The Pear & Elderflower Collins is a variation on the classic Tom Collins (gin, lemon juice, sugar, sparkling water), updating the original with a double whammy of pear liqueur and pear puree, plus lemon juice, elderflower liqueur and honey. Club soda lengthens the cocktail with refreshing effervescence before a dusting of freshly grated cinnamon adds a final, fragrant touch. This bubbly highball was created by bartending vet Naren Young, best known for his time at award-winning New York bar Dante. Young says there are many different ways to add pears to a cocktail, and he's yet to meet a spirit that the fruit doesn't mix with. Once ripe, the fresh fruit can be muddled or blended into a puree. You can also experiment with bottled pear purees, as well as pear liqueurs and brandy. So you've got options for infusing your drinks with that trademark flavor. Complement the pear with friendly ingredients like citrus, honey and cinnamon, and you can make delicious concoctions during the fruit's peak season, which typically runs from late summer through early fall. Young's Pear & Elderflower Collins is a choose-your-own-adventure cocktail that calls for either vodka or gin. The former is a more subtle and neutral option, taking a back seat so the other flavors can shine. Gin, with its bracing botanicals, stands up taller in the drink while still playing nicely with the elderflower, pear and lemon. The choice is yours, though you can't go wrong—either spirit will produce a delicious drink. 6 Must-Try Pear Cocktails for Fall