pear vodka.
Pear Vodka is a pear flavored vodka. Some varieties may contain imitation aromas, while others may be mixed with real pear juice. Sugar is often added to this type of vodka to bring out the flavors and soften the acidity of the alcohol. While some like to drink pear vodka neat, most prefer to mix it in cocktails. It goes well with many other fruit-infused alcohols, as well as many different types of soft drinks.
A shot of pear vodka.
While widely available at wine and spirits stores, pear vodka can also be made at home. This relatively simple manufacturing process begins with fully ripe pears. Fruits with firm, sweet flesh that are soft to bite into usually work best. Red pears are generally sweeter than green or yellow pears, but those who make pear vodka should choose their favorite variety. Pears should be washed, peeled, cored and cut into pieces the size of a man’s thumb.
Some pear vodkas are mixed with juice from first pears.
Good quality vodka is the next necessary ingredient. Slightly more expensive brands with a mild, crunchy flavor tend to work best. Mild vodkas generally mix easily with the sweetness of pears, while stronger varieties can develop an unpleasant bitterness that overwhelms the fruit flavors. While this recipe usually calls for plain vodka, you can substitute vanilla, blackcurrant, melon, or even citrus-flavored vodka for an added facet of flavor.
Pear Vodka can be added to many different cocktails.
A mason jar should be filled to the top with pear slices, adding as much as possible without crushing them. The vodka goes in next, filling the glass bottle to the brim. The cap should be placed on the glass vial as tightly as possible to avoid contamination. After covering, the mixture can be fermented in a cool, dark place for up to a month. Some cooks like to gently shake the vodka infusions every few days to help distribute the flavors, but this is not necessary.
When the vodka is ready, simply strain the fruit and bottle. If you use plain vodka instead of pre-flavored, you can add about a cup (about 200 grams) of sugar to the brew to enhance the pear flavor. Just stir the vodka until all the sugar dissolves. A new, clean corked wine bottle or glass bottle should keep vodka fresh almost indefinitely.
The vodka-infused pears in this recipe don’t have to go to waste. They can become garnishes for pear vodka cocktails. Some of these cocktails simply consist of mixing pear vodka with a citrus-flavored soda. Other cocktails may include vanilla rum, plain vodka, and fruit liqueurs, including those in melon, cherry, orange, and apple flavors.