There’s a reason we talk about the weather here in New Orleans. It’s not small talk. Hardly.

We talk about it because in the summer it is ever-present and unpredictable. The weather has a sense of humor enough to know when you’ve gone into the grocery store, leaving your umbrella in the backseat of your car. It’s kind enough to create wind strong enough to trim your trees for you… whether you wanted them trimmed or not. Sweet enough to constantly humidify your ferns…all the ferns… every plant… plus your hair. The weather here will not be ignored. Pretty magical as long as you’re not scared of night thunder.

This isn’t a low octane cocktail. It’s slow and syrupy. Our porch-sit sipping cocktail to wrap up these steamy summer days. Best enjoyed under a balcony, in the rain, jumping at occasional thunderclaps.

Ps. Everyone is afraid of night thunder. It’s biological.

Here’s how we’re cocktailing in these lingering summer days.

This drink is about process with a sprinkling of ritual. The order of dashes and muddles has been predetermined by the cocktail gods.



The beginning is simple. A sugar cube (I like the raw sort) in the bottom of a rocks glass.

Three dashes of bitters onto and into each sugar cube. Three is good. Four is also good. Five is fine. Six… well, go easy.

A small dash or orange flower water. A splash is a flick of the wrist. It’s technical and deliberate except not at all. Splash.

A slightly larger splash of sparkling water.

I have La Croix in my refrigerator because I AM A MODERN WOMAN. Join me. It’s definitely all it’s cracked up to be.

Muddled.

Crushing the cube. Dissolving the sugar. Bubbling with flavor and sweetness.

The peaches smell like summer. We’re still in it!

The peach is muddled just slightly. Crushing for flavor. It’s ok. We’re still compassionate humans.

Ice cubes. Good ones. Two.

Now it’s time for whiskey. You can choose bourbon or rye. Whichever makes you feel most alive inside.

Stir respectfully. Add Luxardo Cherries and sip sip slowly.

Cheers to us. xo

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Peach Orange Water Old Fashioned Author: Joy the Baker

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5 Scale 1x 2x 3x Ingredients 1 sugar cube

sugar cube 3 dashes bitters

dashes bitters splash of orange flower water

splash of sparkling water

2 slices of peach

slices of peach ice cubes

2 ounces Rye or Bourbon Whiskey

Rye or Bourbon Whiskey 2 luxardo cherries Instructions This recipe makes one cocktail. Double, triple, or quadruple as necessary, making one cocktail per glass. Place the sugar cube in a rocks glass. Splash bitters, orange flower water, and a splash of club soda over the sugar cube. Use a muddler to break up the cube and crush until it is mostly dissolved. Add a slice of peach and muddle to crush and infuse the flavor. Fill glass with two or three ice cubes Top with whiskey. Stir. Garnish with a fresh peach slice and two cherries. Cheers! Nutrition Serving Size: 1

Photos with Jon Melendez