Stone Fruit Season: Peach & Plum Cocktails to End Summer in Style

Why Peaches and Plums Shine in Late Summer

August is peak season for stone fruits, and peaches and plums are some of the best choices for mixing drinks. They’re juicy, fragrant, and naturally sweet, with just the right amount of tartness to keep cocktails balanced. Their bright colors also make them look amazing in a glass—ideal for Instagram-worthy summer sipping.

Peaches are soft, sweet, and blend easily into spritzes or mojitos. Plums, on the other hand, have a deeper flavor with a hint of sourness that works great in bold, rich cocktails. Different cultures have used these fruits for centuries—peaches symbolize abundance in many places, while plums have long been used in Asian wines and liqueurs like Japanese umeshu. Today, bartenders use them to make drinks that are both refreshing and complex.

Simply put: peaches and plums are nature’s way of telling us to enjoy summer while it lasts.

What You’ll Need for Stone Fruit Cocktails

• Peaches – Soft, ripe peaches give the best flavor. Their juice adds sweetness and smoothness to cocktails.
• Plums – Sweet but slightly tart, plums add a richer flavor and a ruby-red color to drinks.
• Spirits – Rum adds tropical vibes, prosecco brings bubbles, whiskey leans toward fall, and gin adds herbal notes.
• Herbs & Citrus – Basil, mint, lime, and even rosemary balance out the sweetness of stone fruit.
• Sweeteners & Spices – Syrups, honey, or agave bring out fruit flavor. Cinnamon or vanilla make great fall transitions.

Peach Cocktails From Our Boozeopedia Bar

🍑 Peach Basil Spritz

Recipe: Peach Basil Spritz

This twist on the Italian spritz combines peach nectar and basil with prosecco and soda water. The peach adds sweetness while the basil gives a fresh, peppery kick. It’s light, bubbly, and perfect for a late-summer evening.

Why it works: Refreshing and herbaceous, this cocktail is perfect for warm nights on the patio or backyard gatherings.

Serving Tip: Garnish with a peach slice and a sprig of basil to make it look just as good as it tastes.

🍹 Mojito de Durazno (Peach Mojito)

Recipe: Mojito de Durazno

This Cuban classic gets a fruity upgrade with peaches. Fresh peach slices are muddled with mint and lime, then shaken with rum and simple syrup. The result is a drink that’s sweet, minty, and refreshing.

Why it works: The Mojito de Durazno is playful yet sophisticated—easy to batch for a summer party but also perfect for a solo refresher.

Pro Tip: Try topping it with peach-flavored seltzer instead of plain soda water for an extra punch of fruit.

Plum Cocktails Coming Soon to Boozeopedia

Plums aren’t as common in cocktails as peaches, but they should be. Their mix of sweet and tart makes them perfect for more complex drinks, especially as summer turns into fall. Their deep color also makes them visually stunning.

🍷 Plum Sour

Recipe: Plum Sour

This cocktail takes the classic whiskey sour and gives it a late-summer twist. Plum purée is shaken with whiskey, lemon juice, and egg white to create a drink that’s tangy, smooth, and jewel-toned. The foam on top makes it feel extra special.

Why it works: Plums balance the sharpness of lemon and the strength of whiskey, making a sour that’s fruity but still grown-up.

🥃 Spiced Plum Old Fashioned (Coming Soon)

Recipe: Spiced Plum Old Fashioned

This cocktail mixes the richness of bourbon with the warmth of cinnamon syrup and the tart sweetness of muddled plums. It’s bold, cozy, and feels like summer slowly leaning into autumn.

Why it works: The plums add fruitiness to the classic Old Fashioned, while the spices hint at the cooler season ahead.

Substitutions & Variations

• Nectarines or Apricots – Good stand-ins when peaches or plums aren’t available.
• Frozen Fruit – Works just fine for muddling or blending, plus it chills the drink.
• Herb Swaps – Use mint instead of basil in a spritz, or basil instead of mint in a mojito.
• Sparkling Substitutes – Swap prosecco for sparkling rosé, cava, or even a flavored hard seltzer.
• Spirit Experiments – Switch rum for tequila in a mojito, or try brandy with plums for a richer flavor.

Tips for Success With Stone Fruit Cocktails

• Use Ripe Fruit: Soft and fragrant fruit gives the best flavor.
• Muddle Lightly: Don’t crush too hard or you’ll get bitterness.
• Balance the Flavors: Taste as you go and add citrus or syrup to adjust sweetness and acidity.
• Batching: Make peach nectar or plum purée ahead of time for parties. Add alcohol and bubbles right before serving.
• Pretty Garnishes: Fruit slices, basil sprigs, or even edible flowers make drinks more eye-catching.
• Glassware: Spritzes look best in wine glasses, mojitos in tall highballs, and sours in coupes.

Wrapping Up Summer With Peaches & Plums

Stone fruit cocktails are one of the best ways to say goodbye to summer. Peaches bring sweetness, plums add depth, and together they create drinks that work perfectly in August and September. Whether it’s a bubbly spritz, a minty mojito, or a spiced plum creation, these drinks capture the feeling of late summer moving into fall.

So, before apples and pumpkins take over, raise a glass to peaches and plums. Their season may be short, but their flavor is unforgettable—and these cocktails make sure you’ll remember it all year long.