The Affordable Pear Act [Cocktail Recipe]

This silky cocktail was created by Alec Pignotti, beverage manager at Recess in Chicago. It adds an extra layer of complexity to a Whisky Sour, with warm baking spices and Asian pears.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1½ oz. Suntory Toki (or other Japanese whisky)
  • ½ oz. pear brandy
  • ½ oz. spiced pear syrup (recipe below)
  • ¾ oz. lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 dash Angostura bitters
  • 1-2 whole star anise for garnish

DIRECTIONS

Combine all ingredients in a tin-on-tin Boston shaker with ice. Hard shake for 10 seconds. Strain the ice and dry shake for 10 seconds. Fine strain into a coupe and garnish with star anise.

Spiced Pear Syrup

  • 3 Asian pears
  • 1 cup water
  • 5 whole star anise
  • 2 cups sugar

Remove skin, stems, and seeds from pears. Combine in a blender with water and star anise. Strain mixture through a fine strainer. In a pot, combine puree with sugar over high heat until sugar dissolves. Strain through a fine strainer into an airtight container. Keep refrigerated for up to two weeks.

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