Preserving summer flavors in various ways, be it jams, pickles, or cans, has a rich history. Several culinary traditions have evolved around the motivation of storing summer flavors. One of late summer's favorites, peach is no exception. Many love this fragrant, juicy, flavorful summer fruit and seek ways to extend the enjoyment of summer's bounty beyond the warm months.

One such method of storing the aroma and flavors of peaches is making homemade spirits. The artisanship of home brewing encompasses a wide range of activities with different levels of expertise. Although distilling spirits at home is a good way, this peach brandy recipe uses more straightforward methods that yield quicker results. Remember to prepare a large batch in the summer to enjoy this drink throughout winter!

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Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Dietary Restrictions
Variations
Equipment
Storage
Pro Tips
Refreshing Homemade Peach Brandy for Summer Delights
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Ingredients

Peaches — 10 medium-sized, very ripe, unblemished
Vodka — 3 cups, unflavored
Granulated sugar — 2 cups
Water — 2 cups

Instructions

Wash the peaches, cut them in half, and remove the pits. Dice the peaches into big chunks.

Place the peaches into a large mason jar with a lid. Top the diced peaches with vodka. Close the lid and put the jar in a dark place at room temperature. Let the mixture infuse for two weeks.

Every other day, shake the jar without opening the lid.

After two weeks, prepare the sugar syrup. In a pot, mix water and sugar. Heat the syrup on the stove in a medium setting, stirring frequently. When the syrup comes to a boil, let it simmer for another five minutes.

Pour the hot syrup into the mason jar. Close the lid and let the peach brandy rest for another week.

After a week, strain the peaches and pour the brandy into liquor bottles using a funnel.

Serve cold.

Substitutions

Vodka — Vodka is probably your best option for base alcohol. You can experiment with others. A clear gin or a rhum agricole also works well. Whatever you use, remember it’s best to use neutral and unflavored alcohol as a base.

Dietary Restrictions

Refined sugar-free — For a refined sugar-free version of peach brandy, you have substitutes for granulated sugar. You can use maple or agave syrups or stevia. Be careful with the amounts. Add them in small batches to control the sweetness. For the water in this peach brandy recipe, you still need it even if you use another sweetener. Add hot water, as instructed above.

Variations

Spice it up — Although a summer fruit, peach works very well with fall spices, such as cinnamon, star anise, and cloves. For this peach brandy recipe, add one cinnamon stick, two pieces of star anise, and cloves each. It's best to add the spices with the sugar syrup since sugar enhances the taste of the spices.

Equipment

Measuring cups

Mason jar

Knife and chopping board

Stove

Strainer

Funnel

Serving bottles

Storage

Store the unopened peach brandy bottles in a cupboard away from direct sunlight. You can keep them unopened at room temperature for a year. Once opened, the bottles should be kept in the fridge. You can keep them in the refrigerator for up to six months.

Pro Tips

Organic peaches — As in all food preservation methods, using organic peaches for this recipe is best. When peaches are abundant, you can visit the nearest farmers' market to select the best, chemical-free grown peaches when they are the most affordable.