Denise Gee is the author of the beautiful book:
Porch Parties and is also being featured in this month's Better Homes and Gardens (see the article
here). I've known Denise for years and when it comes to entertaining, I knew she would be an excellent resource for my
Cocktail of the Week column. I'll let her fill you in on her inspiration for this summery drink:
My inspiration for the drink? Walking into the Dallas Farmer's Market recently and being met with the sight and lovely aroma of freshly picked peaches. It dawned on me how floral the smell was, and it reminded me a bit of elderflower. And then one thing led to another and now there's this drink, which I think is a blissful tribute to summer's bounty, especially in the South. - Denise
Summer's a Peach
1 small (3.25- to 4.5-ounce) peach, sliced (1 slice reserved for garnish)
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1.75 ounces good-quality gin
2 tablespoons elderflower liqueur
Garnish: Peach sliceAdd peach flesh (about 2 ounces) and lime juice to a cocktail shaker. Use a muddler with "teeth" (not flat- or round-bottomed one) or hand blender to get it as smooth or pureed as possible.Fill cocktail shaker with ice.Add the simple syrup, gin, and elderflower liqueur and shake, shake, shake. And shake some more.Pour into a large martini glass (chilled, if possible) and savor pure bliss. (Note: If you use a smaller martini glass, you'll just have a little leftover cocktail to enjoy; keep it well chilled until ready for a refill.)Serves 1photo credit: Robert M. PeacockThanks, Denise!
