2023 Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 11 – Quiet Luxury. A split base of smoky mezcal and grassy tequila pair beautifully with pear liqueur, lemon, and baking spice from the gingerbread liqueur. This might be overall favourite cocktail from this year’s selection.
It has a bit of smoke, sweetness, spice, and everything nice. I fell in love with Belle de Brillet last year when I used it in the Jingle Belle and wanted to give all my loyal fans who picked up a bottle another use for this delicious pear and cognac liqueur.
You might recognize this cocktail from the cover page of the eBook. I am absolutely overjoyed with how these photos turned out as I feel they hew closest to my “vintage Ralph Lauren” creative direction. The little stuffed bear brings it all together in an homage to Ralph Lauren’s iconic teddy bear.
I also found a way to incorporate my favourite Christmas decor – a nutcracker. In case you missed it, I have a *small* nutcracker addition. For much of my life my parents have given me a new nutcracker each year for Christmas. As I’m now 35, you can imagine how robust the collection is now. Some have lost limbs or accessories in the process and have been retired from active service.
My favourites are the German-made nutcrackers with their careful dowel construction and thoughtful details that help them stand the test of time. Crate and Barrel has some cute ones (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).
What is your favourite piece of Christmas decor? Maybe a sweet Christmas village, antique train set, bronze reindeer? I recently picked up a cute and kitschy Christmas village that is adorning the set of Virtual Happy Hour on my nightly cocktail tutorials.
Be sure to tune into my Instagram Stories tonight at 5 p.m. Eastern for a step-by-step walkthrough on how to shake up this tasty treat and check out my little Christmas village in the process.
Cheers, friends!
Quiet Luxury
A split base of smoky mezcal and grassy tequila pair beautifully with pear liqueur, lemon, and baking spice from the gingerbread liqueur.
- ¾ oz mezcal
- ¾ oz tequila blanco
- ¾ oz Belle de Brillet or other pear liqueur
- ¾ oz lemon juice
- ¾ oz gingerbread syrup
- Garnish: pear fan
- Garnish: sage leaf
- 1 cup demerara sugar
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp molasses
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger thinly sliced
- 1 tsp whole allspice berries
- 1 tsp whole black peppercorns
- 5 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
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Add ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
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Strain into a rocks glass over a king cube.
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Garnish with a pear fan and a single sage leaf.
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Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, stirring frequently.
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Reduce heat to medium low and let simmer for about 20 minutes until syrup is slightly thickened.
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Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
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Remove solids and fine strain into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 1 month.
