Using fresh peaches to make a peach shrub makes this Peach Bourbon Sour extra fresh and delicious! If you've never used a shrub in cocktails before, this is a great peach cocktail recipe to begin with!
What is a Shrub (or a Drinking Vinegar)
Do you know what a shrub is? I’m not talking about the big green bush that blocks the view from your dining room window. I’m talking about the fruity vinegar infusion.
A shrub is sometimes called a drinking vinegar. It is simply an infusion of fresh fruit, sugar and vinegar. It was popular in the colonial times and with the resurgence of craft cocktails, it is making quite the comeback.
It adds a sour fruit essence to your cocktails that simply can’t be duplicated with anything else. As a bonus, mix it with some club soda or carbonated water and you’ve got a refreshing non-alcoholic drink!
How to Make a Peach Shrub
I've made shrubs before, a Strawberry Lime Shrub and a Blueberry Shrub, but never used them in a cocktail, so I was thrilled to see a peach shrub used in this Peach and Bourbon Sour from Sweet Paul's Summer 2014 magazine.
Making a shrub is so easy! To make this peach shrub, you mix equal parts peaches (frozen peaches are fine, so you can make this year round) and sugar. Let it macerate overnight. Strain out the fruit (I used it in a smoothie) and then mix the fruity syrup with vinegar.
It's that easy to make a drinking vinegar!
Peach Bourbon Sour or Peach Whiskey Sour
You can make this delicious fruit cocktail with either bourbon or whiskey. It is so refreshing and even though using peaches you can make it year round, there is just something about sitting on the back porch sipping a peach cocktail during the summer!
This is perfect for any kind of get together, because once you have the shrub made, the cocktail comes together easily. Also, if there are non drinkers at your party, just mix the shrub with some sparkling water - it's amazing!
Looking for More Whiskey or Bourbon Cocktails
Apple Rosemary Whiskey Cocktail
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Peach Bourbon Sour
Ingredients
Peach Shrub
- 1 pound peaches
- 1 pound sugar
- 1 pint vinegar
Peach Bourbon Sour
- 2 oz bourbon
- 1 oz peach shrub
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ egg white lightly beaten
Instructions
For the Shrub:
- Wash, peel and pit the peaches and then roughly chop them. Place in a large bowl, add the sugar and toss to combine. Cover with a clean cloth and let sit out overnight, stirring occasionally. Line a strainer with cheesecloth and set over a wide mouth jar or other container. Ladle the fruit into the strainer and let the liquid strain through. Press on the fruit to get as much juice as possible. (At this point, I stored the fruit in the freezer for smoothies.) Add the vinegar to the peach liquid. Cap and store in the fridge. This makes enough shrub to make several cocktails - it's also good mixed with carbonated water for a refreshing drink.
For the Cocktail:
- Put all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until the egg white is foamy. Add some ice and shake again for 30 seconds. Strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2015 and has been updated to 2019.
Ann says
Peaches and bourbon seem quintessentially Southern to me.
Tina Culbertson says
I did not know what a shrub was, regarding cocktails that is! This looks delicious.
April J Harris says
What a delicious cocktail, Pam. I love that you made your own shrub! Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Pam Greer says
Thanks April!
April J Harris says
Hi again, Pam! Just to let you know I've featured your post at this week's party. Hope to see you there!
Pam Greer says
Thanks so much for the feature April!
rue says
Sounds like a drink that would knock me on my butt! LOL
xo,
rue