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Epicurious

Stroke of Midnight

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 →

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