Description
A refreshing and easy-to-make summer party drink that balances tart lemon, sweet peach, and smooth bourbon. This budget-friendly spiked lemonade is perfect for BBQs and can be made ahead of time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup hot water (for simple syrup)
- 6–8 medium fresh lemons (yielding approx. 1 cup juice)
- 2 cups cold water
- 2 cups peach nectar (100% juice)
- 1.5 cups bourbon
- Fresh mint leaves (for garnish)
- Peach slices and lemon wheels (for garnish)
- Ice
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup by combining 1 cup sugar and 1 cup hot water in a jar or bowl. Stir until dissolved or microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside to cool.
- Juice the fresh lemons to yield approximately 1 cup of juice. If using a blender, strain out seeds and pulp.
- In a large pitcher, combine the fresh lemon juice, cooled simple syrup, 2 cups cold water, and 2 cups peach nectar. Stir well and taste to adjust sweetness or tartness if needed.
- Pour in 1.5 cups of bourbon and stir gently.
- Refrigerate the mixture for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- To serve, fill the pitcher with ice. Garnish with thin slices of peach and lemon, and optionally add muddled fresh mint leaves.
Notes
For a non-alcoholic version, omit the bourbon and add an extra cup of water or sparkling water. The base can be made a day ahead and stored in the fridge. Do not freeze the whole pitcher with ice; freeze components separately if needed. Use mid-shelf bourbon like Jim Beam or Maker’s Mark for best results.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Beverages
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 oz per serving
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 22
Keywords: spiked lemonade, peach bourbon drink, summer party drinks, labor day recipes, easy cocktails, bourbon lemonade, make-ahead drinks