Ease Into Fall With a Honeycomb Vodka and Pear Cocktail

I MADE THIS POST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HANGAR 1. OPINIONS, PICS, AND RECIPES ARE MINE.

Growing up, I remember my father getting borderline giddy when pears were in season. I’d roll my eyes as he’d describe their buttery, succulent sweetness for the 3,904,584th time. And as he’d ply me with yet another slice, seven year old me would think, GET A LIFE DAD IT’S ONLY FRUIT IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE??

Now that I’m an adult, I get it. Pear season is awesome.

That’s why when Hangar 1 sent me a bottle of their new Honeycomb Vodka just as the pears were at their juiciest and best, I couldn’t resist combining the two for a new seasonal cocktail: the Pearental Guidance.

Honeycomb Hangar 1 Vodka

Getting to mix with Honeycomb Hangar 1 Vodka is particularly exciting because this is the first time it’s available outside of the Hangar 1 distillery. This vodka is special because rather than being infused with honey, it’s infused with honeycomb from their local farming community (Golden Harvest Bees in Redwood City, CA). Infusing the vodka with the rawest form of honey available gives it a richer and slightly savory profile, making it a great option for pairing with food in addition to making it a versatile cocktail ingredient.

Mixing for the Season: Honeycomb Vodka, Pear, Thyme, and Meyer Lemon

While I knew I wanted to pair up the Honeycomb Hangar 1 with pear, I needed to round out the recipe with a few other ingredients.

Luckily, sweet and tart meyer lemons were also at their prime and would be a beautiful addition to pear and honey flavors.

To finish off the drink, I made a syrup out of the Golden Harvest Bee honey (from the same source as the honeycomb used in the vodka) and some fresh thyme to give the cocktail added herbal complexity and earthy depth.

To build the drink, I added the Hangar 1 Honeycomb Vodka, Meyer lemon, honey-thyme syrup, and pear to a cocktail shaker. Next, I muddled the pear to release its flavor and then filled the cocktail shaker 3/4 full of ice. Finally, I shook the cocktail for 20 seconds and then double fine strained it into a coupe.

Completing the Honeycomb Vodka Cocktail

After double straining the cocktail, it’s time to add the garnish. Start by cutting four thin slivers of pear and then dip them in a bath of ice water, lemon, and rose water. Next, fan out the slivers and skewer them with a cocktail pick before adding them to the drink.

Now the cocktail is ready to serve. It’s warm, fruity, herbal, just a little tart, and 100% dad-approved.

Recipe: the Pearental Guidance

• 1.5 oz Honeycomb Hangar 1 vodka
• 1/2 a ripe muddled Bartlett Pear
• 1/2 oz honey thyme syrup*
• 1/2 oz Meyer lemon juice

Honey Thyme Syrup Recipe

• 4 oz honey
• 2 oz water
• 3 T thyme leaves
• 1 tsp of Honeycomb Hangar 1 Vodka

Simmer honey and water until the two are combined, stirring regularly. Add the thyme leaves and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes while continuing to stir. Strain out the thyme leaves and allow to cool to room temperature. Add the vodka and store the syrup in an airtight container in the fridge. Syrup should be good for two weeks.