Bourbon Peach Iced Tea

5 from 5 reviews

Bourbon Peach Iced Tea is the perfect summer drink recipe. Tasty and utterly refreshing, this fruity big-batch cocktail is just what you need on a hot summer day. Learn how to make a pitcher of Bourbon Peach Iced Tea from scratch with ripe peaches and a splash of your favorite American Bourbon. We’re also talking all about Bourbon and the right tea for this refreshing drink.

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Hello my friends. Peaches are in season during the warmest months of the year. It’s only natural to make use of the ripe pitted fruits and fix some kind of refreshing drink. Why not a tea? Peach tea is super popular! You can even find it in powdered form. Of course, nothing beats making a big-batch cocktail like Bourbon Peach Iced Tea from scratch with natural fruit.

Origins of Peach Tea

Let’s start from the beginning. Both peaches and black tea arrived in America with the first British ships. Peach trees immediately felt right at home in Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, and South Carolina, and eventually became a Southern staple. Did you know the meaty fruits are actually originally from China?

Black tea is also a Chinese specialty, but as you recall, it was the British who brought it in crates to America. But who first flavored their iced ‘sweet tea’ with peaches to create the famous Southern drink? We’ll never know, but the recipe below is an homage to these unsung heroes. This is a great summer evening drink, summer party cocktail, or just a warm-day drink so special.

Tall glass of peach iced tea with sliced peaches on top

Making Bourbon Peach Iced Tea from Scratch

It is so easy to make a big-batch pitcher of peach iced tea from scratch, most of your time will be just waiting time; waiting for the peaches to simmer and the tea to steep.

First you must simmer the peaches with sugar and water for about ten minutes, and when cool, slightly purée the peach mixture in a blender. Strain the peach puree through a fine mesh and set aside in a large pitcher.

At the same time the peaches are simmering, in a tea kettle boil some water and add the black tea bags into the hot water and steep for ten minutes. After you discard the tea bags, add the brewed black tea to the pitcher with the peach puree mixture.

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Then add cold water and finally the bourbon, and stir. Serve in an iced tea glass or the glass of your preference, and garnish with some fresh mint or some peach slices. It’s easier than you can imagine; that’s why Geoffrey and I always have a cold pitcher of peach iced tea in the fridge!

Large pitcher of peach iced tea next to 2 tall glasses of the same

FAQs about Peach Iced Tea & Bourbon

What does peach tea taste like?

If you haven’t had peach tea before, definitely try this recipe right away. Essentially peach tea is sweet but not cloying, peachy and summery, but nicely balanced by the black tea’s pleasant bitterness. That’s what you can expect from every glass of ice-cold peach iced tea.

What tea goes well with Bourbon?

Bourbon is a brown spirit, so it’s bold and woodsy. You need equally intense tea, meaning black tea, to keep up with the malted spirit. Earl Grey is particularly compatible with American bourbon for its citrus undertones.

Is Bourbon the same as whiskey?

No, Bourbon is a type of whiskey. It must be made in America with at least 51% corn. Other whiskeys, like Scotch, are dryer and not as fruit friendly.

close up of large pitcher of peach iced tea

Love Peaches?

If you love peaches as much as we do, you may want to check out these other recipes and articles:

I hope you get a chance to make this Bourbon Peach Iced Tea. Did you make this or another recipe? Tag @Spoonabilities on Instagram or add a photo or comment on Pinterest, so we can find you! And we love to hear from you in the comment section below. And we love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Wishing you tasty happenings,

Carlos Leo
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