Bourbon Peach Tea cocktail recipe

When we think of peaches, we think of juicy summer fruit, peach cobblers, peaches and ice cream, and maybe even peaches and prosciutto salad. But we’re here to talk about cocktails. Specifically, Bourbon Peach Tea. This cocktail is like those delicious dishes, but instead of being served up in plates and bowls, it delivers all that summery goodness in a glass. It’s sweet, but not overly so, and it packs a flavourful peach-tea punch.

Iced tea – specifically, sweet iced tea – is synonymous with the American south. So, what better spirit to pair it with than the whiskey of the American South – bourbon. Fun fact: In the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, Dolly Parton’s character calls sweet tea ‘the house wine of the south’. Historically, a simple shot of bourbon is added to make sweet tea a grown-up drink, but this Bourbon Peach Tea cocktail elevates the classic from a porch-side sipper to ‘Wow, what’s in this?’.

Bourbon lover or not, Bourbon Peach Tea is for everyone. If we had to pick one word to describe this crowd-pleaser, it would be ‘tasty’. This is sweet peach schnapps and warm, woody bourbon, fused with the earthy, floral sweetness of Earl Grey tea, punctuated by bitter orange curacao and fresh lemon zing. The balance is so on point we nearly called it ‘Sugar Peach Tea Fairy’ (shout out to all the ballet fans).

As far as bourbon-based summer cocktails go, this is top tier. The Mint Julep may be the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby, but we’re naming Bourbon Peach Tea the signature drink of backyard barbecues.

For the best results, brew and chill strong black tea the night before you plan to serve the cocktail; we used Earl Grey in our recipe, but English Breakfast also works well. The stronger the better here. You can prepare the tea on the day, but if you do it well in advance, you’ll have fresh, chilled iced tea ready to enjoy with, or without, bourbon.

Bourbon Peach Tea’s simple method gives it what we like to call ‘pitcher potential’. Throw some ice in a jug, multiply the ingredients, stir well and you’ve got a batch ready to pour on demand. This is especially handy when entertaining and plus ones become plus two or three.

Just like a good cuppa, Bourbon Peach Tea should be made just the way you like it. That means you have the freedom to fine-tune until it's just right. Like a strong, tannic tea? Try a longer steep. Not a sweet-tooth? Dial back the schnapps a smidge. Want more zing? Add a touch more lemon juice. Varying your bourbon selection can make a world of difference, too.

If you’re feeling fancy, try upgrading your cocktail with DIY flavour-infused ice cubes. Fruits, spices and just about anything, really, can be infused into ice. For Bourbon Peach Tea, consider star anise, pieces of cinnamon sticks or even crystallised ginger. Still not sure? We’ve got a heap of tips to help you through the process.

While Bourbon Peach Tea is an elevated version of the afternoon classic, it’s certainly not pretentious. A simple old fashioned glass will do nicely, but it’s equally suited to jam or mason  jars for that real down-home feeling.