My husband and I just spent a lovely weekend in Georgia visiting our daughter Samantha, son-in-law Ryan, and their terror turned angel rescue dog, Ginger. All mothers out there know how hard it is to see your baby grow up and move away (wail, moan, sniffle).
Of course, I’m no exception to the rule. But, seeing your child happy is one of the greatest joys that a parent can experience. Am I right? So, Ginger beware. You better be good to my little girl. Grandma is keeping her eye on you.
Samantha and Ryan first fell in love with Georgia when they lived there for a year just after college, but decided to move back home a few years back. Maybe it’s the vibe of city living mixed in with the slow paced charming ways of southern folks, the warm weather or the physical distance from a nagging (aka doting) mother/mother-in-law, but they never got Georgia out of their system and decided to eventually make their permanent home there.
It was during their initial stint down South that they discovered the Georgia Peach cocktail. A delicious blend of peach schnapps, vodka, orange juice and grenadine or cranberry juice. In fact, they love this drink so much that it became one of the signature cocktails at their wedding. I guess that should have been my first clue that they were moving away (chuckle).
This is a light, refreshing and oh so pretty two-toned cocktail that you’ll want to sip all Spring and Summer long. In fact, I’ve been holding on to this recipe until it got a bit warmer but decided that now is the perfect time to share it. And, because the peachy flavor comes from peach schnapps rather than peaches, you can actually enjoy this cocktail all year long.
A bit tart, a bit sweet and kissed with just a touch of thyme and cherries (because I had to put my own spin on it), this may be my new favorite cocktail. And did I mention that it literally takes minutes to throw together and enjoy? Just mix everything up in a big pitcher, stick it in the fridge and enjoy at your leisure.
So here’s to you Samantha, Ryan and Ginger. May your life in Georgia be as beautiful, sweet and easy as a Georgia Peach.
The Dishy Details
As a new twist to an old favorite, I decided to replace the grenadine with a sour cherry and thyme infused syrup. All it took was a cup of cherry juice, a half a cup of honey and a few sprigs of thyme. I mixed the juice and honey in a small saucepan over low heat until the honey dissolved, then turned off the heat and threw in the thyme. Let it steep for about 15 minutes and cool. That was the hard part.
I then mixed a bit of sugar with orange zest and rubbed it with my fingers until it turned a pretty orange color and used this mixture to rim the glasses. This is totally not necessary but I thought that it added a pretty and delicious touch to the drink.
I gathered up the rest of the ingredients, some peach schnapps, vodka and fresh squeezed orange juice. Poured them into an ice filled glass, added the cherry syrup and used a peach slice and some thyme to garnish the drink. Then I sat back and enjoyed my cocktail as though I was sitting on a front porch swing in the warm Georgia sunshine.
I hope that you’ll decide to give this Thyme Kissed Georgia Peach Cocktail recipe a whirl. If you do, please let me know what you think, or tag me on Instagram. I always love to hear from everyone and to see photos of any recipes that you make. And above all, thanks so much for stopping by.
Thyme Kissed Georgia Peach Cocktail
Ingredients
Cherry-Thyme Syrup
- 1 cup sour cherry juice
- ½ cup honey
- 5 thyme sprigs
Orange Sugar
- 1 tbs sugar
- 1 tsp orange zest
Cocktail
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 1 oz vodka
- 2 oz orange juice (I used freshly squeezed OJ but you can certainly substitute store bought)
- 1 oz cherry-thyme syrup
Instructions
Cherry-Thyme Syrup
- Combine the cherry juice and honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the honey has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, add the thyme and allow to steep for 15 minutes.
- Remove the thyme and allow the syrup to cool completely.
Orange Sugar
- Combine the sugar and orange zest in a small shallow dish. Rub with your fingertips until the sugar turns a pretty orange color. This is completely optional.
Cocktail
- Combine the peach schnapps, vodka and orange juice and pour into an ice filled glass. Slowly stream in the cherry-thyme syrup. Enjoy!