Pear brandy made by Slovenian monks set for UK launch

A pear brandy that has been produced by a group of Slovenian monks is now available to purchase in the UK.

The Pleterje Charterhouse Pear Brandy with Williams Pears has been handmade by a group of Slovenian monks at the foothills of Slovenia’s Gorjanci mountains

Created by monks at the Charterhouse Monastery, at the foothills of Slovenia’s Gorjanci mountains, the Pleterje Charterhouse Pear Brandy is made by a team of nine monks and nine lay workers using Williams Pears.

“The southern side of the wall surrounding Pleterje Carthusian Monastery is planted with pear tress,” said Father Frančišek, of the Charterhouse Monastery.

“When the fruit reaches hazelnut size, bottles are fixed to the trees so that delicious pears grow and ripen inside the glass. After the pears are picked inside their bottles, the bottles are topped-up with four-times distilled pear brandy.”

The launch of the Pleterje Charterhouse Pear Brandy with Williams Pear is timed to coincide with the bicentenary of the naming of the Williams Pear, which was first cultivated in Chiswick, West London.

“We thought it would be a nice touch for the Williams pear to be brought back to where it all started,” added Father Frančisek, “but with a monastic twist for Christmas”.

The Pleterje Charterhouse Monastery was founded in 1403. As well as producing a range of wines and liqueurs, the monks who reside at the monastery also produce fruit, raise sheep and make honey.

Only 4,000 bottles of the brandy will be available for £44.99 from www.justminiatures.co.uk.