Partridge In A Pear Tree

Here at Delish, we love a seasonal cocktail. We make cottontail margaritas and jellybean bellinis for Easter, pot o’ gold shots and shamrock smashes for St. Patrick’s Day, and cranberry-aperol spritzes and pumpkin pie martinis for Thanksgiving. When December rolls around, we start making white Christmas mojitos, Scrooge sours, and peppermint white Russians. And maybe because a good cocktail can be both festive and inspiring—in moderation, of course—once we start thinking about holiday drinks, we keep dreaming up new ones.

Taking a creative cue from the carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” I created a Partridge in a Pear Tree cocktail to make this holiday season. Here’s what makes this drink delicious.

A spiced honey syrup:
Honey, ground cinnamon and ginger, and a pinch of nutmeg simmer with water to make a flavorful simple syrup to sweeten this drink. The syrup can be made 1 month ahead; store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

Christmas-themed spirits:
While bourbon and whisky are really perfect for any season, their bracing and warming flavor feels very right here. Pear brandy rounds out the bourbon flavor and gives the drink a subtle fruitiness.

Bubbles, of course:
A glass of something bubbly makes any moment festive. Here, a splash of hard pear cider makes the drink a little lighter, a little fruitier, and just a little more holiday-worthy. You can also add a little Prosecco or sparkling non-alcoholic cider if you prefer.

The garnish:
Just as we deck the halls or decorate a Christmas free, a holiday drink needs some adornment. A thin slice of a ripe pear or a few candied ginger chunks threaded on a cocktail pick are perfect here.

Did you make this drink? Let us know in the comments!