These easy Peach Bourbon Spritzers are the perfect easy cocktail for late summer and early fall! A quick homemade peach simple syrup, bourbon, and a mint or basil garnish make this peach cocktail a hit. This recipe also makes great mocktails! Recipe for 21+; please drink responsibly.
Are you ready to meet your new favorite warm-weather cocktail? Because these easy peach bourbon spritzers are allllll kinds of perfect for summer.
Here's what you'll need:
- Our quick homemade peach simple syrup (with fresh OR frozen peaches!)
- A dash of your favorite bourbon, rye, or whiskey
- Lemon juice - use fresh squeezed lemon juice here for best results!
- A splash of bubbly tonic water or club soda
- Lots of ice!
- Optional garnishes: Fresh peach slices and a sprig of fresh mint or basil make these cocktails feel elegant.
First, make the peach syrup
We love using homemade syrup in cocktails in place of triple sec or sweet liqueurs (like Cointreau or Grand Marnier). Simple syrups are a great way to infuse big flavors (and bright colors!) into your cocktails. We use this method a lot - check out our Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade or Strawberry Thyme Cocktails next!
To make the peach syrup, slice up a peach and toss the slices in a saucepan with equal parts sugar and water (reserve a few slices for garnishing your cocktails first if you like).
Bring it to a low simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes until the sugar has dissolved and the peaches have softened and darkened in color. Let the syrup cool, then strain out the peaches. Use the cooled peach syrup right away, or make it a few days ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until you're ready for it!
Pro tip: Freeze the leftover peaches
Leftover, syrupy, sugary peaches are a delicious addition to smoothies. Spread the peach pieces out on a nonstick baking mat, then pop them in the freezer for an hour or to before transferring them to an airtight container. They'll keep 2-3 months in the freezer!
Riffs and Substitutions
This is a very simple, very FORGIVING bourbon cocktail recipe (huzzah!) so don't be afraid to play with the flavors. Some of our favorite swaps:
- Use fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries instead of the peaches in this simple syrup.
- Swap out the whiskey for a gin or vodka cocktail. You can also use your favorite nonalcoholic spirit (we love this gin alternative from Drink Monday!)
- Top these cocktails off with club soda, tonic water, or even champagne or prosecco!
A few peach cocktail FAQs
Yes! Make the syrup a few days ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Before your guests arrive, juice the lemons and whisk all the cocktail ingredients together in a large pitcher without ice, then store in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, pour the drink mixture into individual glasses filled with ice, top with a splash of tonic water or club soda, and serve! Once mixed, this whiskey cocktail will last 3-4 hours in the fridge before it starts to lose flavor.
We tend to reach for Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon for most of our whiskey cocktails: it's well balanced, not too expensive, and goes well with just about anything. If you like spicier, more booze-forward cocktails, you can use a stronger, spicier rye whiskey (we like Rittenhouse Rye for cocktail making!) You could also opt for an Irish whiskey here - our best advice is just to use a whiskey that you know you like!
Yes! This cocktail recipe is great with gin, vodka, or tequila. It's also excellent with nonalcoholic spirits: We love this alcohol-free gin substitute from Drink Monday. You can also nix the liquor entirely and sub extra club soda for a bright, refreshing mocktail.
This recipe is for readers 21+. Please drink responsibly.
Peach Bourbon Spritzers
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Inactive Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 2-4 1x
- Category: Cocktails
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These peach syrup cocktails use homemade peach syrup for a light and refreshing summer cocktail!
Ingredients
FOR THE PEACH SYRUP:
- 1 large peach, sliced
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
FOR THE COCKTAILS:
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) peach syrup
- 4 ounces (½ cup) lemon juice
- 4 ounces (½ cup) bourbon whiskey
- 4 ounces (½ cup) club soda
- Optional garnishes: Extra peach slices, fresh basil or mint sprigs
Instructions
For the peach syrup:
- Reserve a few peach slices for garnishing your cocktails (optional), then stir remaining sliced peaches, sugar, and water together in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until sugar has dissolved and peaches have softened. The syrup will turn a bright, pink-orange color and the peaches will darken in color a bit.
- Remove syrup from heat and let cool for 20-30 minutes, then strain to remove the peach slices (Pro tip: save the leftover peaches for smoothies!)
- Use cooled syrup immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Note: This recipe makes enough syrup for several cocktails; use what you need for this recipe and keep the rest in the fridge for later!
For the cocktails:
- Add peach syrup, lemon juice, and bourbon to a large cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake to chill, then strain cocktails into individual glasses filled with ice.
- Garnish drinks with fresh peach slices and a sprig of basil or mint (optional). Serve immediately.
Notes
No cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid to shake these drinks together. You can also add the ingredients to a large measuring cup or mixing bowl, add the ice, stir with a spoon, and strain into glasses.
What kind of bourbon should I use? We like Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon: it’s well-balanced, affordable, and is great in cocktails. If you like a spicier, boozier cocktail, Rittenhouse Rye (or any rye!) is a good choice. Our best advice: Choose a whiskey you like to drink!
Additions and Substitutions. Swap the peaches for strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries. Use frozen peaches if fresh ones aren’t available (we do not recommend using canned peaches here). Use gin, vodka, or your favorite nonalcoholic spirit in place of the bourbon. Replace the club soda with tonic water or Prosecco.
To make this spritzer for a crowd, follow a 1:2:2:2 ratio (1 part peach syrup, 2 parts lemon juice, 2 parts bourbon, 2 parts club soda) and scale up as needed.
Make Ahead Tips. Make the syrup a few days ahead of time; store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Before your event, whisk all the cocktail ingredients together in a large pitcher without ice - it will keep for 3-4 hours in the fridge. When you're ready to serve, pour the drink mixture into individual glasses filled with ice, top with a splash of tonic water or club soda, and serve!
Please drink responsibly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 331
- Sugar: 33.7 g
- Sodium: 12.9 mg
- Fat: 1.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 55.4 g
- Protein: 1.9 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: cocktails, spirits, summer
Jessie @ Life As A Strawberry
I use this peach syrup in EVERYTHING. I love these cocktails in the summer, and I made a batch of the syrup with some leftover frozen peaches last week and have been adding a drizzle to sparkling water for a summery touch!
★★★★★