Peach Bourbon Smash

If you think a Bourbon Smash can’t get any better, we’ve got a delicious surprise for you. The key to unlocking incredible flavor in this peach-infused version is one simple trick: searing the peaches.

This quick blast of heat doesn’t cook the fruit, but rather caramelizes the surface, deepening its sweetness and releasing a torrent of juice. When muddled with bourbon, rich maple syrup, and a balancing splash of lemon juice, the result is a sophisticated and exceptionally smooth cocktail that tastes like golden hour in a glass.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

Bourbon – Bourbon is the base here and the main ingredients. It often carries the signature notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel. Choose your favorite bourbon and remember that even though it’s mixed with other ingredients, the choice of bourbon can influence the final taste, with different brands having variations of sweetness, spice, and smoothness.

Peaches – make sure to get ripe peaches because you will be muddling them. If the peaches are not ripe yet, they will be hard and impossible to muddle. You can use peaches or nectarines.

Maple syrup – this is where the most of the sweetness of the cocktail comes in as well as the hint of fall. If you are not a fan of maple syrup, try using honey or flavored simple syrup like cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice syrup.

Lemon – The acidity from the lemon is crucial for balancing the sweetness of the bourbon and the added syrup. While in the classic smash, the lemon wedges are usually muddled, I only add the juice to prevent any kind of bitterness from the peels from entering the cocktail.

Use A Correct Muddler!

Have you ever noticed that the muddlers come in two shapes: ridged and smooth ended. It’s important to use the correct muddler as one is meant for spices and another for fruit, berries and herbs. The ridged one is meant for breaking down and crushing spices. The smooth end muddler is meant for gently smashing the fruit and herbs without crushing them. While it’s okay to use the ridged muddler for fruit, don’t use it on herbs or it will over-muddle and crush them and make them bitter.

How To Make Peach Bourbon Smash

TIP: Searing the peach is an extra step but an important one for the optimal flavor!

Start preheating a small pan over medium heat while preparing the peach. Wash the peach, dry it, and cut it in half. Take the peach pit out and sear the halves for a couple of minutes, until deep golden brown. This will caramelize it and release more natural sugars and juices within the fruit.

Let it cool on the cutting board so you don’t burn your hands and then cut it into small pieces.

Place the chopped peach into the cocktail shaker and muddle it well.

Add some ice to the shaker, maple syrup, lemon juice and the star – the bourbon. Close well and shake for a few seconds.

Strain the cocktail into the 2 glasses with ice and, if you don’t like the cocktail to have any fruit pieces in it, double strain it through a fine mesh strainer.

Variations To Try

Ginger – if you like the idea of ginger flavor with peach and maple, you can add it a few different ways. You can muddle a couple of slices of fresh ginger with the peach, or substitute half the maple syrup with ginger syrup, or add an ounce or two of ginger beer to the finished cocktail.

Whiskey – you can always variate your spirit of choice and use a whiskey, rye whiskey, or even brandy.

Herbs – you can even add a few leaves of basil or mint when muddling the peach. (Basil is my favorite option to add.)

Can I make it ahead of time?

Absolutely! I often make 4 or even more if we have people coming over for dinner so I don’t have to do it while entertaining.

You can pre-mix this cocktail, strain it into a glass jar, close it air-tight, and refrigerate it. You can only make it up to 1 day ahead of time though since we’re using a fresh peach.

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