Ingredients
- 1 oz Peach Schnapps
- 1 oz Vodka
- 1 oz Lemon Juice
- .5 oz Gomme Syrup
- Soda Water
Instructions
Combine Ingredients:
- In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 oz peach schnapps, 1 oz vodka, 1 oz lemon juice, and 0.5 oz gomme syrup.
Shake Well:
- Shake the mixture thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well combined and chilled.
Prepare Glass:
- Strain the mixture into a sugar-rimmed highball glass.
Top with Soda Water:
- Top the drink with soda water.
Garnish (Optional):
- Garnish with a slice of lemon or a peach wedge for an extra touch of elegance.
Serve:
- Serve immediately and enjoy the effervescent peach vodka delight.
Notes
Estimated Nutrition:
Where it came from
Fizzes as a cocktail category have been around since the late 19th century, typically combining a spirit, citrus, sugar, and soda water. The Peach Fizz Cocktail itself doesn’t have a single, documented origin story. It likely emerged as a natural evolution of the classic fizz, incorporating popular fruit flavors like peach schnapps as they became widely available in the mid to late 20th century.
This drink fits squarely into the fizz family, sitting alongside classics like the Gin Fizz or the Ramos Gin Fizz. It’s also a cousin to the Collins drinks, which are typically built in the glass and often use specific spirits like a Tom Collins with gin. The key difference here is the prominent peach liqueur and the shaken preparation, which ensures a well-chilled and integrated flavor before the soda is added.
You’d find the Peach Fizz Cocktail at a casual brunch, a summer patio party, or any bar where guests are looking for a light, fruit-forward sipper. It’s a reliable choice for a warm afternoon or as a refreshing aperitif, often served at events where a festive but not overly strong drink is desired.
What it tastes like
On the front, the Peach Fizz Cocktail hits with a clear, sweet burst of ripe peach from the schnapps, quickly followed by the tart, bright snap of fresh lemon juice. The mid-palate introduces the clean, subtle warmth of vodka, which provides a neutral alcoholic backbone without interfering with the fruit. The finish is light and refreshing, carried by the effervescence of the soda water, leaving a lingering hint of fruit and a dry, clean palate.
This is a relatively light drink when it comes to alcohol content. With 1 oz of 40% ABV vodka and 1 oz of 23% ABV peach schnapps, the spirit base contributes about 0.63 oz of pure alcohol. Once topped with soda, the final drink typically lands somewhere around 8-10% ABV, making it comparable to a strong craft beer or a light glass of wine. It’s a sessionable cocktail, meaning you can enjoy more than one without getting completely wasted.
The technique
Building a Peach Fizz Cocktail starts in a shaker. Combine the peach schnapps, vodka, fresh lemon juice, and gomme syrup over ice. Give it a good, hard shake until it’s thoroughly chilled and slightly diluted. Strain the mixture into a sugar-rimmed highball glass filled with fresh ice, then top it off with soda water. A quick, gentle stir can help integrate the soda without losing too much fizz.
The most impactful technique here is the sugar rim. It’s not just for looks, it adds an immediate sweet counterpoint to the tart lemon and bright peach with the first sip, setting up the entire flavor experience. To get it right, moisten the rim with a lemon wedge, then gently roll it in fine granulated sugar. A clean, even rim makes a difference in both presentation and the initial taste experience, signaling a well-crafted drink.
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Ingredient Spotlight
The bottles that make or break this drink.
Peach Schnapps
- Use
- A quality peach schnapps like DeKuyper or Bols will provide a clean, authentic peach flavor without being overly cloying. Aim for brands around 20-25% ABV.
- Skip
- Avoid generic, overly sweet peach liqueurs that taste artificial or are loaded with corn syrup. Also, don’t try to substitute with peach juice concentrate, as it lacks the alcoholic kick and specific flavor profile.
- Why
- Peach schnapps is the star here, providing the primary fruit flavor and a significant portion of the sweetness. Its distinct peachy aroma and taste are what define the Peach Fizz Cocktail.
Vodka
- Use
- A clean, neutral vodka is best. Brands like Tito’s, Absolut, or Smirnoff work well, offering a smooth base without imparting any unwanted flavors. Any good quality 80-proof vodka will do the job.
- Skip
- Unless you’re intentionally making a variation, skip flavored vodkas, as they will compete with the peach and lemon. Also, avoid harsh, unrefined spirits that can introduce off-notes into an otherwise clean drink.
- Why
- Vodka provides the alcoholic backbone of the drink without interfering with the delicate balance of peach and lemon. It adds body and a subtle warmth, ensuring the drink isn’t just a flavored soda.
Three Variations
Three real ways bartenders riff on this drink. Same idea, three different jackets.
Peach Bellini Fizz
- Sparkling wine instead of soda
- For a more sophisticated, brunch-ready version, swap the soda water for chilled Prosecco or Cava. This adds a winey complexity and a finer, more persistent bubble to the drink.
Spiced Peach Fizz
- A hint of warmth and complexity
- Add a dash or two of Angostura bitters to the shaker, or muddle a thin slice of fresh ginger or jalapeño before shaking. This introduces a subtle warmth or gentle kick that complements the sweet peach.
Raspberry Peach Fizz
- Another fruit, another layer
- Introduce another fruit flavor by adding 0.5 oz of raspberry liqueur or raspberry syrup to the shaker. This creates a more complex berry-peach profile, adding depth and a vibrant color.
What if I don't have…
Quick substitutions for when the bottle shop is closed.
Use an equal amount of regular simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water). The mouthfeel won’t be quite as rich, but the sweetness will be similar.
Muddle 2-3 slices of fresh, ripe peaches with an extra 0.5 oz of simple syrup in the shaker. The flavor will be more natural but less concentrated, and the texture will be different.
Substitute with 1 oz of light rum or gin for a different but still complementary base spirit. If you want a lower ABV, you can simply omit it, making the drink lighter.
Lime juice works as a substitute, offering a slightly different, sharper citrus profile. Adjust the amount to taste, as lime can be more intense.
Simply serve the drink in a plain highball glass. The initial sweetness from the rim will be missing, but the core flavors remain. You can also add a small amount of extra gomme syrup to the drink itself to compensate.
You can build the drink directly in the highball glass. Stir all ingredients (except soda) with ice for about 30 seconds to chill and dilute, then top with soda. It won’t be as thoroughly chilled or integrated as a shaken drink.
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers to what people search for after Googling this drink.
What is in a Peach Fizz Cocktail?
A Peach Fizz Cocktail contains 1 oz Peach Schnapps, 1 oz Vodka, 1 oz Lemon Juice, 0.5 oz Gomme Syrup, and is topped with Soda Water.
Is Peach Fizz Cocktail sweet or tart?
It’s a balanced drink. The sweetness from the peach schnapps and gomme syrup is prominently featured, but it is effectively cut by the tartness of the fresh lemon juice, resulting in a refreshing, not overly sugary, profile.
How strong is a Peach Fizz Cocktail?
The Peach Fizz Cocktail is moderately light in alcohol, typically ranging from 8-10% ABV once topped with soda water. This makes it comparable in strength to a strong craft beer or a lighter glass of wine.
What kind of peach schnapps should I use?
For the best flavor, use a quality peach schnapps brand like DeKuyper or Bols. These brands offer a clean, authentic peach taste without artificial notes that can detract from the drink.
What is gomme syrup?
Gomme syrup, also known as gum syrup, is a rich simple syrup thickened with gum arabic. It provides a smoother, silkier mouthfeel to cocktails compared to regular simple syrup, helping to integrate ingredients more effectively.
Can I use fresh peaches instead of schnapps?
Yes, you can muddle 2-3 slices of fresh, ripe peaches in the shaker. However, you’ll need to add a bit more simple syrup for sweetness, and the peach flavor will be more subtle and less concentrated than with schnapps.
What’s the best glass for a Peach Fizz Cocktail?
A highball glass is the traditional and most practical choice for a Peach Fizz Cocktail. Its tall shape allows for plenty of ice and soda water, keeping the drink cold and bubbly.
Can I make a batch of Peach Fizz Cocktail?
Yes, you can pre-batch the peach schnapps, vodka, lemon juice, and gomme syrup. Store this mixture in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, pour a portion over ice in a highball glass and top with soda water.
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