2023 Let’s Get Blitzen: Cocktail Advent Calendar – Day 24 – Sans Pareil. We’ve made it to the final day of the calendar, and while I normally reserve all of the Sundays in the calendar for “Sober Sunday” – we’re doing a not-so-sober Sunday in honour of Christmas Eve and a little bonus indulgence.
I have to thank you profusely for following along this spirited journey. Whether it’s your first time participating or your 5th, I am so grateful for your support. Everything from reading the daily blog posts, liking/commenting/saving/sharing the content on Instagram, or making the recipes, it all motivates me to keep producing this advent calendar year after year.
In an era of reduced reach and impressions on Instagram, it can sometimes feel discouraging to continue putting out thoughtfully composed content each day only to garner diminishing returns. But when I see how many folks are committed to making EVERY recipe, it inspires me to keep going.
Special thanks to all of my sponsors for making the calendar possible and giving me such fantastic spirits to work with.
If you tried all or some of the cocktails from this year’s calendar, I’d love to know which were your favourites! I think my favourites were the Quiet Luxury, Alaskan Winter, Café Fuerte and French Old Fashioned.
This Sans Pareil is a potent mix of blended Scotch, pear liqueur, apple cider, pear juice, a squeeze of lime and aromatic bitters. A dusting of freshly grated nutmeg adds a fantastic nose flavour that accents the baking spice notes in the aromatic bitters and complements the smoke in the Scotch.
I’ve already decided that the theme for next year’s edition will be kitschy Christmas. Mid-century ceramic light-up tabletop trees, tons of tinsel, my cute blush pink tree with vintage ornaments, and lots of cute and colourful decor.
If there’s a holiday cocktail I haven’t featured in the first five years of the calendar that you’d love to see my take on next year, drop your requests in the comments section below.
Be sure to tune into my Instagram Stories tonight for the final Virtual Happy Hour of the year!
Cheers, friends and Merry Christmas!
Sans Pareil
- 1½ oz blended Scotch
- 1 oz Belle de Brillet or other pear liqueur
- ¾ oz apple cider
- 1 oz pear juice
- ¼ oz lime juice
- 2 dashes Angostura bitters
- Garnish: grated nutmeg
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Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
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Strain into a chilled coupe glass.
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Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg.
Merry Christmas Yvonne! You are a hard worker! So enjoy your column and creativeness!