While lighting the menorah is the most obvious Hanukkah tradition, it might get just a little too boring for those of you who have been celebrating since your very youth. Or, if you’re like me, you need just a little help to get you through just a few too many family gatherings in a few too little days.
We have put together a list of Hanukkah inspired cocktails and pop-ups that are sure to help get you LIT during the Festival of Lights!
New York
Miracle on 12th Street at Mace Cocktail Bar
The Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel: MELISSA HORN
At Miracle on 12th Street pop-up bar located at Mace Cocktail Bar in New York City, there is a menorah-crowned, blue-and-white Hanukkah Hideaway nook, perfect for cozying up to a Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel made with chocolate gelt-infused mezcal, Campari, sweet vermouth and Pedro Ximenez.
505 E 12th St, New York, NY 10009 (or check out one of the 100+ miracle pop up bar menus near you at www.miraclepopup.com)
Snowday in Brooklyn at Sunday in Brooklyn
The bar and dining room at Williamsburg’s Sunday in Brooklyn transforms into a snowy ski chalet this holiday season, complete with holiday decor and festive menus, including several Hanukkah inspired cocktails such as the Gelt-y Pleasures made from a bacon fat washed rum blend, Amaro Montenegro, poblano pepper, Tonka bean, whey and gelt. Snowdays also has The Dreidel Will Rock on the menu which features tequila blanco, peach Manischewitz, green apple and black walnut bitters.
348 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 – sundayinbrooklyn.com/location/snowdayinbrooklyn
Boston
Maccabee Bar at Back Bar
Hebrew Hammer, Latke Sout and Manischewitz Martinez
Maccabee Bar is a way to spread some holiday cheer for people who celebrate Hanukkah. The cocktails at this pop-up at BackBar in Boston, play with traditional Hanukkah flavors, such as the vodka-based Hebrew Hammer is meant to evoke sufganiyot, a festive jelly doughnut eaten during Hanukkah; the drink combines raspberry and lemon flavors with a bit of breadiness imbued by “leavened” sugar, what Levy calls a simple syrup with added dry active yeast. Her Latke Sour features potato-infused simple syrup and apple brandy, and a Manischewitz Martinez uses a vermouth made in-house with the well-known kosher wine.
7 Sanborn Ct, Somerville, MA 02143 – maccabeebar.com
Washington DC
Miracle on Seventh Street
The Maccabeats by Dreidel
Miracle on 7th, the most festive holiday bar in DC, has an entire room based on the much-celebrated Jewish tradition of “Chinese and a movie” theme decked out with takeout menus from local favorites like Panda Gourmet and New Big Wong. You can munch on popcorn from a movie theater popcorn machine and sip on the Maccabeats by Dreidel, which consists of gin, Manischewitz cassis, lemon and sparkling water.
1843 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20002 – popupbardc.com
Chai-vy and Cohen-y at Ivy and Coney
The Shot-Norah
Ivy and Coney in Washington DC, becomes “Chai-vy and Cohen-y” Hanukkah bar this holiday season, and bartenders will serve some of their favorite Jewish drinks, as well, including Manischewitz wine, Slivovitz plum brandy, and He’Brew beers. The biggest draw of the Hanukkah-themed bar is likely to be a giant menorah fashioned like a “shotski”. The “shot-norah,” is made so eight guests can take a shot at once.
1537 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001 – ivyandconey.com/chai-vy-and-cohen-y
Chicago
8 Crazy Nights at Graystone Tavern
Gelt Martini
At Graystone Tavern’s “8 Crazy Nights” Hanukkah pop-up bar in Chicago helps get customers in the holiday spirit, by creating a number festive cocktails based on traditional Hanukkah flavors. The Gelt Martini puts an adult spin on the nostalgic tradition of children receiving gelt during Hanukkah. This cocktail is made with Chocolate Liqueur, Vodka, Creme de Cacao, gelt garnish, powdered sugar rim.
3441 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 – 8crazynightschicago.com
Pittsburgh
Chrismukkah Galley at Bakery Square
Peace, Love, and Jewish Donuts
When you arrive at Chrismukkah, the first thing you’ll notice is the space isn’t filled with over-the-top decorations, instead, tasteful designs to celebrate both Christmas and Hannukah. Chrismukkah offers a welcoming seating area where you can cozy up to the working fireplace while watching holiday movies and sipping on some Hanukkah inspired cocktails, like Peace, Love, and Jewish Donuts, which features vanilla-infused vodka with strawberry jam, lemon, and an egg white which gives this cocktail a strong strawberry and vanilla flavor, just as a good jelly donut should be.
151 Bakery Square Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 – @chrismukkahgalley
Austin
Get Lit at Kitty Cohen’s
Manischewitz Spritzer
Kitty Cohen’s in East Austin will transform into Get Lit, their Hanukkah-themed pop-up, the decorations for Get Lit will be Hanukkah-specific, so no doubt expect a menorah or two, and an overall blue and silver explosion. Kitty Cohen’s will also have a special menu of Hanukkah-inspired cocktails, and in place of one of the Kitty Cohen’s spritzes, try the Manischewitz Spritzer made with Manischewitz wine and bubbly. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from Get Lit will benefit Shalom Austin, “the hub of Jewish life in Central Texas,” according to the organization.
2211 Webberville Rd., Austin, TX 78702 – kittycohens.com
Phoenix
Condesa
Eye of the Beholder
At Condesa in Downtown Phoenix, the Eye of the Beholder pays homage to classic potato latkes, a traditional Hanukkah dish served with cream or applesauce, using potato vodka, ginger liqueur, cold-pressed apple cider, housemade aromatics bitters, clove and lemon. “We emulated the deep fried potato pancake with potato vodka and tied in spiced apple cider,” said general manager Ryan Panganiban.
2 North Central Avenue Suite 101 Phoenix, AZ 85004 – condesaphx.com
Los Angeles
Sleigh Bells at Spring at Preux & Proper
I Dread-el The Holidays
At Sleigh Bells at Spring at Preux & Proper in Los Angeles, a few things came to mind when conceptualizing a Hanukkah cocktail-the colors blue & gold, dreidels, and, of course, Chinese takeout. I wanted to make it winter-y, but not heavy. Which brings us to I Dread-el The Holidays, a cocktail is made with gin, lemon, chai, blue spirulina algae, and garnished with a fortune cookie, and edible gold.
840 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90015 – https://www.preuxandproper.com
Blitzen at Here and Now
Blitzen is back at Here and Now and the team has developed a new menu of 15 festive cocktails. One of our favorite drinks on this menu is Put on Your Yarmulke,” which is a ruby-colored concoction of Money Shoulder whiskey, Manischewitz, grapefruit cordial, allspice dram, honey, aquafaba, lime, and hibiscus. Think of a whiskey sour with some serious holiday spirit.
300 S. Santa Fe Ave. Suite N | Los Angeles, CA 90013 – hereandnowdtla.com/blitzen
Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City
Toast Hanukkah this year with a specially curated cocktail menu at two restaurants at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City during its “Eight Crazy Nights of Cocktails. The menu of specialty cocktails will be served in both Mari Los Angeles and Copper Lounge from Dec. 22-30, and will change each day and are only available on the night noted. The cocktails include:
- Lights of Kikori (night 1),
- Manischewitz Mojito (night 2),
- The Chosen One (night 3),
- Apricot & Dark Chocolate Gelt Martini (night 4),
- Sufaganiyah Jelly Donut Martini (night 5),
- He-Brewed (night 6),
- Vodkas & Latkes (night 7)
- Star of Century City (night 8).
2151 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067 – intercontinentallosangeles.com
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