Spiced Poached Pear Cocktail with Rosemary
Cocktails
Vodka
Cocktail
16 oz vodka
6 oz Lillet Blanc
8-12 oz pear syrup
6 oz lemon juice
8 small sprigs rosemary
Syrup
6 large or 10 small ripe Comice pears (or other sweet variety), chopped into 1 inch pieces (no need to peel)
4 cups water
2 cups white wine
4 cups sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise pod
4 three inch strips of lemon zest, peeled with a vegetable peeler
In a small sauce pan combine water, wine, sugar, cinnamon, star anise and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat then reduce to a simmer. Add the chopped pears and cook until pears are soft and the liquid becomes syrupy, about 30 minutes.
Remove from heat and strain through a fine mesh sieve into a clean glass jar. Don’t press the pears or the syrup will become cloudy. Discard the solids and chill syrup until ready to use.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 2 oz vodka, ¾ oz Lillet, ¾ oz lemon juice and 1 to 1½ oz pear syrup. Shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds.
Strain into a coupe. Twist the rosemary sprigs a few times to release the oils and garnish each glass with a sprig of rosemary.