I’ve been on a bit of a cocktail kick lately, and the Fuzzy Navel has really become my go-to. There’s just something about its sheer simplicity – orange juice and peach schnapps, that’s it! – that makes it feel like pure, unfussy summer in a glass. Honestly, on a blazing hot afternoon, I’m not looking to muddle anything or bust out a shaker. All I want is something bright, cold, and incredibly easy.
The Fuzzy Navel is totally a child of the 1980s when peach schnapps was suddenly everywhere and bartenders couldn’t resist dreaming up fun new concoctions. The name cracks me up every time: “fuzzy” as in peach fuzz, and “navel” as in navel oranges. Somehow both silly and perfectly descriptive.
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What I appreciate most is that this cocktail doesn’t demand any bartending skills. You probably don’t even have to look it up to remember the ratio, but for the record: equal(ish) parts peach schnapps and orange juice, poured over ice. If you’ve got an actual orange to squeeze instead of the stuff in a carton, I promise it’s worth the two-minute effort – fresh juice really perks this up.
Fuzzy Navel Ingredients:
- 1 ounce peach schnapps
- 3 ounces orange juice (fresh is awesome, but no shame in store-bought)
- Ice
- Orange slice for garnish if you want to feel fancy
How to Make:
- Fill a glass (highball, or whatever’s clean) with ice.
- Pour in the peach schnapps, then top up with the orange juice.
- Stir, sip, and maybe stick an orange slice on the rim for effect.
- That’s literally it.
If you’re hosting folks who don’t drink, I’ve found peach nectar or a splash of peach-flavored syrup makes a good “virgin” version. It’s still got that sweet, peachy vibe and mingles really nicely with OJ.
Surprisingly, the Fuzzy Navel pairs well with a lot of summer foods: grilled chicken skewers, salty cheeses, watermelon – you name it. It’s got just the right balance of sweetness to go along with those picnic flavors.
For a little twist, sometimes I’ll swap in blood orange juice if I can find it, just for the gorgeous deep color and a hint more complexity. Or if you want to get cheeky with drink names, add a splash of cranberry juice and you’ve made a “Hairy Navel” (whoever named these clearly had a sense of humor). Want it stronger? A shot of vodka turns it into a “Screaming Orgasm.” I know, I know – the names only get wilder.
Chances are, you’ve got a dusty bottle of peach schnapps from some long-ago party lurking at the back of your cabinet. This is your excuse to finally crack it open. Honestly, even my friends who fancy themselves cocktail connoisseurs end up grinning after a sip – there’s just something infectious about this retro classic.
So next time the summer heat has you looking for something easy, nostalgic, and a little bit fun, shake off any cocktail snobbery and make yourself a Fuzzy Navel. Sometimes, keeping it simple is exactly what you need.
