Pesach comes with its many traditional dishes that most of us usually eat only during this holiday. However, most wines and spirits are enjoyed throughout the year with a few exceptions for this holiday such as Scotch, bourbon and beer, as these are not kosher for Pesach.
Fortunately, the selection of liquors that are kosher for Pesach is growing every year. Let’s take a closer look at some of those spirits.
The famous Zachlawi Distillery just released a handful of new products, each one more delicious than the next. The Citrus Splash is a refreshing and crisp vodka that excites the palate with flavors of lime, orange and grapefruit. Excellent on its own, it is a great basis for cocktails as well. The Orange Swirl is like a marvelous Creamsicle in a bottle with tantalizing aromas of orange and vanilla ice cream. And how about some Arak? Zachlawi’s Gourmet Black Arak features notes of orange peels, red pears and licorice with a luscious texture.
Let’s of course not forget the classic cognac. Louis Royer is one of the most respected cognac houses in the world, producing some of the finest grape brandies. An elegant and noble beverage with flavors of roasted nuts and citrus zest, it is the perfect way to end a meal on Yom Tov and Shabbat as well as an alternative to Scotch and bourbon on Pesach.
Pesach is also the celebration of the spring, known as Chag Ha’aviv. And with the spring often come the first warm days of the year, when a cold beer would be a most welcome refreshment. However beer is chametz, so what would constitute an appropriate replacement?
Royal Wine just released Appleation: a brand-new line of delightful hard apple ciders, made from the finest apples growing in the orchards of upstate New York. And they are all kosher for Pesach! Those who like something a bit sweet, and with a touch of a kick, should be pleased with the sweet as well as the cinnamon-flavored ciders. As to the dry cider, it will even eclipse the thought of beer!
While Binyamina is famous for its extensive lineup of wines, this winery also produces some amazing liqueurs, which will accompany snacks and desserts very well. Amaretto, Limoncello, these sweet treats will pair very well with a fruit salad. Heavens also has a fantastic chocolate liqueur that is kosher for Pesach. Poured over some vanilla ice cream, this should make for an unforgettable dessert.
After so much good food, a nice digestif is in order. For now well over a century, the Bokobsa family has been crafting the finest Boukha, a delicious white spirits made from figs and best served well chilled, with or without a few ice cubes. In the same category of fruit brandies, Jelinek makes the smooth, flavorful Silver, a kosher for Pesach Slivovitz crafted from wild plums grown in the Czech Republic. A true delight with almond and coconut cookies.
The aforementioned selection will ensure you enjoy this coming Pesach in great spirits!
Have an excellent and kosher Pesach! L’chaim!
By Gabriel Geller
