Cocktail Atlas

Spiced Pear Old Fashioned

Bourbon stirred with pear liqueur, a little spiced syrup and Angostura bitters, over one large cube. An Old Fashioned for cold evenings.

Cocktail Atlas · Updated

Spirit
Bourbon
Glass
Old fashioned glass
Method
Stirred
Difficulty
Beginner

Riff on: Old Fashioned

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A Spiced Pear Old Fashioned in a rocks glass over one large ice cube, with a fan of pear slices and a cinnamon stick

Spiced Pear Old Fashioned

Ingredients

Ingredients for Spiced Pear Old Fashioned. Tick each one as you add it.
AddedMeasureIngredient
2 oz
½ oz
¼ oz
2 dashes

Steps

  1. Add the bourbon, pear liqueur, spiced syrup and bitters to a mixing glass filled with ice.
  2. Stir for about 20 seconds, until well chilled.
  3. Strain into an old fashioned glass over one large ice cube.
  4. Garnish with a fan of thin pear slices and a cinnamon stick.

Garnish Thin pear slices and a cinnamon stick

cocktailatlas.com/cocktail/spiced-pear-old-fashioned/

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Batch it For a party of 4–20

Makes 8 drinks, about 26½ oz · 790 ml before ice.

Spiced Pear Old Fashioned batch
AmountIngredient
16 oz · 480 mlBourbon
4 oz · 120 mlPear liqueur
2 oz · 60 mlSpiced syrup
16 dashesAngostura bitters
4½ oz · 130 mlCold water, for dilution (approx.)

The water stands in for the melt from stirring: about 20% for a stirred drink. It is an approximation, so taste and adjust. Chill the batch at least 2 hours and pour over fresh ice.

Fits a 1 liter bottle or carafe.

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Why it works

The pear liqueur does two jobs: it brings ripe fruit, and it adds most of the sweetness, so only a quarter ounce of spiced syrup is needed for cinnamon and clove. Keeping the syrup small stops the spice from covering the pear. Angostura ties the fruit and spice to the bourbon, as it does in the classic. Stirring and one large cube keep the drink clear and dilute it slowly, so it stays spirit-forward to the last sip.

Substitutions

  • Any pear liqueur works. A dry pear brandy (eau de vie) is less sweet, so raise the spiced syrup to ½ oz.
  • No spiced syrup? Use simple syrup and stir with a cinnamon stick in the mixing glass.
  • Rye makes a spicier, drier version.

Variations

Questions

Should an Old Fashioned be stirred or built?
Either. The classic is built in the glass; this one is stirred in a mixing glass first because the liqueur and syrup mix more evenly that way.
Can I batch it for a party?
Yes. Mix the bourbon, liqueur, syrup and bitters in a bottle, add about 20% water for dilution, and keep it in the fridge. Pour over a large cube to serve.

Making it: Spiced Pear Old Fashioned

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