Ready for a kosher for Passover gin cocktail? Spicy and citrussy, the Jewish Mothers Ruin is the perfect tipple to relax with this Pesach.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a bottle of Distillery 209 kosher for Passover gin. I was not obliged to give a positive review and all opinions are my own.
Do you find Pesach stressful at all? I don’t think I’m the only one. First there’s the extreme cleaning, then comes the cooking marathon, then there’s the constant nagging worry about what we’re going to eat for our next meal since all the usual standby options are off the menu… Aargh!
By the time evening rolls around I’m ready to flop on the sofa with a glass of something relaxing, if you get my meaning.
Till now, wine was your basic Pesach-friendly option, but now… KOSHER FOR PASSOVER GIN!
This. Changes. EVERYTHING.
K-for-P Gin FTW!
The amazing people at Distillery 209 in San Francisco have made a kosher for Passover gin, and it’s really not half bad. I first tasted it at KFWE London and I knew I had to get my hands on a bottle in time for Pesach.
This kosher for Pesach gin is zesty and citrussy, with delicious spicy botanical flavours. It has a similar flavour profile to my amazing lemon and cinnamon charoset, in fact! Truly, the flavour of Passover!
Passover gin and other spirits
To make Pesach spirits (Distillery 209 also makes a KforP vodka) the distillery is thoroughly steam-cleaned to remove all traces of chametz. The base spirit is produced from sugarcane. It is distilled five times using natural botanicals including bergamot, lemon, cassia bark, juniper, coriander and Californian bay leaves.
The whole process is supervised by the OU. In fact one of their Rabbis personally inspects every coriander seed prior to gin making. That’s dedication!
The end result is a smooth and citrussy, fresh-tasting and delicious Passover gin with warm and spicy undertones. The perfect antidote to a stressful day.
Cocktail hour
Of course, finding Pesach tonic is not so easy. Rather than just drink neat gin (at 46% ABV), I’ve crafted a delicious cocktail instead! It emphasises the lemon and spice flavours and makes a refreshing, very drinkable, treat. I’m looking forward to putting my feet up with a large one of these and a plate of my sweet matza nachos. Aaaaand relax!
Naming a Passover gin cocktail
Oh yes, I wondered what to call my creation, and eventually decided on “Jewish Mothers Ruin”. It’s a nod to gin’s old nickname, and my status as a proper yiddishe mama. L’chaim!
Distillery 209 Kosher for Pesach gin retails for around £40 and is available from selected kosher shops.
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📖 Recipe
Jewish Mothers Ruin – gin cocktail
Ingredients
for the cinnamon-lemon syrup
- 100 g caster sugar
- 200 ml water
- 2 strips lemon peel
- 3 cm cinnamon stick (approx. 1 inch)
for the cocktail
- 30 ml cinnamon-lemon syrup
- 30 ml gin
- 150 ml sparkling water
- lemon slices to serve
Instructions
To make the syrup
- 100 g (⅘ cups) caster sugar, 200 ml (6/7 cups) water, 2 strips lemon peel, 3 cm cinnamon stickPut all the syrup ingredients into a small pan and stir well. Bring to a simmer and ensure that the sugar is all dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon stick and store, covered, in the fridge.
To make the Jewish Mothers Ruin
- 30 ml (2 tablespoon) cinnamon-lemon syrup, 30 ml (2 tablespoon) gin, 150 ml (⅝ cups) sparkling water, lemon slices to serveMix the cinnamon-lemon syrup and gin together. Top up with sparkling water and add the lemon slices. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
More Pesach recipes
If you’re after more Pesach cocktail options, check out the selection from Distillery 209.
If you’d rather just have more Passover food, then you can see all of my delicious Pesach recipes here.
choclette
Oh my, how very involved it all is and how much you have to know. The gin sounds delicious with its citrus notes and I very much like the idea of relaxing with one of your gin cocktails.
Helen
Thanks Choclette. It can get very involved if you let it! I mostly just rely on the notes on the packaging to let me know if something’s OK or not…
Angela
This is fascinating, I never realised gin wasn’t kosher. This cocktail looks delicious.
Helen
Regular gin is ok during the rest of the year – thank heaven! It’s only for Passover that special gin is required.
Claire @foodiequine
This is absolutely fascinating however as a complete outsider (but big Gin drinker!) can you explain why you aren’t allowed traditional Gin at this time?
Helen
I’ll try and keep it brief… During Passover there are certain grains that are forbidden to consume, so most spirits are off the menu as they are grain derived. The Distillery 209 gin is based on a sugarcane spirit, so it’s OK, but the distilling equipment still has to undergo an extremely thorough clean to ensure that no traces of previous grain-based spirits remain anywhere in the pipes etc. Finally, some of the standard botanicals used in gin are also avoided by certain groups during Passover, so this particular blend doesn’t use them, and those that are used are checked thoroughly to avoid any possible contamination. Hope all that makes sense! And cheers!
Claire @foodiequine
That’s fascinating! I was at a Scottish Potato Vodka Distillery last week – Ogilvy Vodka. That may be another option to consider.
Helen
Scottish potato vodka? Oh my!
karen hill
How lovely, i’d be delighted to win xx
tim smith
Would just love to win this for my Mum
Helen
Aaah, what a good son you are! ?