Sugar And Spice Pear Martini Recipe

If you are looking for an elegant and unusual drink to make for your next gathering, this sugar and spice pear martini created by the recipe developer, Milena Manolova, is not one to be missed. The flavors of silky delicate pear nectar, fresh lemon juice, and aromatic spices combine for a lovely balance of sweetness and citrus, completed with a nice kick of your favorite vodka.

The secret to these special and sophisticated flavors lies in the homemade simple syrup. We don't just make it simple, we infuse it with the elegant floral and slightly citrusy flavor of whole cardamom seeds, the warming hints of cinnamon, the natural sweetness of honey, and the unique flavor of fresh pear slices. To add a finishing touch, the glass is rimmed with natural sugar, adding a hint of caramelized sweetness that perfectly complements the pear flavors. Last but not least, the drink is garnished with a slice of juicy pear. It's the perfect complex and refreshing drink to serve cold in a chilled glass for a wonderful summer cocktail!

This quick and delicious recipe is made with less than ten ingredients: honey, pear, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, vodka, pear nectar, lemon juice, natural sugar, and some water for the syrup. 

In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, honey, slices of pear, cinnamon stick, and cardamom.

Stir until the honey is melted, and cook for a minute.

Take the syrup off the heat and cover it with a lid. Let it infuse for about 10 minutes.

Strain the syrup.

In a cocktail shaker combine ice cubes, vodka, pear nectar, lemon juice, and 2 ounces of the infused syrup and shake.

Dip one side or the whole rim of a chilled glass into the sugar.

Garnish with a slice of a pear.

Pour the drink into the glass and serve.

Though we think this recipe is pretty perfect as it is, if you want to tweak the ingredients you have a few options. Vodka is a great neutral alcohol that doesn't overpower the other ingredients, but if you are not a vodka drinker, you could try other spirits instead that would introduce more flavor to the cocktail. The botanical flavors of gin will pair well with the spices and pear in this recipe. You can even find pear-flavored gin, to double down on the pear flavor. Tequila is another option that will lend its unique essence to the drink. Try with silver or a reposado. Also, substituting lime instead of lemon will be a better fit with tequila. Use champagne or prosecco for a lighter, bubbly, and refreshing drink. Bourbon can also be a nice substitute for an old-fashioned drink.

You can adjust the spices in the simple syrup by adding ginger, nutmeg, cloves, or even cayenne pepper for some heat. If you can't find a good pear, using apples or peaches can be a good substitute, depending on the season. They will give a slightly different flavor to the cocktail but still work well with the other ingredients.

If you want to leave out the alcohol altogether, you can turn this drink into a mocktail. Just add more of the pear nectar or add pear juice to compensate for the lack of alcohol. How about mixing pear juice with the other ingredients and muddling it with fresh mint leaves for a refreshing and cooling mocktail? If you like bubbles, try adding sparkling water or club soda as a refreshing twist. A dry ginger beer would add a little kick of spiciness that complements the cinnamon and cardamom.

Another option is to make a delicious frosty pear granita. Blend the ingredients with some water or pear juice, and adjust to your taste. Freeze for an hour, then scrape using a fork. Place it back in the freezer for 30 minutes, then scrape again. Repeat until the mixture is fully frozen and the granita has a fluffy, granulated texture. You can even turn this into a refreshing pear popsicle! Just like the granita, adjust the ingredients to your liking, pour into popsicle molds, and freeze. A slice or two of pear inside will look pretty once frozen and add a pleasing texture.