Nothing says summertime quite like a cold glass of sweet tea, but adding bourbon and peach flavor takes this Southern favorite to another level. This Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail combines smooth bourbon, fresh lemon juice, sweet tea, and Heath Riles BBQ Hot Honey Peach Glaze for an easy drink that's sweet, refreshing, and made for hot summer days.
Whether you're relaxing by the pool, hosting a backyard cookout, or looking for something different to serve alongside your favorite BBQ, this cocktail comes together in minutes and delivers plenty of Southern flavor.
Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail | Heath Riles BBQ
Sweet tea and bourbon are already a natural combination, so we decided to add a little Heath Riles BBQ twist.
Instead of using traditional simple syrup to sweeten the cocktail, we're adding Heath Riles BBQ Hot Honey Peach Glaze. About ¾ ounce gives the drink peach sweetness along with that signature hot honey flavor.
For the bourbon, we're using Green River Single Barrel Bourbon. Two ounces give the cocktail enough bourbon character to stand up to the sweet tea without overpowering the peach and lemon.
Add fresh-squeezed lemon juice for some acidity, pour in plenty of sweet tea, and you've got a refreshing bourbon cocktail that's just about perfect for summertime.
Why This Cocktail Works
There aren't many ingredients in this cocktail, which means every one of them has a job to do.
The bourbon provides the rich, warming backbone of the drink. Sweet tea mellows that bourbon and gives the cocktail its unmistakable Southern character, while fresh lemon juice brings enough acidity to keep the drink bright and refreshing.
Then you've got the Hot Honey Peach Glaze.
Using glaze in place of simple syrup is what makes this cocktail different. You're still getting the sweetness you need to balance the bourbon and lemon, but you're also adding peach flavor and a little extra complexity.
With five ounces of sweet tea and two ounces of bourbon, the finished cocktail is easy-drinking enough for a hot afternoon without losing the bourbon flavor. Serve it over plenty of ice and finish it with fresh lemon peel for a simple summer drink.
The Ingredients
- Green River Single Barrel Bourbon is the bourbon used in this recipe. You'll need 2 ounces for one cocktail. If you have another favorite drinking bourbon, you can use that instead.
- Sweet Tea makes up the largest portion of the cocktail. Five ounces gives the drink plenty of classic sweet tea flavor while balancing the stronger bourbon.
- Fresh-Squeezed Lemon Juice adds brightness and acidity. The video uses a half part of fresh lemon juice, helping balance the sweetness from the tea and peach glaze.
- Heath Riles BBQ Hot Honey Peach Glaze replaces simple syrup in this recipe. You'll need about ¾ ounce to add sweetness, peach flavor, and a little hot honey character.
- Ice chills the cocktail while mixing and keeps it cold when served.
- Lemon Peel makes an easy garnish and adds a fresh citrus aroma to the finished drink.
The Process
Add the Lemon and Bourbon
Start with a Mixing Glass and measure in a half part of fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
Using a Jigger, add 2 ounces of Green River Single Barrel Bourbon.
This gives you the acidic and boozy base of the cocktail before adding the sweeter ingredients.
Add the Sweet Tea
Pour 5 ounces of sweet tea into the mixing glass.
The sweet tea is what turns this from a simple bourbon and peach cocktail into a summertime Southern drink. It also softens the bourbon and gives you enough volume for a tall, refreshing cocktail over ice.
Replace the Simple Syrup
Instead of reaching for simple syrup, add approximately ¾ ounce of Heath Riles BBQ Hot Honey Peach Glaze.
This is where the peach flavor comes into the drink. The glaze provides the sweetness you'd normally get from simple syrup while adding another layer of flavor that works naturally with both bourbon and sweet tea.
Mix the Cocktail
Add a small amount of ice to the mixing glass and stir everything together using a Bar Spoon.
Make sure the Hot Honey Peach Glaze is thoroughly incorporated into the bourbon, lemon juice, and sweet tea. You want the drink well chilled and evenly mixed before pouring.
Strain and Garnish
Fill your serving cup with fresh ice.
Place a Strainer over the mixing glass and pour the cocktail over the fresh ice.
Use a Lemon Peeler to cut a strip of fresh lemon peel and add it to the drink as your finishing garnish.
That's all there is to it. In just a few minutes, you've got a Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail ready for the pool, patio, or your next backyard BBQ.
The Results
This Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail is everything you want in an easy summertime drink. It’s cold, refreshing, sweet, and bourbon-forward without being too heavy for a hot afternoon.
The sweet tea gives the cocktail that familiar Southern flavor, while the fresh lemon juice brightens everything up. Green River Single Barrel Bourbon comes through without overpowering the drink, and the Heath Riles BBQ Hot Honey Peach Glaze adds the peach sweetness that really sets this recipe apart.
Instead of tasting like a standard bourbon sweet tea, you get an extra layer of peach flavor with a little hot honey character in the background. Pour it over plenty of ice, add that lemon peel, and you’ve got a drink made for heading straight to the pool.
Perfect Pairings
- Grilled Peach Chipotle Pork Chops – Keep the peach theme going with these grilled pork chops. The sweet peach and smoky chipotle flavors work great alongside a cold bourbon sweet tea.
- Live Fire Hot Honey Peach Ribs – If you really want to build a Hot Honey Peach-inspired menu, serve this cocktail alongside these ribs. The sweet heat in the ribs complements the peach glaze used in the drink.
- Steak Chimichurri Crostini – Serving drinks before dinner? These steak crostini make a great appetizer. The savory steak and bright chimichurri provide a nice contrast to the sweet peach and bourbon flavors in the cocktail.
- Grilled Peaches and Ice Cream – Finish off a summer meal with grilled peaches and ice cream while sipping the same cocktail. It's an easy way to carry the peach theme all the way through dessert.
Make It for a Crowd
This recipe is simple enough to make one drink at a time, but the ingredient list also makes it easy to scale up for a backyard party.
You can combine the bourbon, sweet tea, fresh lemon juice, and Hot Honey Peach Glaze ahead of time and keep the mixture chilled. Before serving, give everything another good stir so the glaze is completely incorporated.
Wait to add ice until you're ready to serve. Adding ice to a pitcher too early can dilute the cocktail as it sits.
When guests are ready for a drink, fill each glass with fresh ice, pour in the Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea, and garnish with fresh lemon peel.
Tips for the Best Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea
- Use fresh lemon juice. Bottled juice will work in a pinch, but fresh-squeezed lemon gives this simple cocktail a brighter flavor.
- Choose a bourbon you enjoy drinking. We used Green River Single Barrel Bourbon, but you can make this cocktail with your favorite bourbon.
- Don't skip the Hot Honey Peach Glaze. This is what makes the recipe different from a traditional bourbon sweet tea. It replaces simple syrup while adding peach and hot honey flavor.
- Mix the glaze thoroughly. Because you're using BBQ glaze rather than standard simple syrup, take a little extra time to stir everything together so it's fully incorporated.
- Serve it over plenty of fresh ice. The colder this cocktail is, the better it hits on a hot summer afternoon.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the best summertime cocktails are the simple ones, and this Peach Bourbon Sweet Tea Cocktail doesn't need a long ingredient list to deliver plenty of flavor.
You get bourbon, sweet tea, and fresh lemon, then Heath Riles BBQ Hot Honey Peach Glaze takes the place of ordinary simple syrup. That one swap gives a familiar Southern cocktail a sweet peach twist with a little extra character.
Mix it up, strain it over a cup full of ice, garnish with lemon peel, and you're ready to head outside.
Poolside, cookout, or just kicking back on the patio—this one's made for summertime.
