St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur 750ML

St. George Spiced Pear Liqueur 750ML is a brandy-based pear liqueur from Alameda, California, bottled at 20% ABV (40 proof). Awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast, this expression stands apart in the fruit liqueur category by building on St. George Spirits' flagship pear brandy as its foundation rather than starting from a neutral base.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Alameda, California  |  Style: Spiced Pear Liqueur  |  Distillery: St. George Spirits

Production & Heritage

St. George Spirits, founded in 1982 in Alameda, California, holds the distinction of being one of the first craft distilleries in the United States. The Spiced Pear Liqueur begins its life as the distillery's flagship pear brandy, made from Bartlett pears. That brandy is then layered with Saigon cinnamon and clove, while fresh pear juice is added to bring the proof down from still strength to 20% ABV. The blend is balanced with organic cane sugar and malic acid, creating a liqueur that retains genuine fruit character rather than relying on artificial flavoring or excessive sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Crisp, freshly cut Bartlett pear hits first, followed by warm cinnamon and a subtle undercurrent of baking spice. The nose recalls pear butter cooling on a countertop — fragrant, sweet, and genuinely fruity without any cloying synthetic edge.

Taste: The entry is juicy and vivid, with ripe pear flavor front and center. Mid-palate, Saigon cinnamon emerges alongside clove, lending warmth and complexity that shifts the profile toward something resembling mulled pear cider. The mouthfeel is notably rich and buttery, with a slight tartness from the malic acid keeping everything in balance and preventing the sweetness from becoming one-dimensional.

Finish: Long and lush, with lingering pear and warm spice that fades gradually. A pleasant tartness remains, leaving the palate clean and inviting another sip.

How to Drink Spiced Pear Liqueur

At 20% ABV, this liqueur is an easy sipper chilled or over a single large ice cube, which opens up the spice and stretches the pear flavor. It also excels as a cocktail component:

• Pear Sidecar — swap out the orange liqueur for the Spiced Pear to add autumnal depth to the classic brandy-citrus template.
• Sparkling Pear Cocktail — a measure of this liqueur topped with dry sparkling wine creates a refined, low-effort aperitif with genuine fruit complexity.
• Spiced Pear Mule — combined with ginger beer and lime, the cinnamon-clove backbone amplifies the ginger spice for a layered take on the Moscow Mule.

Best For

• Fall and winter entertaining when warm spice profiles match the season
• Gifting a food-and-drink enthusiast who already owns the usual whiskey and wine bottles
• Adding depth to a home bar's liqueur shelf beyond triple sec and amaretto
• Dessert pairings and after-dinner service as an alternative to heavier digestifs

Frequently Asked Questions

What does St. George Spiced Pear taste like? It delivers genuinely juicy Bartlett pear flavor supported by Saigon cinnamon and clove, with a rich, buttery mouthfeel and a slight tartness that keeps the sweetness in check.

How does St. George Spiced Pear compare to Clear Creek Pear Liqueur? Both start with a pear brandy base, but St. George distinguishes itself with the addition of Saigon cinnamon and clove, giving it a warm-spice dimension that Clear Creek's more straightforward pear profile does not include. St. George also uses malic acid for tartness balance, resulting in a more layered flavor.

Is Spiced Pear Liqueur good for cocktails? Its 20% ABV and concentrated fruit-and-spice character make it a versatile cocktail modifier, particularly in drinks that call for a fruit liqueur with seasonal warmth, such as sidecars, champagne cocktails, and mules.

Where is St. George Spiced Pear made? It is produced at St. George Spirits in Alameda, California, one of America's pioneering craft distilleries, founded in 1982.

What foods pair well with Spiced Pear Liqueur? Blue cheese and walnut salad benefits from the pear and spice echo; apple or pear tarts mirror the fruit base; roasted pork loin finds a complement in the cinnamon-clove warmth; dark chocolate truffles work against the tartness and sweetness; and aged Manchego brings a nutty contrast to the lush pear character.

What sizes does St. George Spiced Pear come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle.

Is St. George Spiced Pear worth the price? It positions as a premium craft liqueur, and the brandy-based production method, use of real Bartlett pear juice, and 92-point Wine Enthusiast score place it well above mass-market fruit liqueurs in both quality and complexity.

Why Spiced Pear Liqueur?

The defining advantage here is the foundation: rather than flavoring a neutral spirit, St. George builds on an already acclaimed pear brandy, which gives the liqueur a depth and fruit authenticity that most competitors in the category cannot match. The 92-point Wine Enthusiast rating confirms this is a seriously made spirit, not a novelty. Saigon cinnamon and clove add a spice complexity that broadens its usefulness from a standalone sipper to a cocktail ingredient that works across seasons. For anyone looking to move beyond generic fruit liqueurs, this is the benchmark for what a pear expression can achieve.