Margaret and Louis Chatey
Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta

Seeing and tasting is believing, so when we heard that Louis and Margaret Chatey were creating exceptional eau-de-vie spirits as well as a gin and a vodka in Ashford, Connecticut, we decided that we needed to take a drive and visit them. We drove to the distillery on a beautiful Autumn day on October 17, 2020 to meet the engaging and passionate Chateys and learn about their extensive line of products. The Chateys opened their distillery in 1998 nestled on 200 acres of rolling hills on land that has been in Louis' family for over 100 years. After taking the tour and tasting their products, it was easy for us to understand how they have been winning award after award for their fabulous spirits since their opening.  

If you are unfamiliar with eau-de-vie, it is a clear fruit brandy. The Chateys produce a variety of fruit brandies including the Pear William, Framboise (raspberry), Kirsch (Cherry), and Poire Prisonniere, which is Pear William with an actual whole pear in the bottle.  

Product Information: Westford Hill Distillers Pear William Eau-de-vie (Pear Brandy), 40% Alcohol by Volume is presented in an attractive tall 200 ml botte that lists the Series Number and Bottle Number, with a wrap-around ribbon label and hand-dipped yellow wax stopper. Our bottle was Series #10, Bottle 863. Meeting with Master Distiller Louis Chatey we learned that he makes his luscious Pear William from locally grown Connecticut Bartlett pears from Rogers orchard that are harvested in late summer to ensure ripeness and optimal sweetness. They hand inspect each pear for quality then put them in hammermill mash for fermenting and distilling. Their small batch approach creates an aromatic and exceptional spirit every time.  

Tasting Notes: Summer-ripened pears provide a delectable and aromatic and sweet nose that continues on the palate providing a smooth luscious mouthfeel with a lingering finish. Sipped neat or used in a cocktail or culinary recipe, Westford Hill Distillers Pear William is hands-down gorgeous.  

Luxury Experience was "In the kitchen and behind the bar®" creating some incredibly special handcrafted cocktail and culinary recipes to tempt your palate and inspire your own creations using Westford Hill Distillers Pear William Eau-de-vie (pear brandy).  

Luxury Experience Cocktail and Culinary Menu 

The Cocktail Menu 

The Culinary Menu

Luxury Experience - White Chocolate Pear Mousse

The Cocktail Recipes 

Luxury Experience - The Perfect Pear 

Luxury Experience - The Perfect Pear combines Magellan Gin, Westford Hill Distillers Pear William eau-de-vie (pear brandy), and pear nectar. Shake with ice, strain into a chilled Martini glass, and garnish with a slice of fresh pear, and you have an easy to make and great tasting cocktail. 

Luxury Experience - The Perfect Pear 
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Glass Used: Martini Glass 

Cocktail Ingredients:

Method for the Cocktail: Add Magellan Gin, Westford Hill Distillers Pear William, and pear nectar to a shaker filled with 4 ice cubes. Shake well to combine. Strain into a glass. Garnish with a slice of fresh pear. 

Luxury Experience - Spirited Café 

Luxury Experience - Spirited Café is a coffee-based drink that is lovely to serve at the end of a meal to accompany, or in place of, dessert. It is also nice to sip and enjoy on cold winter night, sitting by a fire optional. Our drink is made with hot coffee, Westford Hill Distillers Pear William, and DOM Benedictine Liqueur, and is garnished with an orange peel.  

Luxury Experience - Spirited Café
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Glass: Small Snifter Glass 

Method: Add hot coffee, Westford Hill Distillers Pear William, and DOM Benedictine Liqueur to a small snifter glass. Garnish with an orange peel. 

The Culinary Recipe 

Luxury Experience - White Chocolate Pear Mousse 

Luxury Experience - White Chocolate Pear Mousse with Caramelized Pears is a rich and luscious dessert made with Westford Hill Distillers Pear William that is served in homemade white chocolate "teacups" for an elegant and very stylish presentation. A huge thank you to Executive Chef Rainer Sigg for teaching us the secret on how to make chocolate teacups several years ago.  

White Chocolate "Teacup" Ingredients and Equipment: 

White Chocolate, small balloons (fill with air to demi-tasse cup size), baking sheet lined parchment paper 

Method: Inflate small balloons with air to desired "teacup" size. Wash the outside of the balloon and set aside to dry. 

Melt white chocolate in a small bowl, dip a balloon into the chocolate several times to create the "teacup." Hang to dry. Once dry. Cut the top off the balloon and carefully peel the balloon from the chocolate. 

Create the handle of the teacup by spooning melted chocolate in a "C" shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment. Let dry. Attach to one side of the cup with additional melted chocolate.  

Trace small circles using a demi-tasse saucer or round cookie cutter onto a piece of parchment paper. This will be used to create the saucers for the teacups. Flip the parchment paper over and spoon melted chocolate in the circles to create your saucers. While the chocolate saucers are still somewhat "wet" carefully place your teacups onto the saucers and let dry. Can be made several days ahead and stored in a metal container in a cool place.  

Mousse Ingredients

Method: Beat the egg yolks and the sugar until light and let rest. In a heavy saucepan, scald 2 ounces of whipping cream and whole milk, add the chocolate and melt while stirring. Add a few grains of the sea salt for flavor.

Slowly a small amount of the chocolate cream to the egg yolks and beat vigorously so that the eggs do not curdle. Gradually add the rest of the egg mixture to the chocolate cream and cook for 7 minutes over medium-low heat stirring constantly until thickened. Remove from the heat and let cool, then refrigerate for several hours until thoroughly chilled. 

Finishing the Mousse Ingredients

Method: Whip the cream with the Westford Hill Pear William and then gently fold into the chilled mousse ingredients. Return to the refrigerator and let set for several hours to thoroughly chill. 

Caramelized Pear Ingredients

Method: Melt the sugar in a small sauté pan. Add the pear and cook until tender. Add the Westford Hill Pear William to deglaze the pan. Remove from heat and let cool. Divide the cooked pear into 2 bowls. Puree one of the bowls of the cooked pear to create a coulis.

Presentation: Carefully spoon or pipe the mousse using a pastry bag into the white chocolate teacup. Top with a spoon of coulis, then finish with some of the minced pear. Garnish with micro mint leaf if desired. 

We hope that you enjoy trying Luxury Experience's cocktail and culinary recipes, and that they inspire you to create your own recipes. Cheers, its cocktail time! 

If you decide to visit Westford Hill Distillers, make sure that you allow extra time to enjoy their wonderful gift shop. Bring a picnic lunch or purchase some of their pre-packaged snacks to enjoy with a glass of wine or one of their fabulous cocktails on their porch, in the garden, or at a picnic table overlooking the pond.  

Westford Hill Distillers Exceptional Product Line: Eau-De-Vie: Framboise (Raspberry), Pear William, Kirsch (Cherry), Fraise (Strawberries), Poire Prisonniere (Pear William with a whole pear presented in the bottle), New World Aged Apple Brandy, Gin, and Rime Vodka.  

Debra C. Argen and Master Distiller Louis Chatey

For additional information as well as purchasing and touring information please visit their website: www.WestfordHill.com. Westford Hill Distillers spirits are sold onsite as well domestically and internationally.  

Location and Tour Hours: Westford Hill Distillers is located 30 miles east of Hartford, Connecticut and 82 miles southwest of Boston. They are open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through Christmas from 12:00 am until 4:00 pm.  The tours last approximately 45 minutes and are limited to 4 persons per tour, so be sure to call ahead and reserve your tour. The cost of tour and tasting is $12 per person. 

Westford Hill Distillers
196 Chatey Road
Ashford, Connecticut 06378
United States
Telephone: +1-860-429-0464
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.WestfordHill.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/westordhilldistillers 

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