I don’t normally think of bourbon for summer cocktails, but blended with peach simple syrup and fresh squeezed lemon juice , this peach bourbon sour has become one of my most requested seasonal favorites. Like a traditional whiskey sour (but without the egg), this bourbon sour is infused with a homemade peachy simple syrup along with fresh lemon juice for the sour. It’s a warm weather drink that’s simple to make and heavenly to sip.
This recipe has been updated for recipe, photos and content since it’s original publication in 2015.
Table of Contents
skill level: beginner
This simple cocktail is a great way to begin your craft cocktail making adventures. With just a few ingredients (and an easy to make peach infused simple syrup) you can be sipping this summer whiskey sour in minutes.
The basics:
Confused about the difference between whiskey and bourbon? So was I… But here’s the skinny. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. To be classified as bourbon whiskey, the spirits must be made from mash that’s at least 51% corn. Bourbon is aged in new charred oak barrels without colorings or additives, while other whiskeys can be aged in barrels that previously held other liquors entirely.
What’s a traditional whiskey sour?
A classic whiskey sour is made with whiskey, lemon juice, sugar and egg white. When shaken the egg white becomes very frothy and leaves a foamy head on the cocktail.
Whiskey sours are typically made with bourbon, which tends to be sweeter than scotch whiskey.
However, this isn’t a sweet, girly-drink. As the name suggests, it’s a sour drink at heart. This rendition which uses an infused peach simple syrup doesn’t overpower the lemon, but rather adds a softer dimension to the bourbon sour.
Traditional whiskey sours are an elegant libation, usually served strained in a stemmed coupe glass with an artful garnish for presentation and flair. This whiskey sour recipe skips the egg white and stemmed glassware for less frou-frou and show and more easy sipping.
Ingredients for Peach Bourbon Sour
- Bourbon Whiskey
- Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Fresh Peach Simple Syrup
- Bitters (optional)
- Ice
What’s simple syrup?
Simple syrup (in its most basic form is equal parts sugar and water, heated until the sugar dissolves. After cooling to oom temperature, a simple syrup can be used in lots of recipes from cocktails to baking.
Simple syrup is preferred to straight sugar in cocktails because the mixture remains evenly sweet throughout without any grit from undissolved sugar.
I like to use infused simple syrups to give more depth, flavor and aromas to my cocktails. They are very easy to make and can transform ordinary drinks into something really extraordinary.
Adding peach simple syrup instead of straight sugar or plain simple syrup to a traditional whiskey sour adds another dimension of tart-sweet perfume to the drink.
How to make a peach bourbon sour
- Add the lemon juice, bourbon, peach simple syrup, bitters and ice to a cocktail shaker.
- Shake for 30 seconds or until the outside of the shaker is very cold and frosty.
- Fill an old-fashioned glass with ice and strain the whiskey sour into the glass.
- Garnish and serve.
You may wonder if you really need a garnish to drink a whiskey sour and I have to be honest, when it’s just me and my husband relaxing on the couch, I’m much less prissy than when I’m blogging for you… I just want my peachy bourbon cocktail.
However, if we’ve got company, I’m much more inclined to embellish the drinks. Just to make it more interesting — and let’s be honest, I’ve got a reputation to uphold.
Best garnish for peach bourbon sour
I like to keep it pretty simple when adding garnish to a cocktail…. except for maybe a bloody mary or bloody caesar, which mandates an over-the-top approach. Otherwise, I look for garnishes that emphasize what the cocktail is about. For a peach whiskey sour, I recommend:
- Peaches – Just a slice of fruit to give an inkling of what the cocktail is about. Fix it on the rim, spear it with a pick or float in the cocktail. I like to peel the peach first, so it’s not fuzzy, but that’s up to you.
- Lemons – Either sliced in a wheel or in half or if you’re feeling lazy – a wedge that’s easily squeezed to give the drink a little more pucker. It is a whiskey sour, after all… The lemon slice reinforces what’s in the drink.
- Cherries – I know — a cherry, maraschino or otherwise, has nothing to do with a bourbon sour — and is more in line with a Manhattan, however, it can really dress up this spirited beverage.
Confession: I’ve become addicted to the Amarena cherries from Trader Joe’s and it’s my go-to garnish for any whiskey sour. TJ’s only has them available at Christmas time, so as soon as I see them, I’ll buy 3 or 4 jars to stock up until the next season.
Peach Bourbon Sour FAQ’s
No. You can add all the ingredients to an old fashioned glass, filled with ice and give it a good stir. I prefer the shaker because the simple syrup can tend to be thick and it blends more completely when shaken, but I’m not the food police and if you don’t mind a little settling at the bottom, then who am I to say “no”?
You can. It won’t be a peach bourbon sour, of course, but that’s ok. Try it with these infused simple syrups as well: Guava Vanilla Simple Syrup, Rhubarb Ginger, Simple Syrup, Honey Thyme Simple Syrup, Passion Fruit Syrup
Theoretically, yes. Instead multiply the measurements of the ingredients by how many drinks you want and assemble them in a pitcher. Refrigerate to chill. To serve: add ice to the glasses and pour in the drink. Have garnishes available in a separate bowl.
More fresh peach recipes you might like:
More bourbon recipes you might like:
- Bourbon Marinated Flank Steak
- Bourbon Brown Sugar Banana Bread
- Sea Salt Bourbon Pecan Cookies
- Bourbon Cider Punch
- Wintry Spiced Christmas Old Fashioned
Fresh Peach Bourbon Sour
INGREDIENTS:
FOR EACH PEACH BOURBON SOUR
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ¾ ounce Fresh Peach Simple Syrup
- ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice juiced
- 2-3 dashes bitters
- 1 cup ice
suggested garnish
- slice peach – fresh or from the sugared peaches
- slice lemon
- maraschino or amarena cherry
DIRECTIONS:
FOR THE PEACH BOURBON SOUR:
- Add the bourbon, peach simple syrup, lemon juice and bitters to a cocktail shaker.
- Add ice and shake vigorously until the outside of the cocktail shaker is very cold and frothy, about 30 seconds.
- Strain into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a fresh peach wedge, slice of lemon and/or a maraschino cherry if desired.
NUTRITION:
Pin “Peach Bourbon Sour” for later!
Evan Williams now makes a peach bourbon that would be phenomenal for this. It’s sweet enough I plan to omit the nectar or any simple syrup at all. Also, I have quite the collection of Bitters from Fee Brothers including Peach! A true sour usually has a bit of froth you achieve from shaken egg white which could easily be added prior to the addition of the bourbon before the final shake! Great ideas just wanted to share some of my own!
That sounds phenomenal, Victoria — I definitely want to do that!
Love this cocktail!
I have to try this soon – 6pm tonight!
It’s a good sipper, but be careful — it’ll sneak up on you!