Mark the Festival of Lights with an Everything Bagel Martini

Back for its fourth year, Boston bartender Naomi Levy’s Maccabee Bar pop-up has become a local Hanukkah tradition. The cocktail-centric takeover will again be hosted by Variety Bar at Bow Market. It kicks off on the first full day of the Festival of Lights—Monday, Nov. 29 this year—before wrapping up nearly a week after the eight-day holiday on December 12.

In addition to Levy’s iconic creations like a Latke Sour, made with apple brandy, potato, and lemon, the 2021 iteration of Maccabee Bar will introduce some new cocktails. Savory cocktail lovers, don’t miss the Everything Bagel Martini, prepared with everything spice-infused gin, tomato water, dill, and vermouth, served in a coupe glass with—you guessed it—an everything spice rim. 

Consider it a more complex play on the Dirty Martini, Levy says. “The savory flavors of everything spice go hand-in-hand with the brightness of tomato and dill, and are rounded out by the vermouth,” she says.

What’s also new this year is that other Bow Market vendors are serving Hanukkah-inspired treats in tandem with Maccabee Bar’s residency. While latkes from Saus and hummus from Humaari will surely satisfy, Levy has a particular pairing in mind for the Everything Bagel Martini. 

“To get the full deli experience, the homemade lox from Hooked is a no-brainer,” she says. 

Brunch, anyone?