Persian Cocktails For Purim

There is a rabbinic saying (Meg. 7b) that on Purim we should become intoxicated to the point of “ad lo yada” or not being able to differentiate between “Blessed be Mordecai” and “Cursed be Haman.” What should we become intoxicated with? In the spirit of Purim, it seems very appropriate to indulge in exotic Persian cocktails.

Introduction

This mandate to drink alcohol provides us with an opportunity to be creative and mix some festive Persian Purim cocktails. The following concoctions were inspired by the Persian Sharbat. Sharbat is a sweet drink made with fruits, spices, or flower petals. It is served chilled. The Mughal rulers tasted the sharbats of the Persians, and introduced them to the Indian subcontinent. One of these rulers loved sharbat so much, that he had ice hauled down from the Himalayas to make his favorite beverages.

Here is a recipe for an exotic Persian saffron cocktail. The vodka should be omitted for minors.

Photo by Alireza https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7

Ingredients

Sharbat-e Zaferan: Saffron Cocktail

1 1/2 ounces of vodka
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 lemon
1 tablespoon of saffron threads

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare a simple syrup by boiling one cup of water, and then dissolving 2 cups of sugar into it.

Step 2

Add one tablespoon of saffron threads.

Step 3

Squeeze in the juice of one lemon.

Step 4

Allow to cool to room temperature.

Step 5

Pour the vodka, 6 1/2 ounces of water, and 1/3 cup of syrup into a shaker over ice cubes.

Step 6

Shake vigorously.

Step 7

Pour through a strainer into a chilled wine glass, leaving the ice behind.

Step 8

Garnish with saffron threads. Enjoy!