Pear Bourbon Smash

Last updated on November 4th, 2025

It’s fall; it’s Friday – it doesn’t really get any better than that! It’s the perfect time to hang out around a bonfire, listen to the leaves rustling and the fire crackling, and just decompress! This Pear Bourbon Smash screams fall! That fresh thyme in there, the honey, the bourbon, lemon and pear!? YUM! It was so flavorful! My husband and I absolutely loved these! It felt like we were at some fancy cocktail lounge, living large AF! It just felt like something super upscale, and it was super festive! This was easy to make, and it was a really fun way to highlight bourbon, which can sometimes be an acquired taste!

This post may contain affiliate links

What makes a cocktail a “smash?”

A smash is really when you just take whatever cocktail ingredients you have on hand and literally smash them together! It’s meant to be fun, often times seasonal, herby, and fruity! By muddling the ingredients together, the flavors are infused into the cocktail – which helps to bring depth and enhances the overall flavor of the drink!

How do pear and bourbon bring on those fall vibes?

This combo is rustic yet refined and makes you just want to walk around an apple orchard or something! Flannel on, go cup in hand, this drink makes me want to do all the fall things! This just feels like something you’d sip as you walk around a pumpkin patch! Bourbon gives a warm and cozy vibe, which makes it a perfect pairing with spices like cinnamon!

Why bourbon? Can I use whiskey instead?

You can definitely use any whiskey in this recipe, technically bourbon is whiskey! But bourbon is sorta fancy and for a good reason! The reason not all whiskey is considered bourbon is because it has to be made of 51% corn by law in order to be considered bourbon. Bourbon is also super complex! It’s aged in new, charred oak barrels for years at a time – which helps to build that smoky vanilla flavor!

What ingredients do I need to make this?

Bourbon
Pear
Thyme
Honey
Lemon Juice
Cinnamon Sticks
Cinnamon
Granulated Sugar
Ice

What equipment do I need?

• Cutting Board
• Paring Knife
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Cocktail Shaker or Mason Jar and Strainer
• Muddler or Wooden Spoon and Mixing Bowl
• Short Glasses or Specialty Glasses

Did you know?

You don’t HAVE to have a bunch of fancy bartender gadgets at home to be a bomb mixologist? I don’t have any of it, but the beauty of the kitchen is that improvising is welcomed and encouraged! The best cooks are able to think on their feet and utilize ingredients and tools that they already have on hand! So, believe in yourself!

How do I make it?

Wash and cut up your pear. Thinly slice a couple of pieces that will be used for garnish and then dice the rest. Take two glasses and coat the rims with some lemon juice. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar out onto a cutting board and mix them up with a fork. Put the glasses rim side down and shimmy them in the mixture to coat the rims.

In a mixing bowl (since I don’t have a muddler, this is the route I went) add pear, honey, lemon juice, some thyme and mash it all up with a wooden spoon. It almost becomes like an applesauce texture, great, that’s what we want!

I don’t have a shaker either, so my method was to take a mason jar, add the mixture to that with some ice cubes and the bourbon. I put a lid on it and shook until it was mixed and chilled.

Give that mixing bowl a rinse and add a strainer to the top. Dump the pear mixture into it, pushing down with a wooden spoon to strain the liquid into the bowl. Obviously, this process would be a lot easier with bartender tools, but this just goes to show that you don’t need anything special to make this festive drink!

Add some ice cubes to prepared glasses and pour the pear bourbon smash in! Garnish with pear slices, thyme sprigs, and cinnamon sticks! Enjoy!

Tips:

• If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, you can just add 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to the mixture during the muddling process!
• I recommend using a high-quality bourbon such as Noble Oak, Evan Williams, or Wild Turkey!

Loved this Pear Bourbon Smash? Check out some more of my festive cocktails!

• Apple Cider Whiskey Sour
• Cranberry Sangria
• Clementine Bourbon Refresher

Pear Bourbon Smash

The Wholesome Spoon

It’s fall; it’s Friday – it doesn’t really get any better than that! It’s the perfect time to hang out around a bonfire, listen to the leaves rustling and the fire cracking, and just decompress! This Pear Bourbon Smash screams fall! It was so flavorful! That fresh thyme in there, the honey, the bourbon, the pear! My husband and I absolutely loved these! It felt like we were at some fancy cocktail lounge, living large AF! It just felt like something super upscale, and it was super festive! This was easy to make, and it was a really fun way to highlight bourbon, which can sometimes be an acquired taste!

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 180 kcal

Equipment

• Cutting Board
• Paring Knife
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Cocktail Shaker
• Muddler
• Short Glasses or Specialty Glasses

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 Ripe Pears diced + a small amount thinly sliced for garnish
• ½ cup Bourbon
• 2 Thyme Sprigs minced
• 3 tbsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Honey
• Ice

For serving:

• 2 Cinnamon Sticks
• 2 Thyme Sprigs
• ½ tsp Cinnamon
• ½ tsp Sugar
• Ice

Instructions

 

• Wash the pears and thinly slice a couple of pieces that will be used for garnish. Dice the rest. Take two glasses and coat the rims with some lemon juice. Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar out onto a cutting board and mix them up with a fork. Put the glasses rim side down and shimmy them in the mixture to coat the rims.
• In a mixing bowl (since I don't have a muddler, this is the route I went) add pear, honey, lemon juice, minced thyme and mash it all up with a wooden spoon until it becomes like an applesauce texture.
• I don't have a shaker either, so my method was to take a mason jar, add the mixture to that with some ice cubes and the bourbon, put a lid on it and shake until mixed and chilled.
• Give that same mixing bowl a rinse, then add a strainer to the top and dump in the pear mixture. Push down with a wooden spoon to strain the liquid into the mixing bowl. Obviously, this process would be a lot easier with bartender tools, but this just goes to show that you don't need any to make this festive drink!
• Add some ice cubes to prepared glasses and pour the pear bourbon smash in! Garnish with pear slices, thyme sprigs, and cinnamon sticks! Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 5.25ozCalories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSodium: 2mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin C: 7mg

Please be aware that nutritional values are approximate and intended as a helpful guide

Keyword Bourbon Smash, Cocktails with Bourbon, Cocktails with Pear, Fall Cocktails, Pear Bourbon Smash Recipe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!