Peach liqueur is a tough sell. With a cloying, trite image and candy-like flavor, it requires a delicate hand. (A sense of whimsy doesn’t hurt either.) But if you can press the reset button in your brain and forget any negative Sex on the Beach-related nightmares, you’ll find that it works quite well in certain situations, especially if those situations involve sour, funky shrubs.
Shrubs, as some of you know, are a very efficient way to use up a lot of berries, but you can find them in certain bougie grocery stores. The (often) fruit-flavored drinking vinegars are more tart than sweet, and a berry shrub (such as blackberry) provides just enough acid to balance Peach liqueur’s more syrupy qualities. Pair a bit of each with two ounces of bourbon, and you have a strong but summery fruit punch-like beverage. Stirring, however, is essential. Without the proper amount of dilution, this drink is piquant, so stir, stir, stir and serve over ice. To make it, you will need:
2 ounces bourbon
1/2 ounce peach liqueur, such as Combier
1/2 ounce blackberry shrub, either homemade or store-bought
Pour everything into a stirring glass that is absolutely filled with ice and stir longer than you think you should. Your stirring spoon should take at least 75 trips around the glass. Strain into a lowball over fresh ice, and enjoy.