I have a bottle of peach whiskey that is delicious and the source of constant entertainment, but frankly needs to die already. This peach whiskey from Leopold’s Distillery in Michigan is smooth, sweet, and dangerous: the high proof and even higher sugar levels will give you a hangover to rule all prior hangovers. Tequila has nothing on this because unlike tequila, this tastes like candy and you only want more.

So my goal is to make more peach cocktails and invite more people over to drink this for me. I can’t let this wonderful whiskey go to waste, but I also can’t exactly call in “sick” to work either every time I open the bottle. Friends, you have been warned.

If you’re interested in getting your hands on some of Leopold’s great liquors and spirits, head on over to Best Cellars in Dupont (for their absinthe, gin and vodka) and Schneider’s on Capitol Hill for those plus everything else (blackberry whiskey, cherry whiskey and apple whiskey).

Peach Buck

• 1 1/2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz peach flavored brandy or whiskey
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice

In a highball glass add the first three ingredients. Then fill with ginger ale, ice, a lemon wedge and a peach slice.  I used the aforementioned peach whiskey and was pleasantly surprised. Flavored brandies and whiskeys tend to dominate whatever cocktail they appear in, elbowing out everything else and become the star of the show (whether you like it or not). This whiskey is thick, syrupy and sweet but the lemon and ginger ale combo tamed this wild horse. I imagine this is what an Orange Julius would taste like if it were made with peach instead. Or it could be compared to peach flavored soda out of the Wal-Mart vending machine: it tastes sweet and cheap and it’s worth every cent of the $.35 you paid for it. Until of course the next morning when you want to put yourself out of your misery because it feels like there are two freight trains sumo wrestling in your head.