J Pear Liqueur

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One inspired day in 1995, our Cellar Master Tom Meeker engaged in his labor of love by fermenting pears in tanks at the same location later occupied by J Vineyards. Two years ago, Winemaker Oded Shakked and his team purchased this distilled pear brandy. Coincidence? Kismet? Fruitful fate? You be the judge.

A Luscious Liqueur
Think of scrumptious baked pears distilled into a sweet (but not too sweet) liqueur. Infused with de-ionized water (rain water) and liquid sugar, J Pear Liqueur is a twice-distilled pear eau-de-vie. Liqueur is brandy that has sugar and flavorings added to the distillate.

The Process
In 1995, Bartlett Pear juice was fermented to dryness in stainless steel tanks. The juice was then double distilled in copper alambic stills, yielding a pear brandy (eau-de-vie) of approximately 50% alcohol. The pear eau-de-vie was aged for 10 years in 90 gallon Limousin oak barrels. Distilled water and liquid sugar were added to reduce the alcohol level to 30% (60 proof). The sugar broadens the palate and takes away the heat, bringing forth the pear essence. The liqueur was then cold stabilized and aged for an additional 6 months before bottling.

The Package
Such an elegantly savory delight deserves an equally engaging vessel. We started with a short and classically shaped bottle to evoke the feel of an apothecary. The wire hood brings us back to our Champagne roots and is topped with a faux tax stamp to complete the design. Each Pear Liqueur bottle is packaged in a stylish gift box and is available in 750 ML and 375 ML sizes.

The Taste
J Pear Liqueur explodes in the glass with bright pear essence, butterscotch, chamomile, and vanilla aromas. A hint of apple pie and cinnamon notes blend with the aged cognac character. The flavors are predominantly that of baked pears, honeysuckle, butterscotch, and honey with an extremely long aftertaste of pears.

J Pear Liqueur is available for purchase at the Visitor Center. Because it is a distilled spirit, we are not able to sell it over the internet or ship the product via third party carriers such as UPS. We regret this inconvenience.