If you’re craving a drink that’s equal parts refreshing and fiery, ginger is your new best friend. It’s the flavor that wakes up your senses and makes every cocktail feel a little more exciting. These 14 ginger cocktails are proof that a little spice goes a long way.
Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is a refreshing cocktail. It mixes vodka with the spicy kick of ginger beer and a splash of lime juice.
Here’s what you need to make one:
- 2 oz vodka
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 4 oz chilled ginger beer
It’s best served in a copper mug. This helps keep the drink cold.
To prepare, follow these steps:
- Fill the copper mug with ice.
- Add the vodka and lime juice.
- Pour in the ginger beer.
- Stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wedge if you like.
This drink was born in the 1940s in the United States. Although it has a Russian-inspired name, it’s American. The combination of ingredients gives it a unique taste that many enjoy.
Ginger Mojito
Ginger Mojito offers a refreshing twist on the classic mojito, combining the zing of ginger with mint and lime. This cocktail is perfect if you enjoy a balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 12 fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon ginger syrup
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 2 ounces white rum
- Crushed ice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- Mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions:
- Muddle the ginger slices in a cocktail shaker to release the flavors.
- Add the mint leaves and gently muddle to bruise them.
- Pour in lime juice, rum, and ginger syrup.
- Add ice and shake the mixture well.
- Strain the mix into a highball glass filled with crushed ice.
- Top with ginger beer, stir, and garnish with a mint sprig.
Creating a Ginger Mojito is about balancing the ingredients to your taste. Adjust the amount of ginger if you prefer a spicier drink. Use fresh mint for the best flavor. This cocktail is easy to customize and delicious to serve.
Dark And Stormy
The Dark and Stormy cocktail is a classic choice featuring dark rum. This drink originates from Bermuda and combines well with ginger beer, providing a spicy, refreshing taste.
Here’s how you can make a Dark and Stormy:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Gosling’s Black Seal Rum
- 4 to 5 oz. ginger beer
- 0.5 oz. lime juice
- Ice for serving
Instructions:
- Fill a tall glass with ice.
- Add the lime juice and ginger beer to the glass, leaving space at the top.
- Carefully float the rum on top for a layered effect.
- Garnish with a lime wedge, if desired.
Use Gosling’s Black Seal Rum for authenticity. This rum’s rich flavor complements the spiciness of the ginger beer. Adjust the lime juice according to your taste preference. This versatile combination makes it perfect for any occasion.
Ginger Margarita
Ginger Margarita combines the tropical flavors of tequila with a zesty ginger twist. This drink offers a refreshing alternative to the classic Margarita, perfect for spice lovers.
Ingredients
- 2 oz tequila
- 1 oz lime juice
- 1 oz ginger simple syrup
- 0.5 oz orange liqueur
- Salt or sugar for rim (optional)
- Lime wedge for garnish
Ginger Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup sliced fresh ginger
Instructions
- Prepare the Rim: Rub a lime wedge on the rim of your glass. Dip it in salt or sugar.
- Make Ginger Simple Syrup: Boil water and sugar. Add ginger. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Cool and strain.
- Mix Margarita: Combine tequila, lime juice, ginger syrup, and orange liqueur in a shaker with ice.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Serve: Strain into a glass of choice. Add ice if desired.
- Garnish with a lime wedge for an extra citrus touch.
Penicillin Cocktail
The Penicillin Cocktail is a popular drink in the world of ginger cocktails. It offers a bold flavor profile with a mix of smoky and sweet elements.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz blended Scotch whisky
- 3/4 oz honey-ginger syrup
- 3/4 oz lemon juice
- 1/4 oz Islay single malt Scotch
- Ice cubes
- Candied ginger, for garnish
Instructions:
Make honey-ginger syrup:
- Combine 1 cup honey, 1 cup water, and 100g peeled, sliced ginger in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for 5 minutes.
- Cool, strain, and store in the fridge.
Cocktail preparation:
- Add blended Scotch, honey-ginger syrup, and lemon juice to a shaker.
- Fill shaker halfway with ice.
- Shake vigorously until chilled for about 30 seconds.
Finishing touches:
- Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice.
- Float the Islay Scotch on top.
- Garnish with candied ginger.
Ginger Beer Paloma
The Ginger Beer Paloma is a refreshing cocktail. It combines tangy citrus with a hint of spice. You’ll enjoy its unique twist on the classic Paloma.
Ingredients
- 2 oz grapefruit juice
- 0.5 oz lime juice
- 1 oz tequila
- 0.5 oz agave syrup (optional)
- 4 oz ginger beer
- Kosher salt
- Grapefruit wedge for garnish
Instructions
- Rub a grapefruit wedge around the rim of your glass.
- Dip the rim in kosher salt for a tasty edge.
- Fill a shaker with ice. Add grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila, and agave syrup.
- Shake well until chilled.
- Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice.
- Top with ginger beer and garnish with a grapefruit wedge.
Whiskey Ginger
A Whiskey Ginger is a classic cocktail that combines whiskey with ginger ale.
To make a Whiskey Ginger, you need:
- 2 ounces of whiskey (choose your favorite brand)
- Ginger ale (enough to fill the glass)
- Ice (fill the glass)
- Lime wedge (optional)
Instructions:
- Fill a highball glass with ice.
- Pour the whiskey over the ice.
- Top with ginger ale.
- Squeeze a lime wedge over the drink and drop it in.
- Stir gently.
Ginger Smash
Ginger Smash cocktails bring a spicy twist to traditional drinks. You can easily make one at home, using ingredients you might already have. Let’s explore a few popular variations.
Classic Ginger Smash:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz rum
- 1/2 oz maraschino liqueur
- 1/2 oz apple liqueur
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Pineapple, ginger, and sugar for muddling
- Pineapple leaf for garnish
Instructions:
- Muddle the pineapple, ginger, and sugar into a paste.
- Add all liquids except garnish.
- Shake with ice.
- Pour into a glass unstrained.
- Garnish with pineapple leaf.
Pomegranate Ginger Smash:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
- Ginger beer
- Fresh ginger and rosemary mixed with sugar for the rim
Instructions:
- Prepare glasses by dipping rims in sugar mixture.
- Fill glasses with ice.
- Mix vodka and juice in a glass.
- Top with ginger beer; stir.
Ginger Cherry Smash:
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin
- 6 pitted cherries
- 1/2 oz ginger liqueur
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 oz lime juice
- Club soda, optional
Instructions:
- Muddle cherries and sugar.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Shake with ice.
- Top with soda or serve plain.
Ginger Gin Fizz
Ginger Gin Fizz is a fresh and invigorating cocktail. It combines the spiciness of ginger with the herbal notes of gin. This drink is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz gin
- 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
- 3/4 oz simple syrup
- 1 oz ginger beer
- Ice
- Lime wedge and mint for garnish
Instructions:
- Add gin, lime juice, and simple syrup to a shaker with ice.
- Shake for 10 seconds.
- Strain into a glass filled with ice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and mint.
Adjust sweetness or spiciness by varying the amounts of simple syrup and ginger beer. This cocktail balances flavor and refreshment. Enjoy a Ginger Gin Fizz for a delightful experience.
Spicy Ginger Martini
A Spicy Ginger Martini adds a zesty twist to the classic cocktail. This drink combines bold flavors for a refreshing experience.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz gin or vodka
- 1 oz fresh ginger juice
- 0.5 oz lime juice
- 0.5 oz simple syrup
- Ice cubes
- Fresh ginger slices for garnish
Instructions:
- Combine Ingredients: In a cocktail shaker, add gin or vodka, fresh ginger juice, lime juice, and simple syrup.
- Add Ice: Fill the shaker with ice cubes.
- Shake: Close the shaker and shake well for about 10 seconds until cold.
- Strain: Strain the mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish: Serve with fresh ginger slices on top for extra zest.
Enjoy your Spicy Ginger Martini. Tailor the garnish to your taste. Sip slowly to savor its flavors.
Ginger Daiquiri
The Ginger Daiquiri offers a refreshing twist on a classic cocktail. It combines the zesty flavor of ginger with the vibrant notes of lime. You can create this delightful drink at home with ease. Follow these simple steps.
Classic Ginger Daiquiri
Ingredients:
- 2 oz white rum
- 1 oz ginger syrup
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- Ice
- Orange peel for garnish
Instructions:
- Swipe the orange peel on the rim of a cocktail glass.
- Coat the rim with ginger sugar.
- Combine rum, ginger syrup, and lime juice in a shaker with ice.
- Shake well, then strain into the glass.
- Garnish with orange peel.
Virgin Ginger Daiquiri
For a non-alcoholic version, try the Virgin Ginger Daiquiri. It keeps the zing but skips the rum.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz Ritual Rum Alternative
- 1 oz ginger syrup
- 1 oz lime juice
- Dash of bitters (optional)
- Ice
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients to a shaker with ice.
- Shake thoroughly.
- Strain into a chilled glass.
- Garnish with mint.
Ginger Old Fashioned
The Ginger Old Fashioned is a refreshing twist on a classic cocktail. Ginger brings a subtle warmth to the drink. It’s perfect for those who enjoy traditional cocktails with a spicy edge.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz bourbon
- 2 dashes bitters
- Ginger ale or ginger beer
- Fresh ginger (optional)
- Ice
- Cherry for garnish
Instructions:
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Add 2 oz of bourbon.
- Add 2 dashes of bitters.
- Top with ginger ale or ginger beer.
- Stir gently to mix.
- Garnish with a cherry.
For an extra ginger kick, you can add fresh ginger. Muddle it before adding to the glass, then follow the steps above. It’s an easy way to enhance flavor. This cocktail provides complexity with minimal effort. Enjoy your Ginger Old Fashioned at any casual gathering!
Ginger Caipirinha
Explore the refreshing taste of a Ginger Caipirinha. This drink adds a spicy twist to the classic Brazilian cocktail. The ginger flavor enhances the lime and cachaça. Enjoy a unique taste.
Ingredients:
- 2-inch fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 lime, quartered
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 ounces cachaça
- Crushed ice
Instructions:
- In an old-fashioned glass, muddle the ginger slices, lime wedges, and sugar. Release the lime juice.
- Add crushed ice. Fill the glass three-quarters full.
- Pour the cachaça over the ice.
- Stir well to mix.
- Serve with a lime garnish for an extra zing.
Ginger Lemon Drop
The Ginger Lemon Drop cocktail combines the warmth of ginger with the bright zing of lemon. It’s a refreshing choice for any occasion. Easy to make and delightful to taste, this drink is sure to impress.
Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz ginger syrup
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
- Lemon twist (for garnish)
- Sugar (for glass rim)
- Ice
Instructions
Prepare the glass:
- Rub a lemon wedge around the rim.
- Dip the rim into sugar to coat.
Mix the drink:
- Add vodka, ginger syrup, and lemon juice to a shaker.
- Fill with ice.
- Shake well until chilled.
Serve:
- Strain into the prepared glass.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
