This peach bourbon cocktail pairs smooth bourbon with juicy peach using just 3 ingredients. You can build it right in the glass, no shaker needed!
There’s just something about sweet, fruity peaches that accentuates the strong, spicy flavor of whiskey. Here’s the best way to drink them together: try this Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail!
I love how this drink uses the powerful flavor of peach schnapps and fresh peaches along with the spicy finish of whiskey. It’s a sort of Mix it up in a lowball glass, and with a few jingling ice cubes it’s ideal for summer sipping. Let’s get mixing!
5 Star Reader Reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Photos are exceptional as always! This Peach Bourbon Cocktail is a winner.” -Darma
Ingredients You’ll Need
Peaches and bourbon are an ideal flavor match, but using juice from fresh peaches doesn’t quite hold up to the strength of the bourbon. Luckily I had peach schnapps on hand from making a Fuzzy Navel, and needed something to do with it.
Mix it up with bourbon and a little juice, and pow! The intense peach flavor is offset with the vanilla and oaky notes of the bourbon. Here’s what you’ll need to mix up this drink:
- Bourbon: I like using a mid-priced bottle here, like Elijah Craig Small Batch.
- Peach schnapps: This type of schnapps made by adding peach flavoring to a clear grain spirit. It was introduced in 1984 by DeKuyper, and quickly became the top selling schnapps in America. Try peach schnapps cocktails like a Fuzzy Navel, Georgia Peach, or Peach Martini.
- Fresh peaches or orange juice: I created this recipe to be both a traditional bourbon smash with muddled fresh peaches, or in the off season you can use orange juice.
How to Make a Peach Bourbon Smash
This Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail is one of my favorite types of cocktails: the kind you can build in the glass! It’s super simple: just add everything to a lowball glass. If you’re making the version with fresh peaches, you’ll need to muddle them first. Here’s all you need to know:
- Muddle OR pour: If making the fresh peach version, you’ll need to muddle everything in a cocktail shaker, then add the bourbon and peach schnapps and strain. If you’re making the orange juice version, simply add all ingredients to a low ball glass.
- Add ice: If you have time, make a batch of clear ice. It’s crystal clear ice cubes you can make at home and cut into organic shapes, and it makes the drink look stunning! See my clear ice tutorial for more.
- Garnish: If you can, garnish with a sprig of fresh mint! A fresh peach slice looks nice too, but is not required.
Recipe Variations
This recipe is easy to make in the off-season with these swaps:
- Use fresh squeezed orange juice or 100% bottled juice instead of peaches. There’s no need to buy peach nectar, which is the main way to bring peach flavor into cocktails. A little orange juice brings that peach color without any orange flavor: and it’s much easier to find than peach nectar.
- Add lemon juice. A small squeeze of fresh lemon juice balances the sweetness if you like a more tart drink.
- No schnapps? Start with my Bourbon Smash with lemon juice, mint, and simple syrup, and muddle in those ripe peaches. Less peach flavor, but just as interesting.
- Add bubbles. Add a splash of ginger beer for a fizzier drink like my Kentucky Mule.
What to Mix With Peach Bourbon or Peach Whiskey
If you have a bottle of peach-flavored whiskey, like Jim Beam Peach or Crown Royal Peach, you can use it in place of the bourbon. It’s already sweet, so you can cut out the peach schnapps and then add simple syrup to taste — or use half the peach schnapps.
Peach whiskey tastes great with ginger ale (like a Whiskey Ginger), lemonade (like my Bourbon Lemonade), or ginger beer.
Make a Pitcher for a Crowd
To serve 8, stir together 2 cups bourbon, 1 cup peach schnapps, and 1 ½ cups orange juice in a pitcher. Refrigerate until serving. Pour 4 ½ oz servings over ice in individual glasses.
More Peach Cocktails To Try
- Try the tangy Peach Margarita, made with lime, tequila and frozen peaches
- Go for a Peach Martini with peach schnapps and vodka
- Opt for the classic Bellini Cocktail with peach puree and bubbles
- Nab a 1980’s Fuzzy Navel, the original peach schnapps drink
When To Serve This Cocktail
This Peach Bourbon Smash cocktail is both sophisticated and laid back. It’s great for summer, but you can drink it anytime! Try it as a:
- Happy hour drink
- Dinner party drink
- Late night drinks drink
- Guys or girls night drink
- Cocktail hour drink
Peach Bourbon Smash Cocktail
This peach bourbon cocktail pairs smooth bourbon with juicy peach using just 3 ingredients. You can build it right in the glass, no shaker needed!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 ounce* peach schnapps
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 5 to 6 fresh peach slices OR 1 ½ ounces fresh squeezed orange juice (from 1 orange, or no sugar added purchased juice)*
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
- For the garnish: fresh peach slice, fresh mint sprig
Instructions
- Fresh peach version: Muddle the peach slices in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, with a few leaves of mint of you have them. Add the bourbon and peach schnapps, then shake and strain into a cocktail glass filled with clear ice.
- Orange juice version: Pour the peach schnapps, bourbon and orange juice into a glass. Add ice and serve.
Notes
*For converting to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
**If you prefer, you can use ripe fresh peach slices. Muddle 5 or 6 in a cocktail shaker, then add the bourbon and peach schnapps, shake and strain into a cocktail glass. (You can skip the orange juice in this case.)
Thanks for the peach cocktail inspiration! Photos are exceptional as always! This Peach Bourbon Cocktail is a winner. Any idea where the glass comes from??
Hi! They are a favorite of ours from Crate and Barrel: https://rstyle.me/+a7AIE65OIZWhNhsE5kSCSA
Your recipe for peach tomato basil salad has a typo..it states add the “onions, BEANS to the tomatoes and peaches”…there are no beans listed in the ingredient list and I don’t think there should be.
This has been fixed in the recipe. Thank you!