Magical Peach And Gin Cocktail: Shades & The Giant Peach

Are you looking for a summer peach and gin cocktail recipe? You’ll love this refreshing Shades and the Giant Peach literary cocktail inspired by James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl.

One of my favorite children’s books of all-time, James and the Giant Peach is a heart-warming story about an orphaned boy making the most unusual and kindest new friends as he tries to survive living with his terrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge.

When James drops magical crystals next to a peach tree, the peach and its insect inhabitants become larger than life. The unlikely gaggle of characters heads out on an adventure, teaching us about love, acceptance, and friendship.

James and the Giant Peach is also special in our household because when Tom and I first started dating, we watched James and the Giant Peach at the theater as one of our earliest dates. We picked up the novel together, reading a chapter aloud each evening, and spent a fun night out as James and his friends navigated their peach around the globe.

In honor of James and the Giant Peach, Cultivated Cocktails created Shades and the Giant Peach, a peach and gin cocktail perfect for the summer. Refreshing and not too sweet, this literary cocktail is designed for gin-lovers who enjoy a little fruit and fizz.

Let’s get started!

What Makes For A Good Peach And Gin Cocktail?

I am not a cocktail expert — just a boozy drinker — but I definitely think this peach and gin drink is a lot like a Gin and Tonic getting it on with a Peach Bellini. I love brunch so dang much, and most of that adoration has to do with, you guessed it, brunch cocktails. This peachy literary drink is perfect for brunch or an early evening cool down on the back deck.

What makes this James and the Giant Peach literary-inspired cocktail so special is that it is not too sweet and has a small kick of fizz, which makes me think of peach fuzz. I have no idea, either — maybe I drank one too many already. Trust me, IT JUST GOES WELL.

And I am not going to lie, either. As I get older, I just love gin — dry or filled with botanicals.

What Cocktail Tools Will You Need For This James and the Giant Peach Drink?

Double Jigger

A double jigger is fantastic for measuring spirits and add-ins. We prefer jiggers that also have the small, incremented measurements notched inside, even though I tend to eyeball amounts.

Cocktail Shaker

For almost all cocktails, you’ll want to invest in a cocktail shaker or cocktail kit. Cocktail shakers are a quick and efficient way to mix up your drink.

Bar Spoon

A long bar spoon will help you both measure and stir your ingredients. If you don’t have a fancy bar spoon, just use one teaspoon instead.

Cocktail Picks

Not essential–but fun–why not add cocktail picks for your garnish?

What Ingredients Do You Need For This James and the Giant Peach Literary Cocktail?

This boozy libation has a few more ‘fancy’ ingredients. What will you need to make this peach and gin drink?

Shades and the Giant Peach Ingredients:

• 2 oz Shades of Rosé Gin
• 0.5 oz Lime Juice
• 0.25 oz Cascara Vanilla Mix (Cascara & Vanilla Syrup will work)
• 3 Bar Spoons Orange Twist Syrup
• 5 Drops ‘Sycophant’ Orange and Fig Bitters
• 1 Cup Ice
• 2 oz Peach Bellini Soda

Don’t forget your copy of James and the Giant Peach, too!

How Do You Make Shades And The Giant Peach?

Mixing up this cocktail is super easy and takes less than 5-minutes.

Combine the gin, lime juice, Cascara/Vanilla mix, orange syrup, and bitters into a shaker. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Shake for 30-seconds. Strain the liquid into a glass.

Top with peach Bellini soda. Imagine the giant peach landing on the Empire State building. Garnish with peaches, if you like. If the peaches are too ripe, you might have a splash, though. Maybe just dig in like James and his friends?!

More Roald Dahl Books To Read:

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl was actually a large part of our dating history. For the first birthday that Tom and I celebrated together, we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and visited a real chocolate factory for lunch and hot chocolate in CT. Sure, Dahl offs all of the annoying spoiled brats, but it’s a great story.

Matilda – Matilda is one of my favorite classics by Dahl. She is sweet and bookish with some magical powers and one fabulous teacher. While Dahl has a lot of negative portrayals of adults, he gives a few some redemptive qualities.

The BFG– Growing up, my grandmother and I loved the Big Friendly Giant. I will say that after reading the book as an adult, there are a few comments that are offensive AF… If we get a re-write, I’m back on board.

You might also love these James and the Giant Peach gifts for book lovers.

Don’t skip our printable and pin-able recipe here:

Let Us Know What You Think Of This Peach And Gin Cocktail & Literary Libation

Have you read James and the Giant Peach? Did you enjoy it? What do think of Roald Dahl? He can be a bit vial at times and tends to slyly murder off his characters…

If you make this peach and gin cocktail, please let us know what you think in the comments and tag @ theuncorkedlibrarian and @ cultivatedcocktailsdistillery on Instagram.

Literary Cocktails You May Also Love:

Where The Crawdads Smash: Blackberry Smash Cocktail
Leather-Bound Book Smoked Old Fashioned

More About The Creator Of This Peach And Gin Cocktail, Cultivated Cocktails

Cultivated Cocktails is a family-owned distillery in Asheville, North Carolina. Every year, they produce award-winning spirits.

Cultivated Cocktails launched its first product, Hazel 63 Rum, in 2016. Each product pays tribute to their family or history in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Crafting products that speak for themselves and NC is an important part of their mission. 

A Note About Their Gin: Shades of Rose

​Inspired by the F. Scott Fitzgerald line in This Side of Paradise, this Gin is rested and finished in red wine barrels from Raylen Vineyards in the NC piedmont region. Find a distinct flavor that pairs well with a variety of cocktails or is simply refreshing over ice. Certain botanicals are mellowed out such as citrus, juniper, and coriander while others become stronger like the cassia. This has more warmth to it, and a little bit of spice.

A Special Thank You To Sarah Resta Photography

The pictures featured in this post are from our partner, Sarah Resta Photography. Sarah Resta is both a local and international engagement and wedding photographer available for hire. Sarah also works with small businesses and bloggers, like The Uncorked Librarian & Uncorked Asheville. You can find Sarah on Facebook and Instagram. Email: [email protected]