Ginger Pear Fizz

This year's Thanksgiving signature cocktail was a real hit!  I like something slightly fruity but not cloyingly sweet and this recipe hit all the marks.  Spicy ginger beer with pear vodka sweetened with a little cranberry... YUM!  It takes a little preparation time to make the cranberry molasses before your guests arrive, but it is well worth your efforts.

While this drink can be made with ginger ale, the flavor you get from a good ginger beer (preferably Jamaican) is no comparison.  Ginger Beer is non alcoholic and actually tastes like ginger.  I recommend Reed's Ginger beer, but Fever Tree or any other good ginger beer will work.

Ginger Pear Fizz

1 Tbsp cranberry molasses (recipe follows)
1 shot pear flavored vodka
Ginger beer

Pour 1 Tbsp cranberry molasses in a highball glass.  Add pear vodka and stir to dissolve cranberry.  Add ice and top with ginger beer.

Cranberry Molasses
4 cups cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail)
1/2 cup sugar

Combine juice and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium (otherwise molasses will burn) and simmer until juice has been reduced to 1 cup.