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Poire Fantastic is a two-ingredient highball that lets a good pear liqueur do the talking. The original recipe calls for poire au cognac, a pear liqueur built on a cognac base, poured into a highball glass and topped with Sprite, with ice if you want it. It is light, fruity and about as easy as a mixed drink gets.
Pear is a delicate flavor that gets lost in busy cocktails, which is exactly why this simple pairing works. Lemon-lime soda brightens the fruit without burying it, and the cognac base gives the liqueur a soft, warm depth underneath. The result tastes like ripe pear in sparkling form, with just enough sweetness to feel like a treat.
Glass: Highball glass | Strength: Light | Serves: 1 | Prep Time: 2 minutes
Bartenders tip: Belle de Brillet is the best-known pear and cognac liqueur, but any good pear liqueur works, and a clear pear brandy like Poire Williams makes a drier, more grown-up version. Add the ice first and pour the Sprite gently so it keeps its fizz. A thin slice of fresh pear in the glass looks great and adds aroma.
