Poire William (sometimes Poire Williams or Pear Williams) is a type of fruit [ingredient=brandy brandy] made from the Bartlett, or Williams pear. While there are versions of Poire Williams that are aged in oak, a great majority of them are clear and around 80 proof. Some producers bottle a Poire Williams with a pear grown inside the bottle. Poire Williams is considered the most difficult fruit to distil. 

Poire Williams has a fresh aroma of ripe pears, along with some of the bitterness from the skin and a blossomy note like pear flower. Better producers capture that fleeting, almost banana aroma of super-ripe pear. The texture of Poire Williams is slightly oily, with the warmth from alcohol on the finish. 

Some popular cocktails containing Poire William

  • Haïtiki Grenadia — Rhum Agricole, Poire William, Licor 43, Pimento bitters, Passion fruit puree, Lime juice, Simple syrup
  • Poire liquide Hélène — Poire William, Chocolate bitters, Vanilla syrup, Lemon peel, Candied violet
  • Quite a Pear — Poire William, Vanilla liqueur, Bitters, Lemon juice