Escalator Cocktail

Name: Escalator Cocktail
Ingredients: 1 oz Poire William eau-de-vie; 1⁄2 oz Bison grass vodka; 2 oz Apple juice/apple cider; 1⁄6 oz Sugar syrup 'rich'

Medium strength
Neutral

Ingredients

1 oz Poire William eau-de-vie
1⁄2 oz Bison grass vodka
2 oz Apple juice/apple cider
1⁄6 oz Sugar syrup 'rich'

Method

Glass:

Photographed in an Urban Bar Plain Retro Coupette 15cl

Prepare:

Select and pre-chill a COUPE GLASS.
Prepare garnish of pear wedge.

Method:

SHAKE all ingredients with ice.
FINE STRAIN into chilled glass.

Garnish:

Garnish with pear wedge on rim.

Nutrition:

One serving of Escalator contains 145 calories

History:

Adapted from a recipe created in 2002 by Kevin Connelly in England and called an escalator because the 'apples and pears', rhyming slang for 'stairs', are shaken. Originally based on Vilmos Körte Pálinka (Hungarian pear schnapps), in April 2026, Kevin said that due to difficulty sourcing Pálinka, he'd amended his recipe to 30ml Giffard Poire William liqueur, 15ml Zubrowka and 60ml apple juice.

Until April 2026, the recipe above called for 30ml (1oz) Poire William eau-de-vie, 15ml (½oz) bison grass vodka, 60ml (2oz) apple juice and 5ml (barspoon) sugar syrup. As recommended by Kevin, I dropped the sugar syrup and instead introduced sweet Poire William liqueur bolstered by the strength from retaining a slug of Poire William eau-de-vie.