The holiday season is upon us which means enjoying a festive cocktail, or three. On an occasional Autumn/Winter Sunday evening it has been our custom the past few years to experiment making new libations. This Pear Gin Cocktail with Rosemary caught our attention recently, and so we had to give it a trial run to see if it was company-worthy.

The answer is a resounding yes! The combination of fresh fruit, infused simple syrup, and a touch of ginger liqueur creates an easy, elevated cocktail to sip as you enjoy some party-time hors d’oeuvres.

Just remember to make the rosemary simple syrup a day or so ahead of time. All you need to do is combine equal parts sugar, water and add fresh rosemary sprigs in a medium saucepan. You’ll also need a wooden spoon, a wire-mesh strainer or slotted spoon, and a jar or bottle to store it in.

Combine 1 cup each of water, sugar, and several sprigs of rosemary in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and let syrup steep for 30 minutes. Pour syrup into a sterilized glass jar through a mesh strainer to remove rosemary leaves; let cool.

Libation courtesy of Katy McAvoy