In this week's COTW: We're celebrating the quintessential flavors of Southern summer with a golden-hued refresher that brings together America's native spirit, the South's favorite fruit, and the region's signature beverage in one gloriously sippable package.
Welcome back to our "Barbecue & Bourbon" series, where we're exploring cocktails that pair beautifully with your grilled feasts. We've already enjoyed the Grilled Peach Whiskey Sour and the Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade, and today we're featuring another bourbon cocktail that captures the essence of Southern hospitality – perfect for enjoying as the sun dips low on a warm summer evening.
THE COCKTAIL:
Today's feature is the "Southern Sunset" – a refreshing blend of bourbon, sweet peach, and cool iced tea that's as relaxing as watching the sun go down from your porch swing. This cocktail marries three iconic Southern flavors in a drink that's simultaneously sophisticated and down-home comforting. Its mellow sweetness and slight tannic edge from the tea make it an exceptional companion to smoky barbecue flavors.
Southern Sunset
Ingredients
- Bourbon (2 oz per cocktail): For this tea-based cocktail, a bourbon with a good amount of oak and some spice works beautifully. Consider Jim Beam Black, Elijah Craig Small Batch, or Knob Creek. The robust character will hold up against the tea, while the vanillins in the oak-aged bourbon complement the sweetness of the peach perfectly.
- Peach Component (1 oz per cocktail): You have several options here. Peach nectar provides the most intense fruit flavor, while peach preserves offer a jammy richness. For maximum control over sweetness, make a peach simple syrup by simmering diced peaches with equal parts sugar and water, then straining. For an adults-only barbecue, peach liqueur like Mathilde Pêche or Rothman & Winter Orchard Peach adds complex sweetness with an extra kick.
- Unsweetened Iced Tea (3 oz per cocktail): Brew your favorite black tea a bit stronger than you normally would for drinking – I suggest 2 tea bags per cup of water, steeped for 5 minutes. Chill thoroughly before using. The tannins in the tea add complexity and balance the sweetness of the peach, while providing that unmistakable Southern refreshment factor.
- Optional Add-ins: A touch of lemon juice (¼ oz) can brighten the flavors. A dash of aromatic bitters adds complexity.
- Garnish Options: Peach slice, lemon wheel, and a sprig of fresh mint or basil.
- Ice: Plenty of it, both for mixing and serving.
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass or mason jar with ice. Ideally, use larger ice cubes or spheres which will melt more slowly and prevent dilution.
- Add 2 ounces of bourbon to the glass.
- Add 1 ounce of your chosen peach component. If using peach preserves, you may want to dissolve them first in a small amount of hot water to create a more pourable consistency.
- Gently pour 3 ounces of chilled unsweetened iced tea over the mixture, allowing it to cascade down a bar spoon to create layers if desired.
- Give the drink a gentle stir – just enough to incorporate the ingredients while maintaining some of the layered effect, which creates the "sunset" appearance that gives this cocktail its name.
- Garnish with a fresh peach slice and a sprig of mint. For maximum aroma, give the mint a gentle slap between your palms before adding it to the drink – this releases the essential oils.
GLASSWARE:
A traditional highball or collins glass is perfect for this cocktail, though a mason jar is perhaps even more appropriate for its Southern heritage. For a crowd-pleasing presentation at barbecues, consider serving in a clear glass pitcher with lots of fruit garnishes.
STEP-BY-STEP PREPARATION:
LARGE-BATCH PREPARATION:
This cocktail is perfect for serving a crowd at your barbecue. For a pitcher serving 8-10 people:
- Combine 16 ounces (2 cups) bourbon, 8 ounces (1 cup) peach component, and 24 ounces (3 cups) unsweetened iced tea in a large pitcher.
- Stir gently to combine.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve – the flavors actually improve with a little time to meld.
- When ready to serve, pour over ice-filled glasses and garnish individually.
- Keep a separate pitcher of plain iced tea nearby for guests who might want to adjust the strength of their drink.
PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
The Southern Sunset pairs exceptionally well with:
- Smoked beef brisket with a bourbon-based barbecue sauce
- Grilled pork chops with peach chutney
- Memphis-style dry-rubbed ribs
- Smoked or grilled sausages
The subtle sweetness and tea tanins in this cocktail complement the savory, smoky flavors of barbecue while the bourbon echoes any wood smoke used in the cooking process.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT & INTERESTING FACTS:
The Southern Sunset brings together three elements deeply rooted in Southern culture:
The bourbon tradition in the American South dates back to the late 18th century, with Kentucky and Tennessee leading production. Early settlers, many of Scots-Irish descent, brought distilling knowledge to the frontier and adapted their methods to use local corn, creating America's distinctive whiskey style.
Peaches became synonymous with Georgia starting in the late 19th century. By the 1920s, Georgia was shipping nearly 8 million bushels of peaches annually, earning its nickname as "The Peach State." Today, peaches remain a cultural touchstone throughout the South, featured in everything from desserts to savory dishes.
Iced tea's Southern roots run equally deep. While tea had been served cold in America since the early 1800s, the modern concept of sweet iced tea gained widespread popularity after it was featured at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. By the mid-20th century, sweet tea had become so entrenched in Southern culture that it's often referred to simply as "the house wine of the South."
The combination of bourbon and tea has historical precedent as well. In the 19th century, various tea punches spiked with bourbon were common at Southern social gatherings. Our Southern Sunset modernizes this tradition with the addition of peach for a contemporary twist on classic Southern flavors.
CLOSING:
The Southern Sunset captures the best of Southern hospitality in liquid form – it's approachable, refreshing, and brings together beloved regional flavors in a drink that's perfect for lazy summer evenings beside the grill. With its beautiful layered appearance and balanced flavor profile, it's sure to become a staple at your warm-weather gatherings.
As always I am open to hear your take and your input. You can reach me at [email protected]
Reminder: As always, enjoy responsibly and designate a driver if you're out and about sampling these delightful creations.