Spiced Pear Martini (with Mocktail Option)
If you like ripe, juicy pears, you’ll love this crisp pear martini made with vodka, pear nectar, pear liqueur, and homemade ginger simple syrup, which adds a spicy kick. This is a festive fall or winter cocktail with lots of fresh pear flavor.
And if you prefer a non-alcoholic beverage, I’ve included a sparkling pear mocktail option in the instructions and recipe card below as well.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This drink is fast and easy to make for one, two, or more. The refreshing pear flavor is a welcome surprise in a beverage, especially in the fall or around the holidays.
It goes especially well with my Apricot Pecan and Honey Goat Cheese Ball paired with those yummy raisin and rosemary crisps from Trader Joe's.
Recipe Ingredients
Here are the key ingredients you’ll need to make the martini or mocktail. I’ve listed a few substitutions and variations in the section below.
Be sure to check out the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with measurements.
Pear liqueur. There are various brands available, plain or spiced. If you can find it, I recommend St George Spiced Pear liqueur, which has hints of cinnamon and clove. It works well with the ginger in the simple syrup.
Pear juice or nectar. Nectar contains pear solids, so it’s thicker. Pear juice has been strained. Both are delicious, but look for a brand that’s 100% pear juice with no added sugar for the most “pear flavor.”
Fresh ginger root. Get the whole root (rhizome), not dried, powdered, or minced ginger that comes in a jar.
Lemon juice. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice balances the sweetness of the pear nectar and ginger simple syrup. Make sure to use fresh lemon juice, not bottled.
Plain (unflavored) seltzer or sparkling water. Use this for the mocktail option. You can use club soda, but be aware it has sodium and other minerals added and may affect the flavor of your mixed beverage.
Substitutions and Variations
St. Germain (elderflower liqueur) is a good substitute or variation for pear liqueur. It has a honey-citrus flavor with notes of pear, peach, and grapefruit.
If you don’t love ginger, you can make a plain, simple syrup with sugar and water. Or, add other spices to the sugar and water, like:
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
- Whole star anise
For a no-calorie ginger simple syrup, try this recipe for keto simple syrup.
How to Make This Martini
First, peel and slice your ginger. Add it to a saucepan with the sugar and water and bring it to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes or until the syrup has a rich ginger flavor.
Second, strain the syrup. Reserve the ginger and keep it in the refrigerator to add to tea, or dry it and make candied ginger. Chill the syrup for at least an hour or overnight.
Third, combine the ingredients in a shaker. Shake or stir and serve. For a regular pear martini, combine the vodka, pear liqueur, pear nectar, lemon juice, and one ounce of ginger simple syrup with ice. Shake for about 30 seconds and pour into iced glasses.
For the pear mocktail option, combine pear nectar, lemon juice, ginger simple syrup, sparkling water, and ice in a glass. Stir well. You can serve the mocktail with or without ice.
Expert Tips
You’ll end up with about ¾ cup of simple syrup from this recipe, which is enough for about 12 drinks. Keep leftover ginger simple syrup in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to one month. It’s delicious in fruited sun tea or drizzled over slices of grilled pineapple.
Shake your pear juice or nectar well before using it.
Make sure you strain the ice and serve your pear martini immediately after shaking. If you let the ice melt, your drink will be too watery.
For a special presentation, dip the rim of your glass in pear nectar and then cinnamon sugar before filling it with your pear martini or mocktail.
What to Serve With a Pear Martini
I love to serve these drinks with a giant charcuterie board or fall and winter snacks and appetizers like:
- Roasted Grapes and Blue Cheese Phyllo Cups
- Apricot Pecan and Honey Cheeseball
- Homemade Baked Honey Nut Clusters
- Pear and Parmesan Tartlets
- Grain-free Seeded Flatbread Crackers
- Air Fryer Apple Chips
Recipe FAQs
Use non-alcoholic vodka in place of regular vodka, skip the pear liqueur, and add an extra ounce of pear nectar. You can also add a dash of pear bitters but be aware bitters are made with alcohol.
The calories vary depending on the ingredients. Generally, fruit martinis have more calories than traditional martinis because they contain fruit juice and sweeteners. One 4 oz serving of this pear martini has 231 calories and 19 g of carbs.
If you don't have a cocktail shaker, use a mason jar with a lid or a travel coffee or water container to mix your martini. Use a small hand strainer to strain the ice. Use a tablespoon measuring spoon in place of a jigger. Two tablespoons = One ounce.
Related Fruit Beverage Recipes
Fresh fruit is great to use in cocktails, mocktails, or tea. Try these other fruit-based beverage recipes.
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Recipe
Spiced Pear Martini or Mocktail
Ingredients
Ginger Syrup
- ½ pound fresh ginger peeled and sliced into ¼-inch round slices
- ¾ cup water
- ¾ cup sugar
Martini
- 4 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce pear liqueur
- 1 ounce ginger syrup see instructions below
- 1 ounce pear nectar or juice
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup ice
Mocktail
- 1 ounce ginger syrup
- 2 ounce pear nectar or juice
- ½ ounce fresh lemon juice
- 8 ounces plain seltzer
- ice
Instructions
- Place sugar, water and sliced ginger in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar.
- Reduce heat to low, and simmer ginger for about 20 minutes, or until tender.
- Strain ginger, reserving syrup.
- Pour syrup into a jar with a lid, and refrigerate until cool for at least one hour or overnight. Syrup can be made several days ahead.
- For the martini, combine the vodka, pear liqueur, 1 ounce of ginger syrup, pear nectar or juice, lemon juice, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake well for about 30 seconds and pour into 2 glasses, straining the ice.
- For a mocktail, add one ounce of ginger syrup, pear nectar or juice, lemon juice, and seltzer to a glass. Mix well and pour over a glass with ice.
Hi Anne,
I rarely ever have a mixed drink, but when I do it makes it that much more special. And your ginger pear martini would be so deliciously memorable in my mind.
I love all things ginger so I certainly cannot wait to try this one! Thanks for another great recipe!
Thanks for visiting! Enjoy 🙂
Pear and ginger are my all-time fave combo!! Great point about the antimicrobial properties of ginger...I always forget that!
Kind of makes up for the vodka 🙂 !