Pear Martini

A Pear Martini is a shaken fruit martini made with Absolut Pears, pear purée, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup, served in a martini glass and garnished with a pear slice and a lemon twist.

As Rico puts it, “a very fine martini with one of our favorite flavors – Absolut Pear. It’s sweet yet balanced, and candy-ish because of the pear flavor.”

And that pear character is unmistakable — soft, fragrant and sweet with that distinctive candy-like quality that Absolut Pears brings. The lemon juice and simple syrup keep it balanced, ensuring the sweetness never overwhelms.

Michael Bergström, Drink Expert from Bartenders’ Choice Awards, explains the history of the Pears Martini:

In the 1990s, London and New York emerged as the epicenters of a cocktail revolution. Inspired by old cocktail recipe books, Bartenders began revisiting older recipes that used fresh ingredients instead of the artificial sour mixes that were popular at the time.

Even before the popular Cosmopolitan of the 1980s, the Apple Martini (aka Appletini) gained popularity in New York City. During this time, a group of influential London bartenders visited NYC on an inspirational brand trip. They were greatly inspired by the New York bartenders’ use of the iconic Martini as a framework for experimenting with different flavors and ingredients beyond the traditional Gin, Vodka, and Dry Vermouth combination.

Back in London, it didn’t take long for a new trend of Martini-style cocktails to appear on menus in various bars. The Fresh Fruit Martini emerged as a simple yet amazing formula, featuring a Vodka base, the fruit of choice, and a touch of sugar. Over time, citrus was added to bring balance and structure to the drinks.

Bartenders began exploring various fruits, combining them with each other, and experimenting with adding herbs, spices, and liqueurs. These innovations led to the creation of specific names for these “Neo-Martinis,” which became timeless classics, including the Pineapple Martini, Pornstar Martini, French Martini, and the reason you’re here – the Pear Martini.

A delicate drink that rewards a little extra attention. Here’s how to make the perfect Pear Martini.

• Try muddling fresh pear
  As Michael Bergström suggests, muddling fresh pear instead of using purée is worth trying. Match the measurements suggested for the purée in the recipe and, as Bergström advises, “make sure to taste the drink before serving in case you need to balance it out with more simple syrup or lemon juice.”
• Pack your shaker with ice
  Once all the ingredients are in the shaker, add as much ice as possible. As Rico explains, “you want to pack your shaker with as much ice as possible – this means you’ll have more control over the dilution.”
• Double strain
  Pear purée and fresh pear both have a grainy texture that needs to be left behind in the shaker. As Rico puts it, “we don’t really want that grainy texture within the drink, we just want the flavor of pear.” Double strain using a Hawthorne strainer and a fine mesh strainer to get a clean, smooth pour. Here’s how to double strain and why it matters.
• Always use fresh lemon juice
  Store-bought lemon juice is not the same thing. Squeeze your lemons fresh – consistent with every other cocktail on this site, it makes a noticeable difference to the final drink.

• Elderflower & Pear Martini
  This variation uses Absolut Vodka instead of Absolut Pears, together with pear juice instead of pear purée, drops the simple syrup but adds elderflower cordial. The addition of elderflower brings a wonderful floral quality to the drink that works perfectly with the pear. Discover our recipe for an Elderflower & Pear Martini.
• Aromatic Bitters
  Add a dash or two of aromatic bitters directly into the shaker before shaking. The Bitters add a subtle spice and aromatic richness that give the drink another level of complexity.

• Elderflower Liqueur
  Instead of using elderflower cordial, you can also add 15 ml / 0.5 oz (half a part) of elderflower liqueur to your pear martini to introduce a delicate floral sweetness that complements the pear and Simple Syrup.
  
  You might want to adjust the sweetness by using less simple syrup, as the elderflower liqueur will increase the overall sweetness of your drink. Play around with it until you find the preferred amount of sweetness for your palate.

The Pear Martini is a delicate drink and the finishing touches should reflect that.

• Glassware
  Although fresh fruit martinis like the Pear Martini differ greatly from traditional martinis, we recommend serving a Pear Martini in a martini glass to honor its namesake. It’s an elegant drink — the glass should match.
  
• Garnish – pear slice or lemon zest
  A slice of fresh pear is the classic garnish and works beautifully. Rico, however, prefers a lemon zest twist. As he explains, “once we zest those lemon oils over the drink, it brightens up those heavy pear flavors. Instantly, those lemon aromas just elevate the aroma of the drink.” Both work – it’s your call.

Yes. “If you don’t own a muddler or simply want to save yourself from mashing up fresh pears go on and use purée”, says Michael Bergström. “Just keep in mind that purées are often lightly sweetened, so you might want to adjust the recipe using lemon juice and simple syrup,” he adds.

“No, you can serve it in a small wine glass or over Ice in a shorter glass,” says Michael Bergström.

“Of course! You can use any fruit to create a fresh fruit martini. The original idea was based on a Vodka Martini with the addition of fresh fruit and a touch of sugar to enhance the flavors,” shares Michael Bergström. 

In other words, you can pick your favorite fruit, mash it up and shake it with the rest of your ingredients.