I do not think I have ever, in my entire life, spelled the word “liqueur” right on the first try. So I warn for this entry: beware of falling q’s, u’s, and e’s.

Mathilde Poires Liqueur is a little too heavy and sweet for me to enjoy on its own, except for in the tiniest of sips. It’s thick and syrupy, but not quite cloying, and has a really true pear taste. What do I do with it? Well, going with the theme that I am not always the classiest of drinkers, I have, in the past, spent a couple of lost weekends with a box of chardonnay, sassing it up with sprinkles of Mathilde Poires, or Mathilde Framboise (and I think at least once I found a bottle of Mathilde Pêche). The combination turns mediocre wine into something a little more fun.

An even better combination is Mathilde Poires with something a little more bubbly. Recently I had another few bottles of the Reserva Ora Cavas Hill Blanc de Blancs Cava with the Poires mixed in, and that was a fine combination indeed. Since the bubbly itself had little in the way of sweetness, the resulting cocktail was very refreshing and perfectly sweet.

I could also envision Mathilde Poires mixed with something more neutral, like soda water, and of course, the classic indulgence: drizzled over ice cream. Mmmm.

BUY IT AGAIN: Yes, for a lovely sweet treat.