Asian Pear Liqueur Recipe

Asian Pear Liqueur

Fruit farmers in Oregon grow some amazing and succulent Asian pears. I am a big fan of fruit liqueurs, found this recipe online:

3 cups sugar
2 cups water
2 pounds fresh ripe Asian pears, stemmed and washed
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 ½ cups 100-proof vodka
1 tablespoon fruit protector

Quarter and core pears, then slice thin. Place pears and lemon zest in a clean 2-quart jar, with a tight-fitting lid. Pour syrup over pears and add vodka and fruit protector. Cover and let stand in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks.

Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain out the solids. Discard. Transfer liqueur to a clean container, cover, and let stand for 2 to 3 weeks more. Rack and bottle.

Yields approximately 1 ½ quarts

This spirit is light and fruity and sweet, full of the essence of pear.

Townshends Tea LiqueurTownshends Tea Liqueur Reviews

Townshends Tea Liqueur

Made from kombucha distillate right here in Portland, Townshend’s make’s the best tea liqueurs I have ever sampled. Well made and high quality.

Spice Tea
Nose – pear, orange peel, cinnamon, clove, and allspice.
Taste – lots of cinnamon, allspice, orange marmalade and clove.
Finish – long rich, spicy and dry.

Sweet Tea
Nose – pear, orange, floral and hints of vanilla.
Taste – pear, black tea, orange peel and cinnamon.
Finish – long dry and earthy, with hints of apricot.

Bitter Tea
Nose – bitter orange and coriander.
Taste – anise, cinnamon, ginger, orange peel and cassia bark.
Finish – long dry and bittersweet.

Smoke Tea
Nose – Lapshong Sushang tea and smoke.
Taste – sweet, smokey and hints of orange marmalade.
Finish – intense, lasting, campfire smoke.

Great products, unique, flavorful and very tasty.

Townshends Distillery - townshendsdistillery.com

Westland Single Malt Whiskey Review

I sampled Westland Single Malt shortly after it first hit the market in 2014. At the time I thought it was quite tasty, and decided to learn more. I learned that this whiskey, unlike other malt whiskeys, was aged in part using new American Oak barrels. This new oak adds a range of flavors not found in most Irish and Scottish singles malts.

Since then I have sampled more than 30 American Single Malt whiskeys, and in my review article from 2017 Westland was my top choice.  I consider this flavor profile the “standard” for this whiskey.

Aromas of cocoa blackcurrant tangerine and walnuts.
Flavors of mossy bog, tar, waffle cone, dark chocolate, and campfire smoke.
Long pleasant lasting earthy finish with a hint of peat.

A high-quality sipper made right here in the Pacific Northwest; their Sherry barrel finished is one of my favorite desert spirits.

Westland Distillery - WestlandDistillery.com