I recently took Man for a tour of the Robertson and Firestone Distillery, home of TX Whiskey. Coupled with lunch at Tim Love’s Love Shack for burgers, it made for a fun double date.

I could just sit all day in the barrel room and breathe in that warm, rich, almost honey nut smell. One whiff, and I was daydreaming recipes.

The second recipe that came to mind is from one of my favorite cookbooks.

Whiskey and peaches…and shortcakes, oh my!

Whiskey, Peaches & Cream

3-4 peaches, sliced (Parker County is a great pick)

2-4 T superfine sugar (depending on the ripeness of your peaches)

1 shot of your favorite Whiskey or straight bourbon

1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise & seeds scraped (divided)

1/2 cup whipping cream

Soak peaches and 1/2  vanilla bean with sugar and whiskey, cover and chill 2 hours-overnight.  In a cold bowl, beat whipped cream until foamy.  Add other 1/2 of bean’s seeds, 2T superfine sugar (if you keep the pod in your sugar jar, viola – vanilla sugar)

This recipe is flour, sugar, butter, baking powder, salt and some cream – nothing fancy, just some great biscuits.  Perfect for chocolate gravy when all the summer fruit has faded into fall.

It was a warm afternoon, but by the time we made it upstairs to take a peak at the mash it was hot.

HOT weather – needs iced tea.

Getting my butt kicked daily – need bourbon.

Thus, kicked in the seat sweet tea.

Kicked in the Seat Sweet Tea
1 sweet orange
1 quart water
2 Luzianne family size iced tea bags
1/2 -1 cup simple syrup
1/4 t baking soda
Some of your favorite Whiskey or Bourbon (I like Knob Creek straight bourbon)
1 day you feel like life has particularly kicked your butt

Boil one quart water. While water boils, take paring knife and peel several citrus curls from the orange. If you don’t know what a citrus curl is, just gently go around the orange with the knife at a slight angle (stay between the skin and the pith, or white). When water boils, turn off and remove from heat. Steep two Luzianne family size tea bags 3-5 minutes. To a pitcher, add 1/2 c simple syrup, juice from one sweet orange, 1/4 t baking soda, and tea. Stir well. Taste test; goal:  very sweet strong tea.
In an old-fashioned glass, put several ice cubes, 1/2-2 oz bourbon (depending on how hard you got kicked), and fill with iced tea. Garnish with your orange curl. Visualize the front porch.
Should make four servings.