The smells and tastes of Rosh Hashanah are like no other. The sweet honey, crisp apples and refreshing pomegranate make for quite a feast for the senses. While tradition dictates that we enjoy sliced apples and honey and have a new fruit on our table — most families use pomegranate, with its 613 seeds (mitzvot) — there’s nothing that says we can’t drink them.
The recipes below, which can be made with and without alcohol, are just some of the hundreds of drink creations that use apples (tapuach), honey (devash) and/or pomegranate/grenadine (rimon). All make for a delicious, sweet and colorful way to welcome 5768 — after all, it is New Year’s!
613 L’Chayims
2 ounces pomegranate juice
2 ounces vodka
1/4 ounce simple syrup (two parts sugar, one part water; boil, simmered until sugar is dissolved, cool)
Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice, strain and serve. Garnish with a lemon twist.
So, Nu?
Can be made without vodka.
1 quart pomegranate juice
2 quarts of carbonated or sparkling water
1 pint vodka (optional)
Juice of 1 lemon
orange slices for garnish
Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl and stir. Add an ice ring to keep cool, or may be served warm. Garnish with orange rounds.
Makes 20 servings
Rah-Rah Rimon
1 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice
4 ounces lemon-lime soda
Combine all ingredients in a highball glass filled with ice and stir.
Cran Sameach
4 ounces cranberry juice
1/2 ounce orange juice
2 tablespoons grenadine
1 1/2 ounces cola
1 teaspoon honey
Pour over ice and fill with cola. Stir and add honey. Garnish with a slice of lemon.
A Bissel Berry
2/3 cup blueberries
1/3 cup blackberries
1 cup soda water
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Place all ingredients in a blender. Cover and mix on medium speed until well blended.
Liquid Etrog
2 cups carbonated water (or plain water)
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
Place all ingredients in a blender. Cover and mix on medium speed until well blended.
Sweet and Sour 5768
1 shot vodka
1/2 shot lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
Keep the vodka and juice at room temperature. Mix them in the glass, and then add the honey, which will sink to the bottom. Swirl the drink to vary the amount of honey dissolved.
A Taste of Devash
2 ounces gin
1 cup crushed ice
2 dashes lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
Add crushed ice first, followed by the honey. Stir the mixture as you pour the gin on top, which should be chilled. Add lemon juice to taste, and place a wedge over the rim.
Shevarim Teruah
12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) apple juice
1 tablespoon honey
3 cups cracked ice
Blend all together in a blender to the consistency of snow. Serve immediately.
L’Shana Tapuach
1 quart (4 cups) apple cider
2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
2 teaspoons lemon juice
4 cups ginger ale
Crushed ice
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Add chilled ginger ale just before serving. Add crushed ice. Serve immediately.
Makes 15 servings.
Sinless Martini
2 ounces sparkling cider
1/2 ounce Granny Smith apple (chopped)
2 ounces lemon-lime soda
2 dashes cinnamon
1/2 cups crushed ice
Put ingredients in blender, add ice and blend. Pour into martini glass. Garnish with an apple wedge and serve.
Sinful Martini
1 part vodka
1 part Sour Apple Pucker
1 part apple juice
Pour all ingredients into a shaker. Shake well and strain into a martini glass.
