The Cocktail That Turns Sweater Weather Into a Celebration 🍐🥃
It started with a single scroll. A reel of a home bartender muddling pear slices, dusting them with cinnamon, then pouring a silky bourbon sour over ice pulled in more than 1.5 million views in 48 hours Instagram. Viewers raved about the drink’s “apple‑pie hug” aroma—and the fact that it elevated budget bourbon into something worthy of crystal glassware.
The timing makes sense. Bourbon remains the bestselling American whiskey style and is forecast to hit 53.3 million 9‑L cases in 2024 despite tariff drama The Spirits BusinessAP News. Meanwhile, pear‑flavored anything is surging as consumers seek “comfort fruit” notes paired with warm baking spices—think chai, ginger, and cinnamon. And pears bring nutrition cred: a medium pear delivers 21 % DV fiber and 8 % vitamin C for just 100 calories USA Pears.
Ready to shake a cocktail that tastes like spiced pear cobbler and drinks like a classic Whiskey Sour? Welcome the Spiced Pear Bourbon Sour—your new autumn‑through‑spring staple.
Why You’ll Love This Spiced Pear Bourbon Sour
- Layers of flavor: Caramel‑rich bourbon meets vanilla, cinnamon, clove, and juicy pear.
- Silky body: A quick pear‑spice syrup creates a velvety mouthfeel without egg white fuss.
- Easy mise‑en‑place: Make the syrup once; cocktails build in under 2 minutes.
- Balanced ABV: 2‑oz bourbon plus citrus keeps proof session‑friendly.
- Home‑bar bragging rights: Looks fancy in a coupe, tastes like craft‑bar quality.
Ingredient Line‑Up & Smart Swaps
| Ingredient | Amount | Purpose & Substitutions |
|---|---|---|
| Bourbon (90–100 proof) | 2 oz (60 ml) | Rye for spicier bite; 0‑proof oak spirit for NA |
| Fresh lemon juice | ¾ oz (22 ml) | Meyer lemon for floral lift |
| Spiced pear syrup (see below) | 1 oz (30 ml) | Honey‑ginger syrup for shortcut |
| Angostura bitters | 2 dashes | Ginger or walnut bitters for nuance |
| Ice | as needed | Large rock for rocks glass; no ice for coupe |
| Garnish: brûléed pear slice + cinnamon dust | 1 slice | Lemon wheel or star anise |
DIY Spiced Pear Syrup (10 minutes, yields ~8 oz)
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ripe pear, diced | 1 medium |
| Demerara sugar | ¾ cup (150 g) |
| Water | ¾ cup (180 ml) |
| Cinnamon stick | 1 |
| Cloves | 2 whole |
| Vanilla bean or ½ tsp extract | 1 inch split |
- Combine all in saucepan; simmer 7 minutes (don’t boil).
- Cool 10 minutes; strain. Stores 3 weeks refrigerated A Flavor JournalFinding Time for Cooking.
Time‑Saver: Buy a quality commercial spiced‑pear syrup (Monin, Whip), but homemade costs pennies and captures fresh‑pear flavor.
Step‑by‑Step: Your Perfect Pear‑Infused Sour
- Prep Glassware
- Chill a coupe or fill an old‑fashioned with ice water.
- Build in Shaker
- Add bourbon, lemon juice, spiced pear syrup, and bitters to a cocktail shaker.
- Fill with quality ice (large cubes melt slower).
- Shake & Strain
- Shake hard 12–15 seconds until tin frosts—oxygen aerates syrup for silky texture.
- Dump ice from glass. Double‑strain (fine mesh) into the chilled coupe OR over a large clear rock in an old‑fashioned glass to showcase color.
- Garnish for Aroma
- Float a thin brûléed pear slice: sprinkle sugar, torch until golden. Dust lightly with ground cinnamon. The first inhale sets the mood.
Batch Pitcher for Eight
| Ingredient | Batch Qty |
|---|---|
| Bourbon | 16 oz (2 cups) |
| Lemon juice | 6 oz |
| Spiced pear syrup | 8 oz |
| Angostura bitters | 16 dashes |
- Combine in a pitcher; refrigerate up to 24 h.
- To serve, shake 4 oz mixture with ice per drink; strain.
- Garnish each glass individually.
Flavor & Trend Notes
- Warm‑Spice Craze: Market analysts rank “brown‑spice cocktails” in the top five flavor trends for 2025 menus The Southern Millennial.
- Bourbon Resilience: Even amid trade fears, premium‑tier American whiskey volumes grew 17 % over 5 years The Spirits Business. Consumers are trading up for craft flavor—this cocktail amplifies those notes.
- Fruit Meets Whiskey: Search interest for “pear bourbon cocktail” rose 42 % YoY, outperforming apple and peach pairings Finding Time for Cooking.
Expert Tips to Nail the Balance
- Mind Proof & Sweetness: Higher‑proof bourbon (>100) tolerates 1 oz syrup; sub‑90‑proof may need only ¾ oz.
- Syrup Thickness Matters: A 1:1 sugar‑to‑water ratio keeps viscosity ideal—thicker syrup can overpower.
- Fresh Citrus Is Non‑Negotiable: Bottled juice dulls spice brightness; squeeze lemons same day.
- Temperature Curve: Shake until you–feel the tin frost—below 5 °C ensures a tight foam and dilution around 25 %.
- Garnish = Aroma Booster: The brûléed pear slice perfumes each sip and visually signals flavor profile.
Nutrition Snapshot (per cocktail)
- Calories: 212
- Carbs: 18 g (from syrup, fruit)
- Sugar: 16 g
- Alcohol (ABV): ~14 %
- Vitamin C: 6 mg (7 % DV, thanks lemon & pear) USA Pears
(Values vary by bourbon proof and syrup sweetness.)
Creative Twists & Dietary Tweaks
| Twist | How to Execute | Profile |
|---|---|---|
| Smoky Orchard Sour | Swap bourbon for mezcal, add ¼ oz agave | Campfire‑fruit |
| Zero‑Proof Fireside | Use Ritual whiskey alternative; sub bitters with allspice dram syrup | Cozy & family‑friendly |
| Maple‑Pear Old Fashioned | Stir 2 oz bourbon + ½ oz syrup + 2 dashes bitters over big rock | Boozier sip |
| Sparkling Pear Spritz | Halve bourbon to 1 oz, top finished drink with 2 oz dry cider | Brighter, lower‑ABV |
| Ginger‑Pear Highball | Build 1 ½ oz bourbon, ¾ oz syrup, squeeze lemon in Collins; top ginger beer | Spicy fizz |
FAQs About the Spiced Pear Bourbon Sour
Q1. Can I batch the syrup months ahead?
Freeze it! Portion in ice‑cube tray; thaw cubes as needed—flavor stays vibrant 3 months.
Q2. Which bourbon is best?
Mid‑shelf (e.g., Four Roses Yellow, Elijah Craig Small Batch) offers caramel to complement pear without blowing budget.
Q3. My syrup crystallized—help!
Rewarm gently with 1 Tbsp water; sugar will dissolve. Store syrup airtight to minimize crystallization.
Q4. Is egg white OK here?
Yes—½ egg white or ¾ oz aquafaba yields a frothier sour. Dry‑shake first, then shake with ice.
Q5. Can I skip bitters?
Technically yes, but two dashes pull spices together and lengthen finish. Try Fee Brothers Black Walnut for a holiday vibe.
Shake, Sip, Snuggle—Share Your Pear‑Fect Pour! 🎉
Craft your Spiced Pear Bourbon Sour, snap that brûléed‑pear garnish, and tag @YourFoodBlog with #PearBourbonSour so we can toast your mixology magic.
Thirsty for more cozy‑season cocktails? Subscribe for weekly drink recipes, trend intel, and home‑bar hacks. Until then, keep the pears ripe and the bourbon ready—cheers!
