Fancy Pear Vanilla Gin

This charming Pear Vanilla Gin Fizz blends fall pears' mild sweetness with aromatic vanilla and zesty gin for a classy drink that cools you down while warming your soul. The DIY pear vanilla mixture takes this sip to another level, making a seasonal standout that works great for gatherings or quiet evenings alone.

I whipped up this drink during a dinner with friends last autumn when I needed something fancy yet doable. The pear-vanilla combo was such a success that my buddies now ask for it whenever they stop by during pear harvest time.

Ingredients

• Bartlett pears: Give just the right amount of sweetness and body to create your syrup foundation
• Organic sugar: Delivers pure taste without added processing agents
• Vanilla syrup: Brings a fragrant richness that perfectly matches the fruit
• Quality gin: Contains plant notes that complement rather than fight with the gentle pear flavor
• Soda water: Adds bubbles that brighten the drink and cut through sweetness
• Crushed ice: Helps water down and cool your drink just right

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the pear base:

Chop up or blend your bartlett pears until smooth. This thorough prep helps pull out all the tasty bits during cooking.

Create the syrup:

Mix your pears with sugar, water, and vanilla syrup in a pot over medium heat. It's pretty cool to watch as everything starts coming together into a sweet-smelling liquid.

Simmer to perfection:

Let it bubble gently before turning down to a simmer for 5-8 minutes. The good stuff happens as the mixture turns amber and the pears start breaking apart. Stir often so nothing burns and everything cooks evenly.

Strain for clarity:

Once done cooking, pour through a fine strainer into a container. Push down hard with a spoon to squeeze out all the yummy flavor from the pear bits. You'll end up with a clear, golden-amber liquid.

Mix your cocktail:

Pour 1.5 ounces of gin and 2 tablespoons of your homemade pear vanilla mixture into an 8 ounce glass. Stir them together well before adding ¾ cup of soda water. The fizz carries all those nice pear and vanilla smells up to your nose.

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The vanilla part of this drink really turns it from just okay to amazing. I found this out by accident when I ran out of plain syrup and used some vanilla stuff I'd made for my coffee instead. The warm vanilla taste works perfectly between the herbal gin and sweet pears.

Make Ahead Options

What's great about this drink is you can get ready early. The pear vanilla mixture can be made two weeks before and kept in your fridge in a sealed container. This makes having friends over super easy since you can mix drinks on the spot without any hassle. The syrup also makes a neat gift for friends who like cocktails if you put it in a pretty bottle with some notes on how to use it.

Flavor Variations

The basic drink tastes great as is, but you might want to try some changes too. Switch gin for bourbon to get a toastier winter version that really shows off the vanilla. For some spice, throw a cinnamon stick and star anise in while your syrup cooks. If you want more pear punch, try blending the strained pear chunks into a mush and adding that to your drink.

Serving Suggestions

This drink goes really well with fancy cheese plates, especially aged cheddar and blue cheese that bring out the sweet pear flavors. For a wow factor, dip your glass rim in sugar and stick a thin pear slice on top. At parties, set up a spot with the syrup, gin, and soda water so everyone can make their drinks just how they like them.

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This drink brings together fancy and simple with every gulp, making it our go-to whenever pears are in season.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I make the pear vanilla syrup ahead of time?

You can totally prep the syrup days before and keep it in a sealed container in your fridge for up to 2 weeks. This makes it super easy to whip up multiple drinks when you've got friends over.

→ What type of gin works best for this cocktail?

A London Dry gin with plant notes works great with the pear and vanilla flavors. But feel free to try flowery gins or even barrel-aged ones to get different taste combos.

→ Can I make this cocktail non-alcoholic?

For sure! Just skip the gin and add more fizzy water. You might want to squeeze in some fresh lemon juice too so your alcohol-free version still has that nice balance of flavors.

→ What can I do with the leftover pear solids?

Those strained pear bits taste amazing mixed into morning oats, yogurt, or on top of ice cream. You can throw them in a blender for smoothies or put them on top of your breakfast pancakes too.

→ How can I create the sugar and vanilla bean rim?

Mix the same amount of fine sugar with scraped vanilla pod seeds on a small dish. Wet your glass rim with a bit of pear or some syrup, then dip it into your sugar mix for that fancy finishing touch.

→ What type of pears work best for the syrup?

Bartlett pears are your best bet because they're juicy and sweet, but Anjou or Bosc can work too. Just make sure they're ripe so you'll get the most flavor out of them.