Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur is crafted from Williams Pears, Brillet Cognac, and special ingredients fiercely guarded by Maison Brillet. Cocktails they recommend range from sophisticated to simple. The Belle Bull with pear liqueur mixed with an energy drink surprised me for sure!

Belle de Brillet product provided by brand representatives. All photos, comments and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.

It takes almost twenty pounds of pears to make a single bottle of Belle de Brillet. That is astounding. Some of our tasters could not quite wrap their head around that number. But after tasting, it is plain to see that all those pears are what make the flavor profile of this liqueur so lush and intriguing.

Belle de Brillet Review

60 proof / 30% alcohol by volume

$46 price point for 750ml bottle

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First Impressions: Everyone agreed that the bottle was indeed beautiful. It is obviously shaped like a pear, but the embossed front and gold metallic on the label fit this spirit to a tee. One taster commented that he liked the cork style top rather than a screw top. The cork gives it a little more class. Like many spirits bottles, this one is clear displaying the lovely color of the spirit. Another female taster compared the pear shaped bottle to the way some of us women are shaped. Embrace the curves ladies!

Color: Amber gold

Aroma: There is of course faint pear and richness on the nose. No doubt that richness comes from the cognac. There are also floral hints with light baking spice. Others commented on detecting sweetness in the aroma, and a little sharp alcohol scent.

Tasted Neat: As one would expect, this liqueur is sweet with lots of pear flavor. I would liken part of the pear flavor to the skin of red pears. Light baking spice and vanilla are evident. Rich cognac simmers just below the surface taste. I picked up a hint of cherry in the flavor. There is some burn, but it is more like a sugary sweetness burn rather than from the alcohol. This has great viscosity and nice lingering finish.

One taster said it was too sweet for him, but he could see someone loving this as an after dinner drink. Another commented on the smoothness of the spirit and how easy it went down.

Overall Impressions: Belle de Brillet sits on the pricier side of ordinary liqueurs, but there is nothing ordinary about this liqueur. It speaks to its quality from bottle to glass. It is unique enough for special occasion cocktails or after dinner sipping. Another taster commented, “My favorite! Really love the taste and flavors.”

Belle de Brillet (I’m Not) The Marrying Kind Cocktail

This recipe came about while reviewing both Belle de Brillet and George Dickel Tennessee Whisky. George Dickel review coming up shortly. I was looking for a recipe that highlighted the pear liqueur, but wouldn’t be too cloyingly sweet. Whisky rather than cognac was my first thought since whisky would lend a bit of drying edge to finish. The resulting drink leans toward the sweeter side but with large whisky profile. It is warm with hints of pear and maple in the undercurrent. All the flavors meld together rather nicely.

(I’m Not) The Marrying Kind – recipe by Cheri Loughlin

1-3/4 ounce George Dickel Tennessee Whisky

1/2 ounce Belle de Brillet Pear Liqueur

1/2 ounce Lemon Juice

1/4 ounce Maple Syrup

Orange Twist

Place all liquid ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake to chill. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Cut a fresh piece of orange peel. Twist over the drink to release the essential oils from the peel. Swipe around the rim of the glass with the peel side and drop into the drink.

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All content ©2017 Cheri Loughlin, The Intoxicologist. All Rights Reserved. Chat with Cheri @TheIntoxicologist on Instagram and facebook.com/Intoxicologist

Cheri Loughlin is the Omaha writer and photographer behind www.intoxicologist.net. Email Cheri with comments and questions at str8upcocktails at gmail.com.