Well, it looks like autumn is in full swing. There’s a chill in the air, it’s getting dark at 5 pm, and I’ve already had at least four cider donuts. (Ok, more like six. Seven? I mean, who’s counting?)
There are plenty of seasonal fall flavors that are delicious in cocktails, but for now I’m savoring summertime for as long as possible. I recently went to the farmer’s market and picked up several beautiful white peaches from what I’m sure was one of the last harvests of the year.
The inspiration for this Peach Tea Fizz was Hangar 1’s Honeycomb Vodka. Made in California, this brand-new expression from The Hangar 1 Distillery is infused with locally-sourced honeycomb to give it a raw, natural honey flavor that is miles away from the flavored vodka you’re used to. It’s delicately sweet and very smooth, and the honey flavor is perfect for cocktails. I also love the bottle and label, which sort of remind me of something you’d find in an old apothecary shop.
The flavor of peaches and honey made me think of sweet, southern iced tea, so I created this fizz with the Hangar 1 Honeycomb Vodka, a bit of brewed black tea, lemon juice, club soda, and peach syrup. A syrup is a great way to make your fresh fruit last a bit longer for use in cocktails. Try fortifying it with a bit of the vodka to help it stay fresh longer in the fridge. And if you can’t get your hands on some Hangar 1 Honeycomb Vodka, you can make this peach syrup with honey instead of sugar and use Hangar 1 Straight Vodka to try and capture the same flavor. But first check here to find Hangar 1 Honeycomb Vodka in a store near you, or try one of their other flavors available on ReserveBar!
Peach Tea Fizz
1.5 oz. Hangar 1 Honeycomb Vodka
1 oz. brewed black tea
1 oz. lemon juice
¾ oz. peach syrup*
2 oz. club soda
Combine vodka, tea, lemon juice, and syrup in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with peach slices and edible flowers (I used Calendula).
*For peach syrup, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add 1 large or 2 small peaches, roughly chopped. Lower heat and continue simmering for about 5 minutes, mashing the peaches against the side of the pot with your spoon. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for at least 30 minutes. Fine-strain and let cool completely before using. Store in the fridge; should be good for 2-3 weeks. Add a tablespoon of vodka to extend this by at least a couple of weeks.
This post was sponsored by Hangar 1. All opinions are my own.