The High Holidays are a time for reflection, repentance, apologies, forgiveness and welcoming the new year (and fresh start!) with family and friends. One of the most well-known of Jewish traditions is engrained in these holiest of days: dipping apples in honey to spread wishes for a sweet new year. But as delicious as the customary apples-and-honey combo is, there’s more than one way to bestow such greetings. From sweet to symbolic to just generally awesome, these custom cocktails are a fun and inventive alternative to kick-start your year. L’chaim!

Symbols & Seltzer

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Symbols & Seltzer" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Makes one drink

Because the honey and apple flavors sit at the bottom of the drink, they are meant to remind us to be introspective of our actions of the past year. When you add soda and stir, it lightens up the drink and brings the honey and apple to the top to show our wish for a sweet new year. The lemon twirl represents the shofar.

Ice
½ ounce honey (dilute honey with equal amount hot water)
2 ounces apple liqueur (like Leopold Bros. New York Sour Apple Liqueur)
½ ounce lemon juice
Soda water
Lemon peel, for garnish
Concord grapes, for garnish

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Symbols & Seltzer" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Symbols & Seltzer" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Symbols & Seltzer" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Symbols & Seltzer" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Fill a tall glass with ice and add the honey so it sits on the bottom. Then add apple liqueur and lemon juice. Top with soda water. (For added flavor, use Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray instead of soda water.) Cut a long piece of lemon peel using a vegetable peeler, and twirl it around your fingers, pulling tightly so it coils. Place on top of the drink in the shape of a shofar (ram’s horn). Garnish with grapes.

Yom Tov Flip

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Yom Tov Flip" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Makes one drink

The sweetness and richness of the egg creates a delicious after-dinner cocktail. This is meant to be enjoyed at the end of the Rosh Hashanah (Yom Tov) meal, leaving us feeling full and content.

1 egg
2 ounces Manischewitz American Concord Grape
1 ounce Bartenura Moscato
Ice
Concord grapes, for garnish
Mint leaves, for garnish

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Yom Tov Flip" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Yom Tov Flip" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Yom Tov Flip" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Yom Tov Flip" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Crack the egg into a shaker. Add the Manischewitz and Bartenura Moscato. Shake for 10 seconds. Add ice and shake for another 20 seconds. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with grapes and mint.

Land of Honey

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Land of Honey" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Makes one drink 

This drink is strong, yet sweet and slightly bitter, as Israel is often described.

2 ounces Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky
½ ounce honey (dilute honey with equal amount hot water)
8 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters
Ice
Dried rose petals, for garnish

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Land of Honey" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Land of Honey" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Land of Honey" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Land of Honey" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Add whisky, honey and bitters to the glass, then add ice. Stir for 20 seconds. Garnish with dried rose petals, or a dried herb of your choice.

Rejoice & Assemble

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Rejoice & Assemble" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Makes one drink

Lemons, cherry and coconut all have cleansing qualities when eaten. These three ingredients combined in cocktail form provide a temporary respite from our troubles as we gather together to rejoice.

Ice
2 ounces Fabrizia Limoncello Liqueur
1 ounce cherry liqueur or sweet cherry juice
3 ounces coconut water
Lime wheels, for garnish
Luxardo Maraschino Cherries, for garnish

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Rejoice & Assemble" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Rejoice & Assemble" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Rejoice & Assemble" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Rejoice & Assemble" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Add ice to a large wineglass. Add Fabrizia Limoncello Liqueur, cherry liqueur and coconut water, in that order. Garnish with lime wheels and cherries. (Add a squeeze of lime juice to reduce the sweetness to taste.)

Sunset Sour

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Sunset Sour" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Makes one drink

This gin-based drink with blackberries, pomegranate juice and lemon juice creates a pleasing taste, and the color is meant to remind us of late summer sunsets and the coming holiday of Sukkot.

1 ½ ounces Brockmans Premium Gin
1 ounce pomegranate juice
½ ounce lemon juice
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
5 fresh blackberries
Fresh fruit, like grapes, blueberries or blackberries, for garnish

08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Sunset Sour" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Sunset Sour" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Sunset Sour" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)
08/28/17 -- Somerville, MA -- Melinda Maddox creates the "Sunset Sour" cocktail.
(Credit: Kayana Szymczak)

Add all ingredients to a shaker and shake for 30 seconds. Strain and discard the berry parts, straining the liquid into a medium-size glass. Garnish with fresh fruit.

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