Can I use frozen peaches? A: Totally. Thaw them slightly so they release juice when muddled. Frozen ones can make the drink colder and a bit slushier, which is nice on hot days.

Q: How do I make simple syrup? A: Heat equal parts sugar and water until sugar dissolves, then cool. No need to boil it long. Store in the fridge up to two weeks.

Q: What's a good bourbon to use? A: Go for a good mid range bottle, something smooth with caramel and vanilla notes. You don't need top shelf here, but skip the cheap stuff cause it shows.

Q: Can I make a pitcher for a party? A: Yes. Multiply the recipe by 6 or so, muddle peaches and mint in a large pitcher, add bourbon and syrups, keep crushed ice separate and add right before serving so it doesn't get watery.

Bourbon Peach Smash Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Bourbon: swap for rye whiskey for a spicier kick, or dark rum if you want it sweeter and fruitier.
Peach liqueur or schnapps: use apricot brandy, peach nectar, or a splash of orange liqueur (Cointreau) if you dont have peach stuff.
Fresh lemon juice: substitute lime juice for a brighter tang, or use 1/2 oz lemon concentrate plus a touch more water if fresh lemons arent available.
Simple syrup: use honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water) for floral sweetness, or agave syrup for a milder, less cloying finish.

Pro Tips

1. Muddle gently, not like you hate the peach. Overmashing turns the mint bitter and makes a gritty drink. A few firm presses until the peach breaks down and the mint smells good is all you need.

2. Use really cold, crushed ice and pack the glass. It melts fast and waters the cocktail quick, so keep everything chilled and serve right away. If you want to stretch drinks, top with a splash of sparkling water instead of adding more ice.

3. Taste before you garnish. Sometimes the lemon or syrup needs a tiny tweak. Add a few drops more lemon if it feels flat, or a touch more syrup if the bourbon is overpowering. Little adjustments make it sing.

4. Don’t skip the garnish ritual. Slap the mint between your hands once to wake up the oils, and tuck a peach slice on the rim so it looks inviting. Presentation tricks make the first sip taste better, even if the drink’s not perfect.

Bourbon Peach Smash Recipe

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

I just made a Summer Peach Cocktail that tastes like liquid peach pie and will absolutely wreck your plans to be sensible tonight.

Servings

servings

Calories

301

kcal

Equipment: 1. Sturdy cocktail shaker or a heavy mixing glass (for muddling and shaking)
2. Muddler (or the butt of a wooden spoon if you dont have one)
3. Jigger or measuring tools for ounces and fractions
4. Small citrus juicer or reamer for the lemon juice
5. Bar spoon or long stirring spoon (10 to 15 second stir)
6. Ice crusher or sturdy bag and mallet to make crushed ice
7. Rocks glass or short tumbler for serving
8. Paring knife and cutting board for slicing the peach and garnishes
9. Short cocktail straws and napkins for serving, plus a spoon for pressing peach bits

Ingredients

2 oz bourbon (good mid‑range bottle)
1/2 oz peach liqueur or peach schnapps (optional but tasty)
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
3/4 oz simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water)
1 small ripe peach, cut into 3 to 4 wedges (or about 1/2 cup diced)
6 to 8 fresh mint leaves, plus a sprig for garnish
Crushed ice, enough to fill the glass
Splash of club soda or sparkling water (optional, to top)
Extra peach slice and mint sprig for garnish

Directions

Put the peach wedges and 6 to 8 mint leaves in a sturdy glass or shaker and muddle gently until the peach breaks down and the mint is fragrant but not shredded, a few good presses will do it.
Add 2 oz bourbon, 1/2 oz peach liqueur or schnapps if using, 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice and 3/4 oz simple syrup to the muddled fruit and herbs.
Fill the shaker or glass about halfway with crushed ice, then give it a firm shake if using a shaker, or stir hard for 10 to 15 seconds if you're in the serving glass.
Dump the contents, ice and all, into a rocks glass or short tumbler already packed with more crushed ice so the drink stays cold and slushy.
Taste and if you want it lighter or a touch fizzier add a splash of club soda or sparkling water to top.
Spoon or press down any remaining peach bits so they sit nicely in the glass, they look better and keep releasing flavor as you sip.
Garnish with an extra peach slice and a sprig of mint, clap the mint between your hands first so it smells brighter.
Serve with a short straw and a napkin, warn friends the crushed ice makes it melt fast so sip or refill soon.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.