Imagine a cold winter day. You’re sitting by the fire with a snifter of brandy in your hand. As you raise the glass to your lips, you smell the gently fruity scent of pears mingled with the spicy aroma of ginger. The first sip warms your tongue and throat. The second sip brings a smile to your face. You sit back to enjoy the pleasures of winter contrasts.
Spiced Asian Pear Brandy Cordial is one of my guilty pleasures. I grow an Asian pear tree in my back yard so I can enjoy access to this pricey treat in the last days of summer. The resulting brandy is a favorite Christmas present among my friends as well. Other recipes for making brandy are more complicated both in time and ingredients. This method is much simpler and very rewarding.
Ingredients
- 3 Asian pears (sliced and cored)
- 2 cups brandy
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup dried orange peel
- 1/4 cup grated ginger
Procedure
- Add all the ingredients to a large jar (2 quarts or bigger). Screw-on a lid tightly.
- Label jar with the name of recipe and date batch is started.
- Shake the jar vigorously and place in a temperature-controlled area away from light.
- The next day turn the jar upside down so the jar is sitting on its lid. (See why you should screw the lid down tightly?)
- The following day, invert the jar again.
- Repeat this procedure every day for 3 months, turning the jar so the ingredients slowly filter from the top of the jar to the bottom of the jar.
- At the end of 3 months, strain the ingredients through a cheesecloth.
- Let the remaining liquid sit in a covered container overnight.
- Strain the remaining liquid a 2nd time.
- Bottle your Spiced Asian Pear Brandy Cordial and enjoy!
