Hanukkah Cocktail: Rosy Lights, Eight Nights
About this Recipe
By: Hannah
There’s something magical about a drink that catches the light just right, especially during the holiday season. This rosy, gently-sparkling libation brings together floral notes and bright citrus for a sip that feels celebratory from the very first pour. It’s the perfect modern Hanukkah cocktail—or an anytime, festive winter drink.
A Modern Hanukkah Cocktail to Brighten All Eight Nights
Our favorite mixologist, Hannah Moore of Shabbat Cocktails, is back! This month, she’s bringing us a Hanukkah cocktail so festive, refreshing, and delicious that you’ll want to drink it for all eight nights of the Festival of Lights. Even if you do not celebrate Hanukkah, this refreshing cocktail would be a welcome addition to any holiday table.
Check out our full collection of Hannah’s cocktail recipes in our archives.
What Makes This Cocktail So Special
This Hanukkah drink feels elegant and special, thanks to the bubbles and its rosy, pink hue. The taste is perfectly balanced, it has a slight bitterness from the absinthe rinse and floral notes from elderflower and rose. It also has the sweetness from Cointreau and simple syrup, and tartness from the lemon.
It’s the kind of drink that feels like a celebration before you even take a sip. Light on its feet and just whimsical enough to feel right at home during a holiday. Each ingredient adds its own little spark, turning this simple pour into something that feels truly special.
How to Make This Refreshing Hanukkah Cocktail (Even If You’re Only Mixing One)
If you’re making just one or two servings, it is easy to make this refreshing, slightly effervescent Hanukkah cocktail by purchasing miniature bottles of the alcohol recommended: gin (Hendricks would be perfect though pricey), Cointreau (or Grand Marnier), and absinthe.
And if you are celebrating Hanukkah, this is your gentle nudge to fry up a small batch of latkes while you mix your drink. There’s something about the crisp, golden edges of a warm latke next to a chilled cocktail that feels wonderfully, unmistakably festive.
Ingredient Notes & Easy Swaps for This Hanukkah Cocktail
You can easily find Belvoir Elderflower and Rose Lemonade online or at Whole Foods. If you cannot find it, you may substitute their simpler Elderflower Lemonade. Or use sparkling lemonade with elderflower liqueur and rose water to taste. To achieve this refreshing cocktail’s pink hue without the Belvoir, select pink lemonade or top with sparkling rosé, such as Crémant de Loire.
If you prefer to make a mocktail, simply use the flavored lemonade as the base. Then add lemon juice to brighten it up and simply top with a bit of seltzer. This can be served over ice.
Hanukkah Cocktail: Rosy Lights, Eight Nights
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons absinthe (optional)
- 1 ounce (30mL) gin (for a stronger drink, increase by ½ ounce or 15mL)
- ¾ ounce (20mL) Cointreau or Curaçao
- ¾ ounce (20mL) lemon juice
- ¼ ounce (7mL) simple syrup
- 1 ½ ounce Belvoir Elderflower and Rose Lemonade or use regular lemonade, flavored with elderflower and rose flower water
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1
- Prepare your cocktail glasses (I like to use Champagne coupes for this drink) by freezing them for about 30 minutes prior to use.
Step 2
- Add a teaspoon or two of absinthe to rinse the inside of the glass, discarding the excess.
Step 3
- Shake the gin, Cointreau, lemon juice, and simple syrup together over ice and strain into your chilled cocktail glass.
- Pour in the flavored lemonade. If desired, use an orange peel and twist over the glass, then drop into the drink. Enjoy immediately!
