40 Proof Compote

Another Thursday Night, another Thursday Night Drink Night.

Tonight’s theme was fruit brandies — poire williams, kirshwasser, framboise, apricot brandy, grappa …

I started by pulling out all the fruit brandies and liqueurs I had in the liquor cabinet, and decided to go with the tree fruit based brandies rather than the berry based ones, so apple, pear, apricot stayed out.  From there, I decided that I wanted the fruit flavours to poke through, but didn’t want the strong herbal notes of most gins, so Genever stayed out rather than the rums and whiskys.

A bit of ginger liqueur for sweetness and spice, and a bit of Strega for depth, rounded out by a generous dash of cherry bitters.  It reminded me a bit at the end of fruit compote — only boozy!

40 Proof Compote

• 1.5 oz. Genever
• 0.5 oz. Poire Williams
• 0.5 oz. Calvados
• 0.5 oz. Apricot liqueur
• 0.25 oz. Ginger liqueur
• 1 barspoon Strega
• 4 dashes cherry bitters

Stir with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass, garnish with a pear or apple slice