4 cups water
2 cups coarsely chopped peaches
¾ cup sugar
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 peach, pitted and cut into 8 wedges
Bourbon, optional
Mint leaves, optional
This recipe is easily doubled, and I recommend doing so to serve a crowd.
Combine the peaches, sugar and water in a medium saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes.
Allow peach mixture to cool slightly, then use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Alternately, you can place the peach mixture in a blender, using a kitchen towel to cover the center of the blender lid, and blend that way. Refrigerate the peach mixture for at least 3 hours.
Once the peach mixture has cooled, press it through a fine mesh strainer set over a pitcher. Discard solids. Stir in lemon juice. Serve over ice, stirring in bourbon as wanted and using a peach wedge and mint leaves to garnish each glass, if desired.