MaHa Peach Fizz

This is the one to make for the person who says they do not like spicy drinks. They are usually thinking of something that burns. This does not burn — it warms, briefly, under a lot of cold peach.

White peach is soft, floral and low on acidity, so it wraps around the habanero instead of sharpening it. The mango in the Mango Habanero liqueur and the peach in the soda sit close enough together to read as one fruit, and the heat becomes texture rather than spice — something that fills the mouth on the finish and then fades. A squeeze of lemon is not optional; without acidity the whole thing goes slack.

Highball, full of ice, liqueur first, then the White Peach poured slowly. Fresh lemon, one gentle stir, lemon slice or a sprig of mint to finish. Serve it very cold — this is the recipe here that suffers most from a warm glass. Sunny afternoons, aperitivo, the last drink of a long evening.