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Epicurious

Stroke of Midnight

By Natasha David
Three Nick and Nora glasses filled with gin Lillet and lemon peels.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele

To me, there’s nothing more elegant than sipping on a martini. I’ve opted for a 50-50 style for this make-ahead cocktail, with an even split of botanical gin and vanilla-and citrus-scented Lillet Blanc. A touch of pear eau de vie and green cardamom add unexpected twists. Also, a quick note on the fridge-to-freezer method—not only will this guarantee an ice-cold cocktail, the extra hour in the freezer will result in a luscious, silky texture, making the whole experience that much more luxurious.

For an extra festive touch, you can top each glass with a splash of sparkling wine. Check out this collection for more big-batch cocktails →

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    25 hours 5 minutes, including chilling time

  • Yield

    Makes 6

Ingredients

1 green cardamom pod
9 oz. gin
9 oz. Lillet Blanc
4½ oz. filtered water
1 oz. unaged pear brandy (such as Clear Creek)
Lemon twists (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a quart-size jar, muddle 1 green cardamom pod to break it up. Add 9 oz. gin, 9 oz. Lillet Blanc, 4½ oz. filtered water, and 1 oz. unaged pear brandy (such as Clear Creek). Refrigerate for 24 hours. 

    Step 2

    Strain off cardamom pod using a fine-mesh strainer. Pour mixture back into jar and return to refrigerator until 1 hour before serving. 

    Step 3

    One hour before serving, move jar to freezer to chill. When ready to serve, pour into Nick and Nora or martini glasses and garnish with lemon twists.

    Do ahead: Cocktail will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

TagsGinAlcoholBeveragesCocktailMake AheadLilletAperitifCardamomHerbs & SpicesChristmasHanukkahFallWinterNew YearsEpicurious

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