Saturday Spirits: Pear & Apple Cider Sangria

I had a really difficult time figuring out the name for this drink. It is similar to a punch, but I made it in singles. Sort of a sangria, but I don’t know many sangrias with bourbon in them. So, name it whatever you want… but, it is a tasty fall beverage!

Every year it begins to really feel like Fall to me when I get to attend the local Pear and Apple festival at the Portland Nursery. I load up on apples and pears and incorporate them in EVERYTHING until I run out. One year I bought 60 lbs of apples and pears and ended up making a ton of apple sauce, apple butter, apple pies, and many apple desserts. This year I knew that my kitchen time would be limited so I didn’t indulge quite as much as I’d have liked to… but, we did enjoy the Hard Apple Cider tasting and came home with a 20 lbs of apples and pears as well as a few delicious ciders and wines.

A few of those purchases are featured in this drink. I’m hoping that you are able to find these brands because they are fantastic, but if not then I’d suggest looking at the flavor profile and finding something similar near you. This drink is totally worth it.

Ingredients:

(Makes 1 Beverage– Though, you can multiple by 4 easily to make a pitcher!)

• 1 1/4 oz Bourbon (I used Buffalo Trace)
• 2 oz Pear Wine (I used Bull Run Pear Wine )
• 3 oz Hard Apple Cider ( I used Shilling Oak Aged Cider )
• Squeeze of 1 large lemon slice
• Sliced, ripe pears (I used Anjou pears and had about 4-5 slices per glass)
• Glass with ice

Directions:

1. Fill a glass with ice, putting in slices of pear along the way
2. Fill glass with Bourbon, Pear Wine, and Hard Apple Cider
3. Give it a stir and enjoy!

Don’t forget to eat those tasty pears once your drink is gone!

About Shilling Oak Aged Cider: The hard cider is finished in 100% NW Oak. It has a smokey cinnamon flavor profile with clove and vanilla. It would be considered a semi-dry cider. There is a bit of the apple taste still there, but not nearly as sweet as some ciders.

About Bull Run Pear Wine: The Bull Run Pear wine is from Oregon! It is a sweet ice wine.  I’d say this is a nice sweet, smooth dessert wine without the punch of a brandy. Loved it.