Taste a Fuzzy Navel—a cheekily named cocktail that blends Peach Schnapps and orange juice for an effervescent delight that can be enjoyed morning, noon, or night!
The Fuzzy Navel is a relatively new cocktail, having come to prominence in the 1980s. (If it HAD been created earlier, it probably would have had to go by a less provocative name.) Speaking of that name, the ‘fuzzy’ is on account of the peach schnapps (peaches being covered in fuzz) and ‘navel’, because of the popular variety of orange available in America. And while some of you may think of a different sort of fuzzy navel, I can’t decide what’s better: this drink or its clever name.
Anyway, as with most cocktail origin stories, this one involves the release of a new liqueur: DeKuyper’s Peach Schnapps to the U.S. market in 1984. Some say an executive at the company, reacting to the poor sales of the product, reached out to a friend who worked as a joke writer for Johnny Carson to conjure up a drink that required the schnapps. However it was created, the drink took off as an alternative—favored by women—to the Screwdriver, which is vodka and OJ. It’s also a sweet alternative to the Mimosa, and lends itself to brunch enthusiasts who might be looking for the hair of the dog or a stiffer alternative to their morning coffee. It also reminds me of its peach pal, the Frozen Ginger Peach Bellini, though it uses actual peaches.
What is Schnapps?
Schnapps has its origins in Germany and comes from the word Schnappen, which means “to snap” or “to snatch,” apparently referring to the snappy taste of the drink. It’s made from distilling fruit, herbs, or spices along with a neutral grain spirit. Because of these initial ingredients, schnapps taste sweet and delicious and go down perhaps a bit easier than is good for us. Despite the sweet flavors, schnapps are high in alcohol, so be sure to drink them in moderation. Oh, and fun fact: the plural of ‘schnapps’ is… schnapps!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 oz. peach schnapps
- 4 oz. orange juice
- ice cubes
- orange slice (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pour the peach schnapps into an ice-filled highball glass.
- Pour the orange juice into the glass, directly over the peach schnapps. Stir for 15–20 seconds.
- Garnish with a slice of orange.
Nutrition
Tips & Tricks to Making a Perfect Fuzzy Navel
- Use freshly squeezed orange juice, or, barring that, organic juice. It will make a huge difference, giving your drink a liveliness you won’t get from the packaged juices. Moreover, the pre-made stuff can contain unwanted ingredients and added sugars.
- Browse the liquor store and compare brands of peach schnapps; they are not all alike.
- Stir this cocktail, no need to shake. In fact, shaking will cause more OJ foam than you want.
- If you’re in need of a stiffer drink, use a peach-flavored vodka instead of the schnapps.
FAQs
A Fuzzy Navel is a simple drink, and so, gets a simple glass. A run-of-the-mill highball glass is perfect. For the garnish, I recommend an orange slice. Given that navel oranges can be rather large, you may want to add the slice straight to the drink and forget about trying to put it on the rim of the glass.
Store the leftover Fuzzy Navel mix in an airtight container like a mason jar and keep in the fridge no longer than a couple of days.
There are 160 calories in this Fuzzy Navel. It’s a relatively sweet drink with a fair bit of sugar to it, which is where that number comes from. You can lower it by using fresh orange juice.
That’s a very nice variation. Just add the ingredients listed to a blender then add a scoop of crushed ice. The amount of ice added will depend on the consistency you prefer.
Good idea! You can use the slices as a garnish. Or, if you plan on making Frozen Fuzzy Navels, add the frozen peaches to the blender and ramp up that peachy flavor.
Fuzzy Navel Variations
Hairy Navel: Add 1.5 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce of peach schnapps, and 4 ounces of OJ.
Valerie Bertinelli’s Fuzzy Navel: An ’80s name to go with an ’80s drink, mix peach schnapps, orange juice, vodka and peach nectar.
Cheeky Peach: Replace the peach schnapps with peach liqueur.
Fuzzy Navel with Lemonade: Cut the amount of orange juice in half and replace it with fresh lemon juice.
Fuzzy Navel Sunrise: Just as you would a Tequila Sunrise, add a squirt of grenadine to the Fuzzy Navel.
Virgin Fuzzy Navel: To make an alcohol-free version, swap out the peach schnapps with sparkling water and peach nectar.
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