Winter Orchard Fizz

This festive, delicately floral Christmas cocktail highlights pear vodka and the gentle sweetness of lychee, balanced by elderflower liqueur and bright lemon. Crisp, aromatic, and gently effervescent, it evokes holiday ornaments and wintry botanicals. Serve in a tall glass with a sprig of rosemary for a vivid evergreen aroma. Ingredients: - 1.5 oz pear vodka - 0.5 oz elderflower liqueur (e.g., St-Germain) - 0.75 oz lychee syrup (from canned lychees or see below) - 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice - 2 oz chilled club soda - Garnish: fresh rosemary sprig, thin pear slice (optional) Instructions: 1. Fill a Collins glass with ice. 2. In a shaker, combine pear vodka, elderflower liqueur, lychee syrup, and lemon juice. Add ice and shake briskly for 10 seconds. 3. Strain into the prepared Collins glass over fresh ice. 4. Top with chilled club soda. Stir gently to combine. 5. Garnish with a rosemary sprig (lightly smack to release aroma) and, if desired, a thin slice of fresh pear on the rim. Glassware: Collins glass Notes: Lychee Syrup: If you don’t have canned lychees, combine equal parts white sugar and water, heat until dissolved, and add peeled, pitted fresh lychees to steep for 30 minutes, then strain. Let cool before use. Yield: about 4 oz syrup from 1/2 cup sugar/water and 5-6 lychees. Store refrigerated for up to a week.