Peureux "La Cigogne" Poire William Eau-de-vie

Clear liquid, a little thick and viscous. The scent is all pear, but not fake or enhanced; it's like actual fruit, with an oily scent behind it. The taste is fresh, nearly ripe green pears. The feel is substantial, but the mouth is drying, much like unripe pears. It's not sweet or heavy. Fresh, clean, and warming. The initial taste might be surprising because you'd expect something like a pear liqueur, but this isn't that. It's not sweet and unlike any typical liqueur. It's dry, yet has sweet notes, and the pear flavor is potent and pervasive. This truly tastes like eating a pear infused with alcohol – an intense burst of fruit in a high-quality spirit. However, I feel this would be better suited as a premium flavoring for desserts or sweet sauces, or served ice-cold in a small glass with strong, sweet coffee as a digestif. Eau-de-vie can mean various things, but here it's unaged, new-make fruit brandy. If grappa didn't impress you, try this instead. It's lighter and lacks the oily, pomace-derived notes common to grappa. La Cigogne was established by Auguste Peureux in 1864 in Fougerolles, Lorraine. The distillery concentrates on fruit brandies and remains a leading producer of eaux-de-vie in France today. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)