One night of martinis is worth a thousand pictures. Isn’t that the old saying? Maybe not, but we’ve certainly lived through many unforgettable parties while sipping very dry martinis into the wee hours. My favorite thing about these notoriously strong cocktails is their versatility. Sweet, savory, gin, or vodka, these deliciously stiff drinks always pack a punch.

My love for pear cocktails started years ago. I’ve even been known to simply shake Absolut Pears with ice, pour it into a glass, and drink it. But an amazing, balanced craft cocktail is always the preferable method of pear vodka delivery. There are hundreds of good pear cocktails out there, from shots, to martinis, to party punches. One of my long-time favorite pear vodka drinks is actually a take on the mojito. These days, I’m totoally obsessed with the pear martini. After weeks of at home testing pear martini recipes, we’ve come up with what we think is the finest you’ll ever taste.

The Best Pear Martini Recipe

• 4 ounces pear vodka
• 1 pear, sliced
• 1 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 1 dash angostura bitters
• ice
• 3 ounces sparkling mineral water

To start making your pear cocktail, drizzle the lime juice over the pear slices to add flavor and prevent browning. Be sure to get a little on all sides. In a cocktail shaker, add two slices of fresh pear, and mash with a muddling stick. You don’t have to beat it to a pulp, but definitely muddle for about 30 seconds to get the slices broken up. Add pear vodka, any remaining lime juice, sugar, a dash of bitters, and some ice. Shake the ingredients together, and strain into a chilled martini glass. Top off with sparkling mineral water, and garnish with remaining slices of pear.

This pear martini recipe is slightly different than others, in that we used lime juice instead of lemon. The lemon juice is good, too, but the subtle zing of lime juice gives this pear drink a refreshing quality. Other ingredients you’ll see in a pear martini from time to time include St. Germain, pear puree, ginger, and even fresh rosemary. All of these add unique flavor and pizzazz, so please experiment to your hearts desire. You’re sure to fall in love with pear cocktails, so please give us your ideas in the comments.