I'm one of the few Jews out there that wouldn't mind drinking four cups of Manischewitz in one sitting. There's something about its syrupy sweet flavor that's actually quite appealing to me—someone who prefers my wine fruity and my cocktails fruitier. Let's rewind for a second though: Manischewitz is a Kosher wine and as such is often the wine of choice during Passover, where guests are given four separate glasses throughout the Seder.
Since most people aren't necessarily huge fans of Manischewitz, for all the same reasons that I find it appealing, I came up with three ways to turn the iconic Passover beverage into fun cocktails. Full disclosure: all three of these ideas are still on the sweet side. But, they definitely transform the traditional flavor into something totally new. So this year, turn your Seder into a party (or throw a party with your leftover Manischewitz) with the following easy drinks.
Manischewitz Jell-O Shots
Add 1 teaspoon orange zest to 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and strain liquid into a heat-proof bowl that contains 2 (3-ounce) packages of Lieber's unflavored Jel or other Kosher-for-Passover gelatin. Mix until combined. Add 1 cup concord grape Manischewitz to bowl, mix, and pour into an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Refrigerate until set. Cut into pieces with a sharp knife before serving.
Haroset-Inspired Manischewitz Sangria
Add 1 (1.5-liter) bottle of concord grape Manischewitz to a large pitcher. Add 2 chopped apples,1 chopped pear, 2 whole cinnamon sticks, 1/4 cup of honey and the juice of 2 oranges to the pitcher. Let the flavors meld in the fridge over night. When ready to serve, top off the pitcher with seltzer water to taste.
Manischewitz Spritzers
Fill champagne flutes halfway with concord grape Manischewitz. Fill to the top with grape or apple, or apple-grape sparkling cider. Add one lime wedge's worth of lime juice and 2-3 dashes of bitters to each flute.
