If you are reading this post, you are no doubt familiar with the diverse delicacies that the Israeli culinary scene has to offer, but how familiar are you with Israel’s internationally ranked cocktail scene? Over the past ten years, specialty cocktail bars in Israel have been popping up and gaining attention and notoriety for their use of local ingredients, a mosaic of flavors, creativity, and originality.
Israel’s first official cocktail bar, 223 in Tel Aviv, was created by award-winning bartender and businessman, Ariel Leizgold. Leizgold has been crowned the National Champion of the International Bartenders Association, and has won Global World Class Bartender of the Year in the World Class Bartender's selection, one of the most honorable awards for bartending across the world. He has also opened several other successful bars, including Bellboy and Hotel DeVille, also based in Tel Aviv. Since the opening of 223, many other fantastic bars have opened, such as Imperial Cocktail Bar, which was voted top of the World’s 50 Best Bar Awards, and Suramare in Tel Aviv, and in Jerusalem the Gatsby Cocktail Bar and Pergamon.
Each bar features crafted drinks that incorporate a wide range of flavors using local ingredients such as fresh Israeli herbs, dried spices like sumac and cardamom, as well as unexpected ingredients like white chocolate or smoke.
The other big shift in recent years is the availability of local spirits, such as those from Milk & Honey Distillery in Tel Aviv, Thinkers and Yerushalmi Distillers in Jerusalem and the Julius Distillery and Pelter in the North of Israel. Check back soon for a blog post highlighting the Israeli craft spirit scene.
While you may not be able to jet over to Israel right now for a night of cocktail bar hopping, we’re bringing the Israeli cocktail experience to you! We’ve created a list of five simply scrumptious Israeli cocktails that you can easily make at home by following these accessible and easy to follow recipes. Take a sip, close your eyes, and imagine yourself lounging at one Israel’s award-winning cocktail bars.
BONUS: if you are looking for an enjoyable event, Delicious Israel offers both in person and virtual cocktail making experiences with professional mixologists. Mocktail options are available for all cocktails! Reach out to info@deliciousisrael.com to learn more.
The recipes below make one cocktail, but you can definitely double or quadruple the recipes to serve to friends and family!
(1) Skhug Margarita
1.5 oz tequila (can be replaced with gin or vodka)
¾ oz lime juice
½ oz Cardamom Simple Syrup*
1 jalepeno pepper
Handful of fresh cilantro leaves
Sumac + sugar for the rim.
Garnish option: piece of jalepeno pepper, slice of lime
Optional: splash of pomegranate juice
*To make the cardamom simple syrup boil ½ cup of sugar with ½ cup of water and add 4-5 cardamom pods. Let cool and put into a jar.
Start by slicing the lime in half and wetting the top of a rocks glass with the lime, either part or all the way around the glass. Place the glass onto a plate with the sumac and sugar rim and put aside to dry.
Combine the tequila, lime juice, cardamom simple syrup, slices of jalepeno pepper (amount will depend on your preferred spice level), and a handful of cilantro into a shaker with ice and shake.
Strain the cocktail into a glass that has been chilled with ice (either remove the ice from the drinking glass before pouring, or pour the strained drink over the ice).
Garnish with the tip of the jalepeno pepper, slice of lime, or other preferred garnish. If you want a tangier version, you can splash a bit of pomegranate juice over top of the drink.
(2) Land of Milk & Honey Old Fashioned
2 oz Milk & Honey Classic Whiskey
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of hot water
½ teaspoon of orange bitters
1 fresh orange
Pour the honey and boiling water into a whiskey glass. Stir until it has combined to make a syrup. Add the whiskey and the bitters and stir it all up for a few seconds. Then fill the glass with ice and stir for 20 seconds. Garnish with an orange peel twist.
(3) Moroccan Mint Mojito
Handful of mint
1.5 oz rum
1 lime
¾ oz nana (spearmint) leaf-infused simple syrup (can also be infused using a mint tea bag)
Soda water, to taste
Garnish option: slice of lime
Place mint leaves and 1 lime wedge into a sturdy glass. Use a muddler to crush the mint and lime to release the mint oils and lime juice. Add 2 more lime wedges and the simple syrup, and muddle again to release the lime juice. Do not strain the mixture. Fill the glass almost to the top with ice. Pour the rum over the ice, and fill the glass with soda water. Stir, taste, and add more sugar if desired. Garnish with the remaining lime wedge.
(4) By the Tayelet (Boardwalk) Espresso Martini
1½ oz Vodka
¾ oz Espresso
¾ oz Kahlua
1 teaspoon of Cardamom Simple syrup (boil 1:1 sugar and water and add 3-4 cardamom pods)
1 Star Anise
Chill a martini glass by filling it with ice. Place all ingredients into a shaker, fill it with ice and seal it. Shake hard for 20 seconds.
Remove ice from the glass and strain the cocktail into the martini glass. Garnish with a star anise.
(5) Pomegranate Arak Splash
¼ oz Pomegranate Syrup
⅓ oz Arak (more or less to your taste)
Champagne or Prosecco
Fresh mint
Pomegranate Arils
In a champagne glass, add the pomegranate syrup and pomegranate arils to the bottom of the glass. When ready to serve, add the arak and champagne. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.
If you are in search of great Passover-friendly cocktails, please check out some ideas here for ideas you won’t want to Pass-Over this year.
***Bonus Cocktail***
Bamba-tini
*recipe makes 2-3 bamba-tinis
1 tablespoon peanut butter + a bit
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1.5 oz vodka
¾ oz coffee liqueur
¾ oz simple syrup
Bamba, crushed onto a plate
Using a knife or spoon, spread a bit of peanut butter on part of the other rim of two martini glasses. Run the glass over the crushed bamba and set aside to dry. Put the ingredients in a shaker and mix well with a handful of ice. Strain the drink over a few cubes of fresh ice in the martini glasses.
