I don’t want to bring this up while you are out shopping for Trick or Treat candy, but I feel I must. It is getting close to the Holidays…Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa….all those gift-giving celebrations. This week is Halloween, one month from now is Thanksgiving and in two months it will be Christmas. Dios Mios!
For my November & December blog posts I am going to share some of my ideas for making gifts for friends & family who really love all things homemade…comestibles, libations & gifts with a personal touch that are easily made with just a bit of kitchen & crafting know-how. This “Pear Infused Vodka” is an easy one for friends who like to show off their bar tending skills.
If you get started this week you can have bottles capped, labeled & beribboned for gift-giving within 1 month. Subtle hint of pears for martinis, cocktails or over ice…Holiday perfect!
Let’s get busy, it’s as Easy As This……
A large bottle of your favorite Vodka…is this case it matters!
A 1/2 gallon jar with a tight-fitting lid & just enough smallish pears to fill jar. The markets are full of pears right now. (These were the last pears from my backyard tree in August.)
Fill jar with rinsed & patted dry pears. Add vodka to cover pears.
Place the lid on the jar, store in a cool place such as closet floor, and wait…..2 weeks to 1 month will be fine. Label jar with the date you start just to easily keep up with it. Every now and them turn the jar upside down a few times. You will notice the vodka will start to turn a very delicate pale pink color. There may be a bit of sediment in the jar. That is okay as you will strain the vodka right before bottling. This is what it looks like after a month.
While the vodka is melding with the pears, hunt & gather your bottling needs. You will need small glass bottles which can be ones you have recycled, or you can order from the internet, purchase at craft supply stores, or if you live in Nashville from All Season’s Gardening & Brewing Supply Company. I have talked about their store in other posts where I have shown how to make & bottle Limoncello or Orangecello, which by the way would make fantastic gifts. They are a great source for bottles, caps, inexpensive cappers, corks, and all things gardening & brewing. My bright red bottle capper is one of my favorite tools for making and storing homemade liqueurs or flavored liquors.
Strain Vodka through a fine mesh sieve into a measuring cup. Toss out pears & sediment. Use a funnel to fill bottles. Cork or cap to seal.
You will also want tags/labels, ribbon or twine, decorative stamps or pens for embellishments. Use what you have or make what you need!
Keep your Holidays as “Easy As This”.
Teresa, I totally LOVE this idea. I love food gifts, especially homemade. I recently infused vodka with butternut squash and it was fabulous. I want to totlally give this a try and I love how you gave options for drinking. Wonderful
Angela, I am keeping your recipe for Butternut Squash infused vodka which I will give a try. I so loved the inventiveness of your idea. I am trying to stockpile goodies so I will be ready for hostess gifts & Holiday cheer.
Beautiful drink and liqueur, very worthy of a gift.
yes and would be very good in some of the cocktails you create!
I love this idea! Definitely want to try this.
it is very easy and could be made with apples or peaches as well. Good Luck.
what a great idea for a series of posts. I remember your Limoncello well – so well I made it 🙂 And I think I need to buy one of those capper thingies – as a friend and I were chatting the other day about making more homemade liqueurs……
And your recipe sounds so easy and delicious – especially served over ice (great photo too!)
Claire, my capper thingy is just so handy. It cost around $20.00 US and I have had it for years. It is all metal and put together in a very engineered manner. Hope you find one in your area…or online I am sure.
Do you have a name brand for your capper. Love the idea of bottling it – so gourmet!
Hello Michele, I bought my capper and the bottles and caps from a place here in Nashville that sells products for making your own beer and wine at home. It was just what they had and it was years ago. If there is not a store like this where you live perhaps just look on Amazon under home brewing….it is just a standard thing, nothing fancy at all . Good luck and let me know if you find what you are looking for. T
wish I still drank…could I please have a pear, please?
I do think you might like this Pear Vodka sweetened over pound cake.
inspired! love this post. I want to do a variation on this theme–I’ve got the vodka. when the time comes, I’ll have to borrow your bottle capper–such a cool thing.
Nancy, just let me know when you get ready to do some “capping”…it is lots of simple kitchen fun and makes me feel so technical in a very non-technical way. Mi capper is su capper.
I have infused vodka several times…it is so easy. Perhaps I’ll still have some pears on my trees when I return home from my vacation. I like a nice pear martini from time to time. 🙂
Yes, yes for the holidays a nice pear martini will be just the thing. Love all your trip photos and stories as well.
This is a great gift idea! And I love pear vodka! 🙂
I know a few people who would love this. I’d have to keep a few for myself as well.
Can i ask how long this keeps for?
Hi and sorry to just be answering you. But once it it bottled then it will keep for years..needs a cap that can be tightened just like any liquor. Salut!
Do I have to use whole pears, can I quarter them instead?
Thanks!
I am pretty sure as long as they are totally covered with vodka that you can use cut up pears…I used the whole ones because I have a tree full every year with small pears that work great for this recipe. But cut should be fine. Good luck!
Thanks Cookie Canuck for adding my recipe and post to your list of Holiday DIY projects. It is very much appreciated. Best to you. Teresa
Would Mason jars work for storing finished infused pear vodka? Unlimited expiration?
Yes absolutely….any jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid will work…I have some that is over 4 years old and it is still tasty! Good luck and let me know if you make this and how your batch turns out. Thanks for stopping by. T