Pear and Elderflower Martini
Stir ∙ 3 min ∙ 27.7% ABV ∙
The Pear and Elderflower Martini is a stirred martini of London dry gin and pear vodka with elderflower liqueur and dry vermouth, finished with a pear slice. Silky and cool, it glides across the palate with a floral perfume that fades into a crisp, clean-spirited, lingering finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Stir all ingredients with ice: London dry gin 30 mlPear vodka 20 mlElderflower liqueur 20 mlDry vermouth 20 ml
- Fine strain into the chilled glass
- Garnish with a pear slice on the rim
Tips
- Cut the pear slice just before garnishing so it doesn't brown on the glass rim.
- Stir for about 20-30 seconds over ice to chill and dilute without clouding the drink.
- Pre-chill the martini glass first so the fine-strained pour stays cold until it's sipped.
History
The Pear & Elderflower Martini is documented as created by a bartender in February 2020, combining gin and pear-flavored vodka with elderflower liqueur and dry vermouth in a stirred, fine-strained martini format. It follows an earlier, differently built drink from the same stable of recipes, the Pear and Elderflower Fruitini, adapted from a formula created in 2001 by Angelo Vieira at St. Martins in London, which paired vodka and elderflower liqueur with fresh pear juice rather than gin, pear vodka, and vermouth. The pairing of pear and elderflower itself became widespread in bartending after the French liqueur St-Germain launched in 2007, when elderflower flavor became a common partner for pear in vodka- and gin-based martini riffs.
FAQ
What are the ingredients in a Pear Martini?
This Pear and Elderflower Martini is made with London dry gin, pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, and dry vermouth, stirred with ice and fine-strained into a chilled martini glass with a pear slice garnish.
How do you make a Pear Martini cocktail?
Stir the gin, pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, and dry vermouth with ice, then fine-strain into a pre-chilled martini glass and garnish with a pear slice on the rim. Stirring rather than shaking keeps the drink clear and silky.
Do pear and elderflower go together?
Yes, pear and elderflower are a classic pairing because both are delicate, floral-fruity flavors that complement rather than compete, which is why pear vodka and elderflower liqueur anchor this martini together.
What alcohol goes well with elderflower?
Gin and vodka both pair naturally with elderflower liqueur, since their clean, neutral-to-botanical profiles let the floral note lead, as seen here where London dry gin backs the elderflower liqueur.
What is a Saint-Germain cocktail?
A Saint-Germain cocktail is any drink built around St-Germain, the widely used elderflower liqueur, rather than a single fixed recipe. This Pear and Elderflower Martini is one such example, stirred and fine strained into a chilled martini glass.
