Apples and Honey Cocktail: A Festive Drink for Rosh Hashanah
About this Recipe
By: Rachel
Apples and honey have long been symbols of sweetness, especially during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Our friend Hannah Moore of Shabbat Cocktails is back to help us celebrate the holiday with a festive and creative apples and honey cocktail.
This drink gives apples and honey a modern twist, blending fruit, spice, and citrus into a festive glass. Great for toasting the holidays or simply savoring autumn, this cocktail captures the spirit of the season.
Welcoming Fall with Seasonal Flavors
Summer always seems to pass by at double the speed of other seasons. I am always a little sad when the season of sunshine, fresh produce, and dinners out on the patio comes to an end. But just as summer ends (the perfect time to drink an Endless Summer cocktail), autumn begins. With its gorgeous palette of reds, oranges, and yellows and a chill in the air, the change of seasons is palpable.
As the season shifts, so do the flavors we crave. Cooler days invite warmer, cozier tastes. And apples and honey are one of the combinations that capture that feeling.
Apples and Honey in Rosh Hashanah Traditions
Autumn also means that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is right around the corner. Traditionally, apples and honey are eaten on this holiday to bring sweetness to the new year. I am always looking for new ways to incorporate apples and honey into my Rosh Hashanah dishes. Among my favorites are this Classic Apple Tarte Tatin with Goat Cheese and Honey Ice Cream or this Apple Melt with Comté and Boursin.
For a really traditional holiday dessert, try Sweet Noodle Kugel—you can add apples and honey to make this dessert even sweeter as we head into the new year.
Creating the Perfect Apple and Honey Cocktail
While desserts and savory dishes often take center stage, drinks can also carry the same symbolic flavors. This year, I wanted to find an apples-and-honey cocktail that was just perfect for the new year, and of course, Hannah Moore came to the rescue with this wonderful drink. The apple and honey flavors are enhanced by warming spices from the cinnamon and the allspice dram, while citrus provides lift and brightness.
This drink is more than just a cocktail. It’s a way to toast the season with flavors that are both meaningful and delicious. Perfect for a family gathering for Rosh Hashanah or for enjoying a quiet evening as the weather turns cool, this apple and honey cocktail is a beautiful way to raise a glass to new beginnings and sweetness ahead. L’shanah tovah—may it be a sweet and good year!
Check out our full collection of Hannah’s cocktail recipes in our archives.
Apples and Honey Cocktail
Equipment
Ingredients
For the rim
- ½ teaspoon honey crystals
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
For the cocktail
- ½ ounce (15mL) honey syrup
- 1½ ounces (45mL) Laird’s Apple Brandy
- ½ ounce (15mL) Cointreau
- ¼ ounce (7mL) St. Elizabeth’s Allspice Dram
- 1 ounce (30mL) lime juice
- ½ ounce (15mL) lemon juice
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
- Prepare the honey syrup by combining 1 part hot water to 2 parts honey: stir to dissolve and allow to cool.
Step 2
- Mix the honey crystals and cinnamon together in a shallow dish larger than your serving glass. Prepare a coupe glass by running a lemon wedge over the rim and dipping it in the honey crystals and cinnamon.
Step 3
- Mix ingredients together in a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously, and pour into the prepared coupe glasses.
