i'm melting. last friday i mentioned a heat wave was upon us here in california and today is the hottest day yet. as i type, sweat is dripping from my brow, i'm laying in a slip dress directly in front of our only fan and i'm pretty sure in about twenty minutes the only thing left of me will be a puddle on the floor. 

the only thing saving me in the 95 degree heat + humidity + zero air conditioner is this cocktail. keep. them. coming.

i'm keeping it short and sweet today because the computer on my lap has already melted away my lower half and if i don't pop my head in the freezer soon, i may pass out. hop in your air conditioned car, run to the air conditioned market and pick up some in season peaches, beautiful basil and PLENTY OF ICE. then park yourself somewhere cool and enjoy this delicious libation. 

peach + basil sparkler
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time 2 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 1 oz fresh lemon juice. 1 tsp grand marnier. 2 tbs chopped yellow peaches + 1 peach wedge for garnish. 10 basil leaves, torn up + a few leaves for garnish. 3-5 oz club soda. 1 cup ice. shaker. muddler. 

start by combining the chopped peaches, vodka and basil in the bottom of the shaker. use the muddler to smash up the basil and peaches, infusing your vodka. 

once the basil is smashed to smithereens and the peaches are basically pureed. 

pour in the lemon juice and grand marnier. 

add a couple ice cubes and shake well till everything is combined. 

strain the beverage into a glass with the rest of the ice. 

top your glass off with club soda to taste and stir well to combine. 

garnish with peach wedge and basil. enjoy!

xo, a

peach + basil sparkler
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 3 minutes
active time 2 minutes
total time: 5 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 1 oz fresh lemon juice. 1 tsp grand marnier. 2 tbs chopped yellow peaches + 1 peach wedge for garnish. 10 basil leaves, torn up + a few leaves for garnish. 3-5 oz club soda. 1 cup ice. shaker. muddler.
tart by combining the chopped peaches, vodka and basil in the bottom of the shaker. use the muddler to smash up the basil and peaches, infusing your vodka. once the basil is smashed to smithereens and the peaches are basically pureed. pour in the lemon juice and grand marnier. add a couple ice cubes and shake well till everything is combined. strain the beverage into a glass with the rest of the ice. top your glass off with club soda to taste and stir well to combine. garnish with peach wedge and basil. enjoy!

my favorite season is finally upon us. i'm not even going to pretend i'm not 100% biased towards summer. summer is my season. i love light weight, flowing dresses, wearing my bikini every day and summer produce. 

as a kid, i was a bit freaked out by fruit that had some fuzz, but as an adult i have developed a true appreciate for fuzzy stone fruits. that juicy, summer sweetness is undeniable. and right now, my local produce stores are bursting at the seems with tasty peaches. 

i love the sweetness of peaches, but i do not love super sweet cocktails. the heat from jalapenos brings the perfect balance to the sweetness of the peaches and the boozy kick of the vodka. bring it all together in a chilled glass and you will have a cooling cocktail that also packs a bit of a punch but goes down way to easy. drinker be warned. 

spicy peach martini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 7 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 ounces vodka. 1.5 oz peach juice (i used hand juiced white peaches, but you can buy peach juice at the grocery store). 1 oz lime juice. .5 oz simple syrup. 5 thin slices of jalapeno (seeds removed). 1 peach wedge for garnish. 1 lime twist for garnish. shaker full of ice. chilled martini glass. 

start by filling your shaker with the vodka, peach juice, lime juice, simple syrup and 2 of the 5 jalapeno slices. shake well to combine. 

place the remaining jalapeno slices in the bottom of the martini glass. 

pour your liquid into the martini glass. 

garnish with peach wedge and lime twist and enjoy. 

xo, a

spicy peach martini
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 7 minutes
ingredients: 2.5 ounces vodka. 1.5 oz peach juice (i used hand juiced white peaches, but you can buy peach juice at the grocery store). 1 oz lime juice. .5 oz simple syrup. 5 thin slices of jalapeno (seeds removed). 1 peach wedge for garnish. 1 lime twist for garnish. shaker full of ice. chilled martini glass.
tart by filling your shaker with the vodka, peach juice, lime juice, simple syrup and 2 of the 5 jalapeno slices. shake well to combine. place the remaining jalapeno slices in the bottom of the martini glass. pour your liquid into the martini glass. garnish with peach wedge and lime twist and enjoy.