It’s been a smoldering summer so far and this swamp heat won’t be letting up anytime soon! To help us stay hydrated this summer, we’re wetting our whistle with this Whiskey Peach Tea! Black iced tea and a peachy simple syrup are a perfect pair, but throw in a shot of grandpa’s old cough syrup and you’ve got yourself a summer cocktail!

First, we’ll make a simple syrup with juicy ripe peaches! Simple syrups are a great way to add silky smooth sweetness to your drinks. For a basic simple syrup, combine roughly equal parts sugar and water over a lower heat, stirring occasionally until everything is fully dissolved.

Simple syrups are just that…simple! But there are also a ton of ways to customize them. You can use granulated sugar (like white sugar, turbinado or cane sugar) or liquid sweeteners (like honey or agave nectar) and you can add tons of flavor by steeping in fresh herbs or fruits!

We’re making this one with cane sugar and sliced peaches. Ruston Peaches are all over the place right now, especially at our local farmers market. When they hit their window of ripeness, these peaches are like nature’s candy!

For the Peach Simple Syrup:

In a saucepan, add two thinly sliced ripe peaches, the peel from 1 medium lemon, 3/4 cup cane sugar and 1 cup water, stirring over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Giving the peaches a little mash while you’re stirring will release tons of juicy peachness into your simple syrup! Turn off the heat, cover and steep for 15-20 minutes. Strain the liquid with a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, pushing out as much juice from the peaches as you can. For a silky smooth syrup, you can strain the liquid one more time.

You’ll end up with this sweet nectar! Combine 1 oz. of this vibrantly colored simple syrup with 1½ oz. of your favorite whiskey over ice. Top it off with about 4 oz. of cold black tea and garnish with a lemon and peach slice. Now, get to sipping!

Looking for a different style simple syrup? Here’s a tasty Honey Mint Syrup that works great in this Elderflower Honey Mule!

Thanks for Chewsing!