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The Peaty Pera – A Scotch Whisky Cocktail

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Last Updated on June 8, 2023 by Leah Hall

A Scotch, pear and Amaro cocktail! This Scotch Whisky pear Cocktail is great for winter.

 

Winter is the time for hearty drinks full of flavor, and we are always thinking about ways we can make cocktails with big bold flavors. Scotch is a spirit that definitely packs a big bold flavor and a nice boozy punch. When the weather turns cold, we turn to scotch cocktails! The Peaty Pera fits the bill, combining scotch whisky, amaro and pear to make a nice hearty winter cocktail!

 

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The Peaty Pera cocktail, pear slices on cocktail pick. Jigger in back

Scotch Whiskey Cocktail

We recently have been getting in some really great pears as the winter pears are finally fully ripe and ready to go. Most people don’t realize that many of the great pear varieties like the Anjou or Bosc actually need to be chilled to ripen due to the unique way that pears ripen.

The Peaty Pera cocktail, pear slices on cocktail pick. Jigger in background

Coupe / Jigger

Why are Pears Ripe in the Winter?

Pears, unlike apples, ripen from the inside out. So to fully allow the fruit to ripen, they need to be exposed to cold to prevent the pear from rotting. Traditional varieties like the Anjou or the Bosc actually need to be exposed to temps below freezing for 4-6 weeks to fully ripen. This is why they start appearing in the dead of winter!

Since we have these great pears in season now, we figured a cocktail that combined two of our favorite winter flavors would be a real winner. We had made some homemade pear nectar for our Pink Pear cocktail so with that handy, it was only natural to use in the Peaty Pera. The homemade pear nectar was naturally sweet tart with a bright pear note and body that adds a decadent smoothness to a cocktail.

The Peaty Pera cocktail in coupe on wood plate. Jigger, metal canister, fir branch in backgrund

Mixing Glass / Bar Spoon

What Ingredients are Needed for the Peaty Pera?

  • Angostura Bitters
  • Amaro
  • Scotch Whisky
  • Pear Nectar
  • Thyme Simple Syrup (instructions below!)
  • Lemon Juice

 

Scotches have a rich malted flavor that works really well with sweet fruits like ripe pears and berries. We thought pairing it up with some pear nectar made perfect sense.The smoky flavors from the peat used to roast the malt imparts a deep dark flavor in the Scotch. This flavor is reminiscent of a roaring fire on the hearth which really works in a winter drink.

 

If you want to learn more about Scottish Whisky, make sure to read our Scotch Regions guide!

Cocktail with pear slices on a cocktail pick on a wood plate

A good winter drink needs to have a nice layer of spice. Likewise, one way to bring some rich spicy complexity is to mix in a little amaro. We chose to use Amaro Lucano, an Italian amaro that has a nice blend of herbs and spices, with a great finish of warm baking spice and hint of bitterness.

 

A splash of fresh squeezed lemon adds a bright citrus note that brings out the fruity notes of pear.

Cocktail in coupe, pear slices on cocktail pick. Jigger in background

How to Make a Balanced Scotch Cocktail

The drink was a little tart and we needed to bring the drink into balance with some added sweetness. Not wanting to just add sweetness, we decided to layer in a little more flavor. So we added a bit of thyme simple syrup (you can find a recipe for that in our Thyme to Shine cocktail) which really worked well with the flavors of pear and the amaro.

 

Give the Peaty Pera a try on one of these cold winter’s nights. You are sure to enjoy the warming heartiness that a great scotch cocktail can bring!

 

Cheers to Scotch!

 

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Like this recipe? Try these below, too!

The Ginger Snap - a Scotch CocktailThe Ginger Snap Cocktail

 

The Black Scot Cocktail

 

Other Scotch Cocktails

The Peaty Pera, orange cocktail in coupe with pear slices on cocktail pick. Silver jigger next to glass
Yield: 1

The Peaty Pera - A Scotch Whisky Cocktail

Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes

A smoky and herby cocktail with Scotch, thyme simple syrup and pear nectar.

Ingredients

Peaty Pera Cocktail

  • 1.50 ounces Scotch whisky
  • .75 ounce Amaro Lucano
  • 1 ounce pear nectar
  • .75 ounce thyme simple syrup
  • .50 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 dashes Angostura bitters

Instructions

Add all ingredients to a mixing glass and stir until fully mixed.

Pour into a cocktail coupe.

Garnish with a pear slice.

Cheers!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

1

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 0.2gSaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 6mgCarbohydrates: 23.7gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 23.5gProtein: 0.3g

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Sonal

Sunday 5th of February 2017

Absolutely amazing

The 'Noms.

Wednesday 8th of February 2017

Thank you!

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