Notes:The first release of this Pear Brandy was hunted to extinction late last fall shortly after its release . Made from 3 different varieties of locally grown ( as in less than 2 miles away)  New York pears and distilled 4 times, then cut with springwater from their well to 80 proof then bottled.

Glenrose is a small distillery even by micro distillery standards – they only had a 4 plater 30 gallon multipurpose still from Artisan Distiling. They just recently added a 100 gallon Bain-Marie multipurpose from StillDragon and a small home brew experimental rig.The pears are pressed by hand at the distillery the father and son team of Jim and Matt Sloboda ferment the resulting juice and distill it in their pot stills after running their current Artisan Still with the 4 plate column resulting in a very delicate and light eau de vie. The total inventory on this run is at the time of this writing nine cases in all so I would suggest buying while you can.
The release of their pear brandy was made in their new potstill and ferment with the skins on (similar to a beer fermented on lees) so the eau de vie/brandy is different from the first distillation. Like he first release  his one is destined to be a collectors item ( although please drink it and enjoy it – spirits are meant to be drunk not hoarded) .

Appearance: Sparkling clear, almost sap like, on swirling it coats the glass nicely with a thin edge line that then rapidly retreats into droplets. This release has a slightly heavier coating than the last one, reflecting he oils from the skins.

First Impression: Clear oily scents of pear pulp balanced alcohol scents in background with pear solidly in the foreground. Nice bouquet with a distinctly more robust  expression of pear.

Taste: Delicate yet with a pleasingly oily entry followed with a crisp pear flavor followed by some appropriately acidic and bitter pear notes – not a flabby over sugared mess like the more commercial stuff. Tastes like real pears with the skins  providing a nice body and fattiness without a  chemical (propelled glycol or glycerin among others) masquerading as honest, craft, distillation .

Drinks: Makes a wonderful and refreshing fizz ( or to use the more modern term spritzer) with club soda or seltzer water ( one way to justify that soda stream system you bought).It can of course be used in any drink you use vodka in and it tastes a lot better, but it really shines just on its own lightly chilled in a proper eau de vie stemmed thistle glass or snifter. Other ideas include mixing it with a sparkling pear or apple cider, with a little sweet vermouth, or use it in a Negroni or mix with Aperol,red vermouth and gin to make an even lighter version that is fruiter and less challenging Negroni with some extra fruit !

Bottle: Long necked cylindrical eau de vie bottle with simple graphics and an applied plastic label with a silky finish. Black composite cork provides a tight seal but easy opening  to preserve all those delicate aromas. Clear plastic neck wrap/capsule is easy yo remove.

Other: Glenrose also produces an Apple Shine ( an unaged Applejack or Apple Brandy),     Batch 1 of the Pear Brandy,  Snow Devil Gin , an unaged whiskey , and several editions/releases of their Old Saloon Four Grain Malt Whiskey ( we reviewed Barrel/Batch 1, 11, and 14 ) along with a truly outstanding Absinthe made in the Pontarlier Style. Check their Facebook or website pages for updates.

Final Thoughts: A more robust and complex expression of an eau de vie/brandy made from locally grown pears in easily on of the smallest stills and smallest production anywhere in New York State if not the entire United States ( at least legally). Price is modest for all the materials and art that goes into each bottle. Plus you support a small artisan distillery. What could be better (except maybe more bottles of the stuff) ? A nicely done effort and deliciously different from a already great previous release.

Website: http://www.glenrosespirits.com
Fairly simple and straightforward webpage- easy to navigate and full of humorous drawings too.

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/glenrosespirits
More up to date with more photos, events, etc., ( Whose isn’t?)