This Vermouth and Pear Cocktail Is Perfect for Chilly Evenings
I always love pears more than real fruits, primarily because, like avocados, their “oh my gosh” window is very short. But pear brandy never fails me; the taste is consistently good, there is never any graininess in the mouth, and the alcohol strength is about 40%.
It’s a clean, heady hit of pear, and replacing it with apple brandy in cocktails is a good way to change your seasonal drinking habits. This vermouth-infused cocktail is a riff of Stars, a Manhattan apple brandy I found in Robert Simonson’s Three Ingredient Cocktails (very good book). The drink is semi-sweet vermouth, so choose a good one. ( Once again , I must recommend Carpano Antica Formula, which can be enjoyed on its own with ice.) Equal amounts of vermouth and brandy balance and mix, neither can be beaten by the other. To make this Star Pear, you will need:
- 1 1/2 ounce pear brandy
- 1 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 drops of Angostura bitter
Mix everything in a mixing glass and stir until cool. Strain in the compartment. Repeat maybe this time with apple brandy.