GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

Happy New Years Eve Eve, craft COCKTAIL lovers! After a restful holiday vacation, I’m back today with a fresh cocktail recipe (and a fun giveaway) to help you send 2020 off in style! My Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler is a glitzy, French 75 inspired sparkling cocktail nuanced with an elegant seasonal flavour profile and premium ingredients (including Eau Claire Distillery’s 24 karat gold infused Christmas Gin!). Although this NYE in quarantine is unlike the celebrations of years past we’ve become accustomed to, that doesn’t mean it has to be any less glamorous or memorable — and if you’re looking for an NYE inspired sip to celebrate the end of a challenging year, I have just the recipe. I invite you to put your best suit or dress on, dust off your crystal and toast 2020’s departure (good riddance!) with me in the comfort of your own homes, JustineCelina style!

Inspired by all things glittering and gold, Eau Claire Distillery‘s Limited Edition Christmas Gin  combines with Brut Prosecco, Italian vanilla liqueur, bright lemon juice and a stunning Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup where Bosc pears are poached in decadent Canadian honey alongside Tahitian vanilla extract. The result is an opulent, gold infused winter cocktail that’s equal parts creamy, crisp and refreshing — and it couldn’t be easier to mix up at home! To help spread some holiday cheer, I’ve partnered with Eau Claire Distillery to give away a full sized bottle of Christmas Gin and 2 coupe glasses to one of my Canadian friends — you’ll find details on how to enter near the bottom of the post (this giveaway has now closed). Cheers to a brighter 2021!

GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

It always feels incredible to bring a piece of content to JustineCelina that I’ve been working on behind the scenes for quite some time! As I mentioned on Instagram Stories, I actually started testing this glittering, golden cocktail last December and finalized the recipe, but simply ran out of time to publish the post. The holidays are a busy time of year for content creators — and I always find myself very inspired wanting to create all the things, but have learned to be selective with what I can successfully execute!

Due to various delivery delays in regards to the FASHION content I had planned for December (more on that here), this year I ended up with more time than I’m used to — and it was absolutely lovely! I enjoyed almost a week offline over the holidays, but felt inspired to jump back online to bring this cocktail to life during these slow, magical days between Christmas and New Years Eve. I hope you were all able to find some time to recharge this season, too.

Longtime readers will know I’m an Eau Claire Distillery super fan — and their Christmas Gin has remained a seasonal favourite since discovering it back in 2017, although this is my first time featuring it in a recipe here at JustineCelina! It’s an absolutely striking and unique gin, featuring botanicals of frankincense and myrrh in their traditional London-style dancing with 24 karat gold flakes — reminiscent of a spirited snow globe! I knew this this glamorous, holiday inspired rendition of my all-time-favourite Eau Claire spirit would be perfect in my Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler (find details on how to enter our NYE giveaway near the bottom of this post!).

Vanilla and pear combine to create the most luxurious pairing, which I’ve channeled into this cocktail in the form of my Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup. This inventive seasonal syrup offers a creamy, fruity, refined sugar free backdrop to this sparkling NYE sip — and I promise if you’ve never made your own flavoured simple syrup at home it’s so simple to do. I’m going to walk you through the process, step-by-step!

This recipe makes enough Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup for approximately 6 cocktails (though you can halve the recipe if you’re just making a few!), so although my Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup requires some extra prep time up-front to create the syrup, it’s absolutely wonderful to have on hand during the winter (I also love the compote the recipe produces and use it like a jam or preserve). With a batch stocked in the fridge (it keeps for up to 3 weeks), you can whip together a simple winter cocktail anytime with just a handful of additional ingredients! As always, this cocktail is free of dairy, gluten and refined sugar.

When selecting a Brut Prosecco for this recipe, feel free to use your favourite. As I was perusing the shelves of my local liquor store, Bottega Gold caught my eye — at first for it’s elegant golden packaging, but then for its bright and lively aromas of fresh pear, lily of the valley and apple. It’s perfect companion to Eau Claire’s Christmas Gin in my Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler, widely available and moderately priced.

Lastly, I’ve selected my gorgeous Eve Coupe Glasses to showcase this sparkling NYE cocktail. They were a birthday splurge this past summer when I refreshed our stemware and I can’t recommend them enough. I wanted to link them for you here, as I receive so many questions about them whenever I feature them on Instagram! Now, let’s get to mixing up a glitzy, roaring 20’s inspired send off to 2020, shall we?

Ingredients

Yield: 1 cocktail

GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

• 1 oz Christmas Gin
• 3 oz Brut Prosecco (I used Bottega Gold) 
• 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 oz Galliano
• 3/4 oz Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup (recipe to follow)

Optional Garnish
• Pear fan
• Sparkler

HONEYED VANILLA PEAR SYRUP

Yield: Approximately 1/2 a cup (enough for 6 cocktails)

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup honey
• 2 cups Bosc pear
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Chill your coupe glass.

2. Start by making your Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup. In a saucepan over medium / high heat, combine 1 1/2 cups water with 1 cup honey. Bring to a boil.

3. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and add chopped pears and vanilla extract. Stir boiling mixture constantly for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 30 minutes.

4. Strain the saucepan contents into a bowl over a fine mesh strainer, using a mixing spoon to aid in separation if necessary. If you like, you can strain the syrup a second time using a cheesecloth to ensure a completely smooth texture.

5. Reserve the Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup (bowl contents) for the cocktail. The Honeyed Vanilla Pear Compote left in the strainer is also delicious (I love to enjoy it over oatmeal or as a preserve for charcuterie boards!). Both will keep for up to a week, refrigerated.

6. Add Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup to an airtight container. It will keep refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.

7. Begin preparing your Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler  by adding 1 oz of Eau Claire Distillery Christmas Gin and 1/4 oz of Galliano to your chilled coupe glass.

8. Add 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

9. Add 3/4 oz of Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup.

10. Stir to combine.

11. Once combined, top your chilled coupe glass off with 3 oz of Prosecco. Give the cocktail one final stir.

12. Garnish with a pear slices and a cocktail pique to form a fan and / or a sparkler and enjoy immediately!

Print

GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Cooling Time

30 mins

 

My Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler is a glitzy, French 75 inspired sparkling cocktail nuanced with an elegant seasonal flavour profile and premium ingredients (including a 24 karat gold infused Gin!). Inspired by all things glittering and gold, Eau Claire Distillery's Limited Edition Christmas Gin  combines with Brut Prosecco, Italian vanilla liqueur, bright lemon juice and a stunning Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup where Bosc pears are poached in decadent Canadian honey alongside Tahitian vanilla extract. The result is glamorous, gold infused winter cocktail that's equal parts creamy, crisp and refreshing -- and it couldn't be easier to mix up at home!

Course: Drinks

Servings: 1

Author: Justine

Ingredients

GILDED VANILLA PEAR SPARKLER

• 1 oz Christmas Gin
• 3 oz Brut Prosecco I used Bottega Gold
• 1/2 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 oz Galliano
• 3/4 oz Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup recipe to follow
• Optional Garnish
• Pear fan
• Sparkler

HONEYED VANILLA PEAR SYRUP

• Yield: Approximately 1/2 a cup enough for 6 cocktails
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup honey
• 2 cups Bosc pear
• 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Chill your coupe glass.
2. Start by making your Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup. In a saucepan over medium / high heat, combine 1 1/2 cups water with 1 cup honey. Bring to a boil.

3. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and add chopped pears and vanilla extract. Stir boiling mixture constantly for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 30 minutes.

4. Strain the saucepan contents into a bowl over a fine mesh strainer, using a mixing spoon to aid in separation if necessary. If you like, you can strain the syrup a second time using a cheesecloth to ensure a completely smooth texture.

5. Reserve the Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup (bowl contents) for the cocktail. The Honeyed Vanilla Pear Compote left in the strainer is also delicious. Both will keep for up to a week, refrigerated.

6. Add Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup to an airtight container. It will keep refrigerated for up to 3 weeks.

7. Begin preparing your Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler by adding 1 oz of Eau Claire Distillery Christmas Gin and 1/4 oz of Galliano to your chilled coupe glass.

8. Add 1/2 oz of freshly squeezed lemon juice.

9. Add 3/4 oz of Honeyed Vanilla Pear Syrup.


10. Stir to combine.

11. Once combined, top your chilled coupe glass off with 3 oz of Prosecco. Give the cocktail one final stir.
12. Garnish with a pear slices and a cocktail pique to form a fan and / or a sparkler and enjoy immediately!

{NOW CLOSED} EAU CLAIRE CHRISTMAS GIN + COUPE GLASS GIVEAWAY!

It’s NYE giveaway time! I’m thrilled to partner with Eau Claire Distillery to help you send 2020 off in style. We want you to be able to mix up a delicious, glitzy cocktail at home this winter!

So, what’s up for grabs? This time, we’re giving away a full sized bottle of Eau Claire’s Christmas Gin, plus 2 coupe glasses (different than the ones pictured, but still lovely!).

To enter to win one (1) bottle of Christmas Gin plus two (2) coupe glasses, valued at $65.99:

• Follow JustineCelina on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest
• Follow Eau Claire Distillery on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
• Leave a comment below telling me what’s in your glass this NYE!

Bonus entry for Instagram users:

• Pop over to this post and follow the instructions!

Contest open to Canadian residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Labrador until January 3rd, 2021 at 11:59pm MST. Must be of legal drinking age to enter. Good luck!

MORE GLITZY NYE & HOLIDAY COCKTAILS

Classic Winter Citrus Red Sangria

Rose Infused Cherry Gin Fizz

Sparkling Pomegranate Cranberry Sangria

Homemade Dairy Free Coconut Rum Eggnog

Blood Orange Creamsicle Mimosas

Thanks for stopping by for my final cocktail recipe of 2020 friends! I’m elated I could introduce you to yet another incredible, local spirit from Eau Claire Distillery and showcase it in this festive New Years Eve cocktail. Best of luck to everyone entering the giveaway — I’m sending you all a virtual, sparkling cheers from Alberta!

If you try my Gilded Vanilla Pear Sparkler, let me know how it goes or snap a pic and tag me! Leave me a comment, or tag me on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. I’d love you to hashtag #justinecelinacocktails in your recreations —  I love it when you tag me so I can see what you mix up! I also have a Pinterest board dedicated to better-for-you cocktail options with clean ingredients. Cheers to a brighter year ahead and thank you for your continued support!

Disclaimer: Thank you to my friends at Eau Claire Distillery for providing the Christmas gin I used in this recipe and for facilitating this giveaway. This post is not sponsored, and contains my genuine thoughts, ideas and recommendations. JustineCelina uses affiliate and referral links, which allow me to receive a small commission when you make a purchase through one of my links. Thank you for supporting the brands and businesses that support JustineCelina!