Peach vodka is a flavored vodka made by infusing vodka with peach flavor. It is a popular flavored vodka known for its sweet, fruity taste that is reminiscent of ripe peaches. Peach vodka can be enjoyed on its own, used as a base for cocktails, or added to various mixed drinks. The production process for peach vodka involves a few key steps to achieve the desired sweet peach flavor.
Infusing the Vodka
The base spirit used to make peach vodka is neutral grain spirit vodka. This is a vodka made from grains like wheat, rye or corn that has been distilled to remove most of the congeners and impurities, resulting in a clean, neutral-tasting spirit. The neutral vodka provides a blank canvas for the peach flavor to be infused.
To infuse the peach flavor, the base vodka is combined with fresh peach puree or peach juice concentrate. Sometimes natural peach flavor extracts may also be used. The peaches used are usually very ripe and sweet to maximize the fruity peach notes. Common peach varieties used include white peaches, yellow peaches or nectarines.
The peach puree or concentrate is mixed directly into the neutral vodka and allowed to steep and infuse for anywhere from a few days to several weeks. This infusion process allows the flavor compounds from the peaches to dissolve into the vodka over time, imparting the sweet aroma and taste.
The infusion may be carried out at room temperature or even warmed slightly to accelerate the rate of infusion. Throughout the process, the peach vodka mixture will be stirred or agitated periodically to distribute the flavors.
Filtering and Bottling
Once the vodka has had sufficient time to extract the flavors from the peaches, it is ready for filtering and bottling. First, the infused vodka is passed through filters to remove any remaining peach solids or particles. This helps clarify the liquid.
Next, the filtered peach vodka is diluted with additional neutral vodka to reach the desired strength, which is typically around 30-40% alcohol by volume. The specific alcohol content may vary by brand or vodka style.
Finally, the diluted peach vodka is bottled in glass bottles, often using attractive decorative bottles that convey a sense of quality and flavor. The bottles are labeled, packaged and made ready for distribution and sale.
Types of Peach Vodka
There are a few main types of peach vodka available:
- Infused Peach Vodka – This is made by steeping real peach puree or juice in neutral vodka. It has a natural fresh peach taste.
- Flavored Peach Vodka – Rather than real fruit infusion, this uses artificial or natural peach flavorings to achieve the peach taste.
- Peach Whiskey – Some brands make a peach-infused whiskey rather than vodka. This provides a bolder, spicier flavor.
Within these types there can be variation in aspects like the peach variety used, length of infusion, sweetness, and more. Consumers can choose a peach vodka based on their flavor preferences.
Uses for Peach Vodka
The sweet fruitiness of peach vodka makes it very versatile for cocktails and mixed drinks. Here are some popular ways to use it:
- A simple peach vodka tonic or peach vodka soda makes a refreshing summer drink.
- It’s delicious in fruity vodka cocktails like a peach bellini, peach margarita or peach martini.
- Use it to make a fun, peach-flavored twist on classics like a Moscow mule, vodka Collins or vodka tonic.
- Mix with grapefruit juice or lemonade for a peach citrus cocktail.
- Make a peach smash with peach vodka, simple syrup, lemon juice and muddled mint.
- Use in punch bowls or cocktail pitchers for parties. Peach vodka pairs well with cranberry juice, ginger ale and other fruit juices.
- Drizzle over desserts to add a sweet peach vodka kick.
In cocktails, the peach vodka adds sweet fruitiness and a smooth texture. It combines especially well with other fruit flavors and citrus juices. The versatility of peach vodka makes it easy to get creative with drink recipes.
Major Peach Vodka Brands
Some of the top brands and producers of commercially available peach vodkas include:
| Brand | Details |
|---|---|
| Pinnacle | One of the most popular and widely available peach vodkas. Made with real white peaches and natural flavors resulting in a sweet, juicy peach taste. |
| Seagrams | A budget-friendly peach vodka with strong peach aromas. Smooth and easy drinking. |
| Stolichnaya | Premium Russian vodka brand with an infusion of white peaches and peach essence for a well-balanced peach flavor. |
| Three Olives | This New Zealand brand uses nectarines for a crisp, elegant peach vodka. |
| Absolut | Made with natural peach flavors, this is a classic smooth, sweet peach vodka. |
| UV | A value brand peach vodka with lots of bright, candy-like peach flavor. |
These major vodka companies use variations of infusion, flavoring, peach varieties and distillation techniques to create their own distinctive peach vodka options.
How to Make Your Own Peach Vodka
It’s also fun and easy to make your own homemade peach vodka. Here is a simple DIY peach vodka recipe and method:
Ingredients:
- 1 750mL bottle vodka (preferably a neutral grain vodka)
- 3 fresh peaches, pitted and diced
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
Method:
- Wash, peel and dice the peaches. Place in a clean glass jar or bottle.
- Add the sugar and vodka. Make sure peaches are submerged in the liquid.
- Seal jar and store in a cool, dark place to infuse. Shake gently every day.
- After 3-5 days, taste vodka for peach flavor. Strain out solids when desired flavor is reached.
- Serve chilled or use in cocktails. Enjoy your homemade peach vodka!
It’s that easy to DIY a tasty artisanal peach vodka at home. Feel free to experiment with different types of peaches, infusion lengths, sweeteners, or vodka bases until you perfect your ideal homemade peach vodka.
Tips for Making Great Peach Vodka
Here are some helpful tips for making top-notch peach vodka, whether doing a homemade infusion or commercial production:
- Use very ripe, sweet peaches for the most flavor. The fruit should be perfectly soft and juicy.
- White peaches and yellow peaches work best. Nectarines also make a nice crisp peach vodka.
- Add a little sugar to balance the acidity of the peaches.
- Gently warm the jar while infusing to increase the extraction of peach flavors.
- Filter carefully through cheesecloth or coffee filters to clarify the finished vodka.
- Do tasting tests throughout infusion to monitor flavor level.
- Aim for a balanced, authentic peach taste, not artificial or overpowering.
- For a smoother vodka, chill and filter repeatedly before bottling.
Taking the time to use optimal ingredients and fine-tune the infusion process will result in a better homemade peach vodka that maximizes the fresh peach essence.
Conclusion
Peach vodka brings together the fresh sweetness of ripe peaches and the smoothness of premium vodka. While it often relies on real fruit infusion for the best flavor, shortcut methods using flavor extracts are also employed commercially. The resulting peach-flavored vodka provides a very versatile spirit for cocktails, mixed drinks, and solo sipping. With the right ingredients and procedure, crafting homemade peach vodka can be an easy and rewarding DIY infusing project as well.
Summary of key points:
- Peach vodka is made by infusing neutral vodka with real peach puree or juice concentrate.
- The infusion process takes days to weeks depending on desired flavor intensity.
- Once infused, the peach vodka is filtered, diluted to proper ABV, and bottled.
- Major peach vodka brands use a range of infusion and flavoring techniques.
- Peach vodka adds fruity sweetness to cocktails and mixed drinks.
- With ripe peaches, sugar, and vodka you can easily make your own peach vodka at home.
So for a refreshing twist on plain vodka that conjures memories of summer, give peach vodka a try in your next cocktail or spirit-forward drink. The sweet aroma and silky peach taste makes this a flavored vodka like no other.