Purim has got to be every child’s favorite day of the year (and every dentists worse nightmare!). They get to dress up like princesses, go house hopping with their friends and amass an unconscionable amount of candy. It’s quite literally a kids dream come true.
But for the parents of those kids? Maybe not so much. First you got the weeks leading up to Purim where you have to wrack your brain for that perfect shalach manos gift basket. Not to mention all the kiddies, and their teachers, principals, therapists and bus drivers. It’s no wonder by the time Purim comes around, we’re meant to drink up until we don’t know the different between Haman & Mordechai.
And then you got Purim day where you’re up at an ungodly hour to dress all the kids in their Purim costumes, barely make it for Megillah reading, and run about town taking each of your kids to their list of friends, not to mention your family and friends. By the time you sit down for the Purim meal, you need a stiff drink! Enter: THE HAMANTINI, a riff on the classic Purim cookie – hamantaschen.
The 3-cornered hamantasch is customarily eaten on Purim because it resembles Haman’s hat. For more on that story, read this holiday guide. Hamantaschen are traditionally made with raspberry or apricot jam – both of which I have incorporated into my Hamantini cocktails.
For my Raspberry Hamantini, I went straight for my favorite drink of all time – Raspberry Snapple. A shot of vodka and some raspberry jam simple syrup offer a serious raspberry experience with just the right amount of buzz. Of course, the rim of the glass is dipped in raspberry jam syrup and raspberry hamantasch cookie crumbs – making The Raspberry Hamantini a most befitting name!
The Raspberry Hamantini
2 oz. raspberry Snapple
1 1/2 oz. vodka
2 tbsp raspberry jam simple syrup (recipe follows)
raspberry hamantasch cookie crumbs, for garnish
Method:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake (ice, optional). Dip the rim of your cocktail glass in raspberry jam simple syrup and raspberry hamantasch cookie crumbs. Pour the drink into your cocktail glass.
Raspberry Jam Simple Syrup
3 tbsp raspberry jam
3 tbsp water
Add ingredients to a small pot and bring to a boil, whisking to break up the jam. Simmer until slightly thickened. Set aside to cool.
If raspberry is not your flavor, give The Apricot Hamantini a try. With apricot nectar, dark rum and apricot jam simple syrup, you’ll be in apricot heaven! Of course the rim of this cocktail glass is also dipped in apricot jam simple syrup and finished in apricot hamantasch cookie crumbs for a festive finish. Apricot euphoria in a glass, if I may.
While I’m no mixologist, I had so much fun creating these festive cocktails! I found some great stuff hiding in my liquor cabinet, and I can’t wait to whip out my shot glasses come Purim. I make quite a fun drunk, I must say. So if you see me around and I’m a wee bit tipsy, you’ll can blame it all on Haman and his three-cornered hat.
So as the day dwindles down, and the kiddies collapse all shmeared in makeup and chocolate, whip out your martini glasses and let the real fun begin!
Pick the flavor that suits your fancy – Raspberry or Apricot (or both!)- and drink up and be merry! Happy Purim!
The Apricot Hamantini
2 oz. unsweetened apricot nectar (I use Ceres)
1 oz. dark rum
1 tbsp apricot jam simple syrup (recipe follows)
apricot hamantasch cookie crumbs, for garnish
Method:
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and shake (ice, optional). Dip the rim of your cocktail glass in apricot jam simple syrup and apricot hamantasch cookie crumbs. Pour the drink into your cocktail glass.
Apricot Jam Simple Syrup
2 tbsp apricot jam
2 tbsp water
Add ingredients to a small pot and bring to a boil, whisking to break up the jam. Simmer until slightly thickened. Set aside to cool.
Other Cocktail Recipes:
whiskey cider
3 layer chocolate cake martini
In honor of Purim, the Kosher Connection is having a cocktail linkup party! Read on for more great cocktail recipes and ideas!
