spiced pear

This spiced winter pear and Ever Gin Liqueur cocktail evokes that crisp winter afternoon feeling with its warming spices, forest aromas and bright flavours.⁠

Combine in a cocktail shaker with ice:⁠

• ½ oz Ever Gin Liqueur⁠
• 1 oz @Lillet Blanc⁠
• 1 oz spiced pear syrup*⁠
• 1 oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice⁠
• tiny pinch of @Maldonsalt or other sea salt⁠

Shake until well-chilled and strain into a cocktail glass. We rimmed our glass with a mixture of sugar and fresh-ground nutmeg and garnished with a sprig of fresh rosemary to enhance the green, foresty aromas.⁠ ⁠

* Spiced Pear Syrup:⁠

• 2 large or 3 small ripe pears chopped into 1 cm chunks⁠
• 1 cup water⁠
• ½ cup sugar⁠
• 2 star anise pods⁠
• ½ cinnamon stick⁠
• 1 tsp vanilla extract⁠
• 3 tbsp cooking sherry or white wine⁠

Combine water, sugar, star anise and cinnamon stick in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and add in the chopped pears. Simmer for about 20 minutes, until pears are visibly soft and mixture is syrupy. Do not stir as this will cause your syrup to become cloudy. Remove from heat and strain through a fine sieve into a clean glass jar, without pressing. Store in the refrigerator. Makes enough for about 10 cocktails.⁠