Fall is by far my favorite season, and I can hardly wait for it to kick in, here in Sulphur Springs, and around the state. All the festivals, food, and fun that can be had in fall; let's not forget the cooler temperatures. Plus, the colors of fall are just so warm and inviting, they make you want to sit around the campfire and tell stories, roast marshmallows, or enjoy a fall cocktail.
October's cocktail is full of fall flavor. Sage, and pears, really come into their own in the fall season. One of the last, non-citrus family fruits to ripen on the tree are pears. With multiple varieties grown around the globe, pear can be used in so many different applications. Pears can be baked and eaten with a touch of cinnamon. Made into a crip to enjoy for dessert or breakfast. We chose to use the pear this month as a highlight to our cocktail of the month.
We blended up fresh pears, to make the pear nectar for this drink. The fresh pears give it a heavier, more full feeling, and it holds on to the flavor longer. We also used sage as our herb this month, because of the woodsy, strong flavor the herb lends to the vodka when infused. There is no specialty liquor that has sage in a bottle, so you must make your own on this one. If you want to make this drink at home be sure to plan ahead.
To infuse your vodka, cut some sage and place it in a jar. Fill the jar so that the sage is fully covered. Tighten the lid and place it on a windowsill to speed up the process. The vodka I used sat by the window for about a week before I made my cocktail. Depending on how strong you want the sage flavor to be, will be determined how long you let it sit.
This recipe also calls for ginger simple syrup. Just like always one to one on the sugar to water ratio, add in your fresh chopped ginger and a tablespoon of lemon juice, to a pot on the stove. Let all the sugar dissolve and the mixture heat up. It's as easy as that to bring our the ginger flavor for this drink.
Sparkling Sage Pear
3 ounces Pear nectar
2 ounces Sage infused vodka
1/2 ounce Ginger simple syrup
1/2 lemon
Sparkling water or ginger ale
Combine all the ingredients, except for the sparkling water, into an ice filled shaker cup. Shake it up well. Once completed, pour into two iced filled glasses, and top it off with sparkling water. Garnish your drink with slices of pear and sage.
Of course, if you do not want to make this drink at home you can always stop by the Tipsy Oak Lounge located at the Oaks bed and breakfast and order one, or two. This drink can also be made without the liquor, and into a delicious mocktail for everyone in your group to enjoy. As always drink responsibly and have a designated driver. Cheers!
