Pear Vodka Breeze

Also known as a Very Peary Breeze, the Pear Vodka Breeze is a vodka cocktail made with pear-flavored vodka, apple juice and cranberry juice, built and served in a highball glass filled with ice and garnished with a lime wedge.

A Pear Vodka Breeze is like sipping from a pear and apple orchard with a tart edge. The unmistakable floral pear character of Absolut Pears comes through first, followed by the sweet-tart combo of apple juice and the subtle tartness of cranberry.

Worth noting – the apple juice you use will influence the final flavor. A sweeter apple variety gives a rounder, fruitier drink; a tarter one sharpens the citrus edge.

Not much is documented about the origins of the Pear Vodka Breeze. What we do know is that Absolut Pears launched in 2007, and the cocktail most likely followed shortly after.

• Make your own apple juice
  Freshly squeezed, blended or juiced apple always leads to a better drink. Fresh apple juice gives the Pear Vodka Breeze the sweet-tart combination that makes it work – bottled juice is a backup, not a first choice.
• Use store-bought cranberry juice
  Contrary to what we just said, cranberry is the exception to the fresh ingredient rule. Cranberries are extremely tart and balancing the sweetness yourself is tricky – store-bought cranberry juice mix is already sweetened to the right level and is the better call here.
• Chill your glass
  Place your highball glass in the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving. During summer, there’s nothing better than sipping an ice-cold Pear Vodka Breeze from an ice-cold glass –  it keeps the drink colder for longer and makes a noticeable difference.

The Pear Vodka Breeze is a simple formula and simple formulas invite experimentation.

• Add a splash of soda water
  For a crispier, more effervescent finish, add a splash of soda water before serving. A small addition that changes the character of the drink noticeably – particularly welcome during warmer weather.
• Try a different flavored vodka
  The Pear Vodka Breeze is easily to customize – swap Absolut Pears for any other Absolut flavored vodka and you have an entirely different drink. Try Absolut Mango for a tropical twist, Absolut Lime for a citrus edge, or Absolut Watermelon for the ultimate summer serve.

Pear, lime or apple — the garnish options are as versatile as the drink itself.

• Glass type
  Serve in a pre-chilled highball glass – tall enough to accommodate all that juice.
• Lime wedge
  Drop a lime wedge directly into the glass and give it a gentle squeeze first for a hit of citrus that ties everything together.
• Pear slice
  A pear slice on the rim is the obvious choice – it’s called a Pear Vodka Breeze for a reason.
• Green apple slice
  No pears on hand? A crisp green apple slice perched on the rim works just as well and nods to the apple juice in the drink.

To make fresh apple juice, start by cutting your apple into medium-sized chunks. If you’re using a blender, add the apple pieces along with a couple of tablespoons of water.

Blend until smooth, then pour the mixture through a sieve or mesh strainer to separate the juice from the pulp. Use a spoon to help push the apple through the strainer, ensuring you extract as much juice as possible.

If you have a juicer, simply process the apple chunks directly for fresh juice without additional steps.

Check out this article where we explain how to juice fruits for cocktails.

If you can’t find Absolut Pears, substitute with original Absolut Vodka and add pear purée to your drink. Just dice some pears, cook them until soft, and blend until smooth.

Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the purée, leaving behind the fibrous bits that will otherwise make your drink feel chunky. Once you’ve strained the pear purée, it’s time to start building your drink. Start by adding 45 ml of Absolut Pears and a small amount (approx. 10 – 15 ml)of the strained pear purée.

You can use bottled apple juice, but keep in mind that many brands contain preservatives and are made to last on a shelf for weeks. This means they’re not as fresh as homemade apple juice, so you will miss out on that crisp, authentic apple taste.

We highly recommend making your own apple juice if you want to make drinks like that ones you taste when you’re at a bar or restaurant.