It is time for our yearly Passover Cocktail Round-Up! *For last year’s killer list, check out our post here.
The passover seder traditionally includes drinking four glasses of wine - definitely one of my favorite parts of the holiday. But another beautiful aspect of the holiday is the many new traditions that Jewish communities have created to retell the passover story, including new interpretations of the seder plate items. One new tradition that you may consider bringing to your seder, or just to celebrate passover during one of the eight days of the holiday, is a passover-themed cocktail! Of course, it’s important to keep in mind what alcohols are kosher-for passover, and so we’ve outlined an easy reference list for you below.
Kosher for passover liquors:
Tequila - made from agave, a sugar plant
Rum - made from sugar molasses
Vodka* - should be made from potatoes, sugar, or fruits, not from wheat
Brandy - made from distilled fruit wine
NOT Kosher for passover liquors:
Whiskey - made from Barley, which is chametz
Bourbon - contains corn, a kitniyot, as well as barley, wheat or rye, which is chametz
*Vodka made from wheat (chametz) or corn (kitniyot)
Gin** - made from a neutral alcohol, like vodka, juniper berries, and other botanicals. **Gin is Kosher for passover if the neutral alcohol it’s made from is Kosher for passover, such as KFP vodka. However, most gins are not KFP, so check each gin specifically!
We’ve rounded up a list of 5 delicious Passover-themed (and of course, Kosher for Passover) cocktails, with easy-to-follow recipes for you to enjoy over the course of the holiday.
Bloody Mary with Horseradish
This cocktail incorporates Horseradish, which is used as maror in most Ashkenazi traditional seder plates. Make sure to use Kosher for passover vodka, made from either Potatoes or sugar! Recipe Credit: Food & Wine
Ingredients:
Kosher for Passover Vodka
½ cup finely grated peeled fresh horseradish
2 ounces worcestershire sauce
2 ounces sriracha chile sauce
Finely grated zest of 1 small lemon
2 tsp celery salt
1 tsp kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
32 ounces tomato juice
Ice
Directions:
Step 1. In a pitcher, combine the horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, Sriracha, lemon zest, celery salt, kosher salt and 2 teaspoons ground pepper. Add the tomato juice and stir well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.
Step 2. Pour the tomato juice mixture into 8 ice-filled rocks glasses. Add 2 ounces vodka to each glass and stir. Garnish each drink with a pinch of ground pepper, a lime wedge and pickled vegetables.
KARPAS Gin & Tonic
This cocktail incorporates Spring greens, used in Karpas, another item on the seder plate. Coriander, also known as cilantro, is an herb commonly found in Israel in the Spring season, and brings a fresh flavor to this classic cocktail. Just make sure to buy a kosher for passover gin!
Ingredients:
2 tbsp gin
Couple sprigs coriander
Chunky stick of cucumber
Tonic water
Directions:
Step 1. Put the gin, a few ice cubes and the coriander sprigs into a tumbler glass.
Step 2. Add a chunky stick of cucumber as a stirrer and top up with chilled tonic water. Give everything a good mix and enjoy.
Classic Margarita with a Salt Rim
While a margarita may not scream “Passover,” the salt rim is reminiscent of the salt water we dip our bitter herbs in for Karpas. And who doesn’t love a good margarita?
Ingredients:
2 lime wedges, for rimming glasses and garnish
¼ cup kosher salt or coarse sea salt, for rimming glasses
4 ounces tequila
2 ounces triple sec
1 ½ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
Ice
Directions:
Step 1. Place salt on small shallow plate. Rim two glasses with lime wedge, then dip in salt to coat rim.
Step 2. Divide tequila, triple sec, and lime juice between 2 glasses and stir to combine. Top with ice, garnish with lime, and serve.
Red Wine Sangria
Sangria typically includes wine, chopped fruit, and some added sweetness, just like Charoset! And this recipe for Sangria also includes Pomegranate juice, a fruit that holds strong meaning in Jewish Israeli culture as a symbol for righteousness. Some people believe there are 613 seeds in a pomegranate, equating to the 613 commandments, and pomegranates are also plentiful in Israel.
Recipe credit: Food Network Bobby Flay
Ingredients:
1 bottle Kosher for Passover red wine
½ cup brandy
¼ cup triple sec
½ cup orange juice
½ cup pomegranate juice
¼ cup simple syrup, or more to taste (equal parts sugar and water, heated until sugar dissolves, cooled)
Orange slices
Apple slices
Chopped dates
Pomegranate seeds
Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and let stand in a tightly sealed container or pitcher for at least 24 hours in the refrigerator before serving.
Chazeret In A Cup
The base of this cocktail is a liquor you may not typically find in your liquor cabinet. Cynar is an italian liquor made from artichokes, and has a flavor profile that fits the seder plate item, Chazeret, or the second bitter herb. This recipe comes from a very cute Passover cocktail project called “The Sipping Seder,” and you can check out some of their other Passover themed cocktail recipes on their website.
Ingredients:
1 ounce gin
½ ounce Carpano Antica
½ ounce Cynar
¼ ounce Fresh lemon juice
Directions:
Step 1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass
Step 2. Fill ⅔ full of ice. Shake well.
Step 3. Straight through a fine mesh strainer into a chilled cocktail glass.
Step 4. Twist a spiral of orange peel over the cocktail and use as a garnish.
