Passover Unbound: Drink
The Kiddush Club returns! The heroes who brought you eight different drinks for the eight nights of Hanukkah are back with a vengeance, this time to take your Passover seder a level beyond Manischewitz. Enjoy (responsibly) the alcoholic and non-alocholic drinks below (many options in each category so that no seder attendee is left behind!), each of which represent an item included on many Passover Seder plates. Plus, there's even one that symbolizes the under-appreciated star of the holiday, which is not a traditional Seder plate option -- Matzah!
Beitzah (Egg)
Alcoholic Option: The "Bitter Eggs"
How to Make It: Mix equal parts grapefruit juice and vodka; add a little simple syrup if desired. Top with an egg-white froth.
Non-Alcoholic Option: Roasted Egg Cream
How to Make It: Fill a glass a quarter of the way with whole milk. Slowly pour in seltzer, nearly filling the glass; stir in chocolate syrup gently. The drink will foam on its own and you can top with smoky paprika; we added frothed egg white on top before garnishing, because we had leftovers from the alcoholic drink.
Charoset
Alcoholic Option: Sephardi Charoset (charoset in the style of Jews who trace their heritage to Spain)
How to Make It: Muddle banana, date, cardamom, nutmeg, walnut or pecan with white wine. Strain into glass.
Non-Alcoholic Option: Ashkenazi Charoset (charoset in the style of Jews who trace their heritage to Central and Eastern Europe)
How to Make It: Muddle white grape juice with dates, raisins, cinnamon, apple, nuts; strain into a glass.
Chazeret (Bitter Herb 1)
Alcoholic Option: The "Double Burn"
How to Make It: Add prepared horseradish (to taste) to a shot of tequila. Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper.
Non-Alcoholic Option: None for Chazeret
Karpas (Vegetable)
Alcoholic Option: Karpas Cooler
How to Make It: Shake together 2 oz gin, 2-3 drops balsamic vinegar. Garnish with parsley; we recommend a grind of sea salt or rimming the glass with salt, but garnishing with capers is also a solid way to add that salt-water kick.
Non-Alcoholic Option: Spring onion fizz
How to Make It: Squeeze a lemon wedge into seltzer. Garnish with several sprigs of green onion, lemon slice, and a grind of black pepper as desired
Maror (Bitter Herb 2)
Alcoholic Option: "Dr. Brown's Night Out"
How to Make It: Make the syrup for the celery soda (see below), add gin and a sprig of rosemary. You can add seltzer if you like a fizzy drink.
Non-Alcoholic Option: Celery soda (Homemade Dr. Brown's Celery Tonic)
How to Make It: Muddle 1 T lemon, 1-2 ribs celery, handful parsley, and 1-2 oz simple syrup. Add seltzer (or tonic water).
Matzah
Alcoholic Option: Vodka
How to Make It: Pour a shot of vodka. This drink couldn't be more plain, just like matzah!
Non-Alcoholic Opotion: Seltzer
How to Make It: Pour a shot of seltzer.
Orange
Alcoholic Option: "Orange and Friends on the Town" (or...on the Seder Plate!)
How to Make It: Stir together equal parts orange juice and rum; top with a splash of pineapple juice. Garnish with pineapple sage and a slice of pineapple.
Non-Alcoholic Option: "Orange's Designated Driver"
How to Make It: Stir together pineapple juice, mint, lemon-lime soda (or seltzer). Garnish with an orange wedge.
Zeroa (Shank Bone/Beet)
Alcoholic Option: Beet and Gin Cocktail
How to Make It: Equal parts savory beet pickling liquid and gin; or beet juice and gin with thyme, sage, and a dash of balsamic vinegar
Non-Alcoholic Option: Mint Orangeade with a Sweet Beet
How to Make It: 3 parts fresh-squeezed orange juice, 1 part simple syrup, stirred with sprigs of mint. Pour over beet cubes that have been rolled in sugar or soaked in simple syrup.
Note: The beet's not a cop-out; some members of Kiddush Club have never been to a Seder with a true shank bone on the Seder plate (and may, secretly, feel that the dairy Seder is the strongly preferable alternative).