Name: Pear Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 1/2 oz Absolut pear vodka; 1/2 oz fresh lime juice (add 1/4oz if you like it tart, but you will lose some of the pear); 3/4 oz simple syrup; 1/2 oz Contreau; 1 oz white cranberry Juice; 3 fresh cranberries or a slice of pear for garnish

Jump to Recipe

I never thought I’d fall in love with a Cosmopolitan cocktail. For years, I’d written off that pink Sex and the City drink as too sweet, too much, too stuck in the early 2000s.

Then I found myself at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge bar in Alberta, Canada, looking out at the Rocky Mountains, and everything changed.

The bartender didn’t hand me some sugary pink cocktail. She set down a cloudy white drink with three cranberries floating on top.

First sip? I was completely hooked. This pear cosmopolitan recipe made me rethink everything I thought I knew about cosmos.

Here’s the thing about this drink: it’s sophisticated without being pretentious. The pear vodka brings this subtle sweetness that balances perfectly with tart lime and white cranberry juice.

No artificial pink color. No cloying sweetness. Just a clean, crisp cocktail that tastes like autumn in the Rockies.

And yes, I absolutely pestered that bartender for the recipe. She wrote it on a coaster for me, which I still have tucked away somewhere. Though I’ll admit, I had to tweak her measurements once I got home because bartenders eyeball everything and what works behind a busy lodge bar doesn’t always translate to your kitchen.

Home Bar Set Up

What Makes a Pear Cosmopolitan Different?

The secret is pear vodka and white cranberry juice instead of the traditional plain vodka and regular cranberry. Pear vodka adds this delicate flavor that’s way more interesting than standard vodka (which, let’s be honest, doesn’t actually have a flavor, just a whole lot of booze).

White cranberry juice ditches that bright pink color and extra tartness for something more subtle. It’s less tart than regular cranberry, which means you don’t need as much simple syrup to balance it out.

I’ve been making cocktails over at TwistCocktailRecipes.com for a few years now, and this one consistently gets the most compliments. Maybe because it feels fancy but comes together in under five minutes. Maybe because pears just hit different when the weather gets cold.

Who knows? You tell me.

Why Pear Vodka Works So Well

I’ve been a gin person for years (ask anyone who knows me), but pear vodka converted me. It’s subtle enough that it doesn’t taste like its been artificially flavored, but distinct enough that you actually taste the pear.

Some craft distilleries make their own versions, but the big brands like Absolut and Grey Goose have it. Just avoid anything that lists “natural flavors” way down the ingredient list. You want real pear, not chemicals.

Why Fresh Lime Matters

Fresh lime juice matters. Bottled lime juice falls flat, while the real fruit gives your cocktail that burst of flavor you want.

The bartender in Jasper told me to use ¾ oz of lime juice. That’s too much. It drowns out the pear completely, and you end up with something that just tastes like a regular Cosmopolitan with a hint of fruit.

Making Simple Syrup

If you don’t have simple syrup on hand, it takes about five minutes to make. Use equal parts sugar and water (oe cup of water with one cup of white sugar), heat until the sugar dissolves, then let it cool. I like making a big batch and keeping it in these small mason jars in my freezer so I always have it ready.

You can also make pear simple syrup by simmering chopped pears with the sugar and water, then straining it.

Best Time to Make These Drinks

I shake up this cocktail in the fall and winter when pears are in season at the farmers’ market and in grocery stores. A pear cosmo works great for holiday gatherings, dinner parties, or just a random Tuesday when you want something special.

You can batch both the cosmo and the pear martini ahead of time, too. Just make a big pitcher with everything except the ice, then shake individual servings when guests arrive.

*Keryn at Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada*

My Jasper Connection

That trip to Jasper National Park with the Rocky Mountaineer changed how I think about travel cocktails. I’d expected to fall in love with Lake Louise (and I did), but the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge surprised me. Maybe it was the mountain views, or maybe it was discovering a new cocktail. It was probably both.

But let’s be honest, I’ve been traveling with my family since my boys were babies (they are now teens), and some of my best trip memories involve a really good drink at the end of a long day. We all make memories in our own way, right?

If you ever make it to Jasper, ask the bartender at the lodge to make you one. Tell them Keryn sent you (Ha! Yeah, right, as if they would even remember me. I’m not THAT remarkable.)

Pear Cosmopolitan Recipe

Getting this right is all about the ratios. Too much lime overpowers the pear. Too little makes it taste flat.

1½ oz pear vodka
½ oz fresh lime juice (please don’t use bottled)
¾ oz simple syrup
½ oz Cointreau
1 oz white cranberry juice
3 fresh cranberries or a thin pear slice for garnish
Ice

You’ll also want a cocktail shaker and a fine-mesh strainer to keep ice chips out of your drink. I’m partial to serving this in coupe glasses or these Nick and Nora glasses because they just look better than a standard martini glass, but really, any chilled cocktail glass works.

Instructions

Add all your liquid ingredients to your Boston shaker .
Add ice and shake. You want that shaker so cold it almost hurts your hands. This is what gives the drink that silky texture and gets it cold enough.
Strain it into your chilled glass. I like to pop my glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes before I start making drinks, but running them under cold water works too.
Drop in three cranberries, or add a thin slice of pear to the rim.

Pear Martini in the garden — *Pear Martini recipe*

Pear Martini: The Stronger Cousin

I hate buying a bottle of liquor just for one drink, so after I discovered the pear cosmo, I started playing with a classic pear martini recipe. It’s stronger and more spirit-forward, as long as you go easy on the simple syrup.

Pear Martini Recipe

1½ oz pear vodka
¾ oz simple syrup
½ oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz pear puree (just blend a peeled, chopped pear until smooth)
½ oz elderflower liqueur (optional, but it adds a floral note and more sweetness)
Ice
Pear slice for garnish

Add everything to your shaker with ice and shake until it’s freezing cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass or coupe and garnish with a pear slice.

Variations Worth Trying

Once you’ve made the basic pear cosmopolitan a few times, you can start playing around. Try adding a dash of ginger liqueur for warmth. Muddle fresh sage with the lime for an herbal twist. Swap the Cointreau for Grand Marnier if you want more orange flavor.

For the pear martini, fresh thyme makes a surprisingly good garnish. Just slap it between your hands first to release the oils. The herbal notes play beautifully with the pear.

If you’re getting into cocktails and want to build your home bar menu, I’ve got plenty of ideas over at TwistCocktailRecipes.com.

Yield: One

Pear Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe

Travel to Jasper National Park to find the perfect Pear Cosmopolitan cocktail recipe that we tweaked to make even better at home. Combining flavored vodka, cranberry, citrus and everything you love about those juicy pears into one beautiful martini style drink.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes