Just like apples, pears are a pome fruit, or a fruit with a core of small seeds and a fleshy, edible outer layer. Harvested from late summer to late fall, pears are the perfect addition to Greek yogurt for breakfast, a salad for lunch or a flatbread with prosciutto and a rich cheese like Gorgonzola for happy hour.
Pears also make for a tasty cocktail throughout the year but most notably during fall months when the fruit is in season. Here are some ideas for using pear in your bar or kitchen.
Infuse the Flavor
Vodka is the way to go when infusing pear flavor into alcohol because it offers more of a blank canvas than other spirits. Add one cup of ripe fruit for every three cups of vodka, keeping in mind that you can add more fruit if you prefer a stronger flavor. Consider adding cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger or nutmeg to really make it your own. The spices you would lean to while baking, roasting or grilling pears are also perfect for drinking.
Drink it Up
While vodka goes well with typical mixers like club soda, tonic water or even lemon-lime soda, it can also be used for many recipes that call for plain vodka. Make a Pear-tini that can be served straight up or with a splash of citrus and simple syrup. Or take a traditional cocktail like a Moscow Mule and mix it with pear vodka. For any cocktail, make sure to add some fresh fruit slices as a garnish.
Add it to a Meal
Any dish that you would smother in a pear sauce or include a garnish for would provide balance for the sweet pear cocktail. On the savory side, go with pork. Sip it alongside a spiral ham during the holidays or roasted pork tenderloin any other time of the year. You can also use the pear-infused vodka when making a sauce to pour over ice cream for dessert or to use as syrup on pancakes or French toast. Most recipes call for you to reduce the mixture of spices, lemon juice and water. To make the adult version, substitute the vodka for the water.
Pearfect Storm Cocktail
Courtesy of Seasons 52
With just the right amount of sweet and boozy, this flavored cocktail will take you from fall straight into winter.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ ounces Absolut Pear Vodka
- ½ ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 3 slices Bosc pear
- 1 sprig thyme
Directions:
Place 2 slices of Bosc, 1 ounce simple syrup and 1 ounce lemon juice into a rocks glass. Muddle ingredients. Fill glass with ice and add 1 ½ ounces Absolut Pear Vodka and ½ ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur. Garnish with final Bosc pear slice and thyme sprig.