If you ever wanted to “drink” a sweet, juicy pear bursting with flavor and get a slight buzz at the same time, look no further than these recipes, featuring a seasonal, pear-flavored vodka. Spiced Pear, a trademark flavor in the Hangar One Vodka family, tastes like a delectable pear pastry fresh from the oven, redolent of spices (especially cloves). Since Hangar One Vodka is distilled from whole fruits, you are literally “drinking” a pear (an organic Bartlett pear, to be precise).
This unique vodka is made in extremely small batches and is available this time of year only. It is made exclusively with pears grown on Rogers Mesa, a 50-acre farm in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Hangar One stumbled upon this harvest of pears during a “fruitless” search for a sweet, buttery pear with a hint of winter spice, and has not looked back since.
Of course, spiced beverages of all kinds are popular in wintertime. Several types of pear-flavored alcohol exist, but a standout feature of pear vodka is its versatility; it's equally good as the basis for a citrusy cocktail or by itself as the perfect complement for a crisp winter evening.
A great thing about pear vodka is it that you can actually taste the authentic flavor of the pear, instead of it being disguised, as in a sugar-loaded, syrupy liqueur. Pear cider is quite popular, especially in the 18- to 34-year-old demographic range, but pear vodka is classier. Pear wine is classy as well, but is a bit scarce, unless you want to whip up your own batch. That may be a nice rainy-day activity, but for now, reach for a bottle of Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka. Pear is a traditional winter fruit, so what better way to enjoy the taste of winter than by trying one of these cocktails?
- pkpratt.com
A citrus-infused cocktail with a gingery kick that's great topped with bubbly. The sweetness of the candied ginger provides a nice contrast to the burst of citrus.
Sparkling Pear
2 ounces Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka
1/2 ounce Patron Citronge
1/4 ounce fresh ginger juice
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
Splash of simple syrup
Garnish of candied ginger
Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with sparkling wine or champagne and garnish with candied ginger.
A classy cocktail with an Asian twist, this martini is made with fresh lychee, a unique, sub-tropical fruit of China. This fruit is also grown in Florida, so buy local and support local farmers!
Cinnamon Lychee Martini
1 1/2 ounce Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka
2 ounces lychee puree
2 lychee fruits
Garnish of ground cinnamon
Shake vodka and puree with ice. Pour into martini glass. Garnish with 2 lychee fruits on a stick and sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
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