This bubbly cocktail features champagne, ginger beer, rhubarb, cardamom, and just a hint of vanilla. Helen Rosner
Ginger ale, and its spicier, fermented cousin ginger beer, are ideal cocktail mixers. The effervescence lightens up a summery highball, while the ginger’s bite tames spirits. We’ve rounded up our favorite ginger ale and ginger beer cocktail recipes.
Ginger ale and ginger beer can both be purchased, but it’s fun and easy to make them on your own. For ginger ale, simply make a syrup out of water, ginger, sugar, and a dash of black peppercorns, then mix it with soda water. To make ginger beer, brew up a similar ginger mixture and add in spices and champagne yeast. Strain the mixture, bottle it, and after a day of fermentation you have your very own ginger beer!
Whether you make or buy, you’ve got delicious recipes to try. The Moscow Mule is a classic mix of ginger beer and vodka. If you steep the vodka with lemongrass and grapefruit to make aquavit then you have a variation called a Swedish Mule, while swapping the vodka out for gin and adding a little mint makes a Gin-Gin Mule.
The Dark ‘N Stormy is another classic ginger beer cocktail, with black rum and ginger beer swirling together like storm clouds. The Black and Stormy is a variation that kicks up the spice with ginger liqueur.
For a summertime drink for your next cookout, mix together a pitcher of our Strawberry Pimm’s Cup with ginger ale and kaffir lime leaves.
Check out all of our favorite ginger ale and ginger beer cocktail recipes, plus recipes for homemade ginger beer and ginger syrup!
Ginger Beer
Any of these cocktails can be made with store-bought ginger beer. But if you want to go the extra mile, you can brew your own from scratch.
Ginger Syrup
Not quite up to brewing your own ginger beer? An easier option is to make your own ginger ale by cooking up a batch of this ginger syrup and mixing it with soda water.
Pimm’s Cup #21
Inspired by our list of Friday cocktails, bartender Michael Neff noticed that bitter flavors were prominent, as were fizzy drinks made with fresh fruit and herbs. To that end, he created a modified Pimm’s Cup, using Cynar to add a bit more bitter tang and ginger beer for spice. Fresh fruit and herbs round out the (almost) traditional summer refresher. Get the recipe for Pimm’s Cup #21 »
Cool Confusion
A refreshing marriage between a Tom Collins and a Dark n’ Stormy, this lime and ginger beer-spiked gin cocktail has an intriguing herbal undertone thanks to Amaro Abano, a zesty Italian digestif with notes of bitter orange, cardamom, and white pepper. Get the recipe for Cool Confusion »
El Diablo
Black-currant-flavored crème de cassis adds fruity dimension and a lovely pink hue to this ginger beer and tequila cocktail from the 1940s.
Diablo Blanco
This variation on the El Diablo swaps crème de cassis for black currant jam and earthy honey.
Eureka Punch
Martin Cate of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco combines Chartreuse and ginger ale in this refreshing tropical drink.
Cranberry Crush
Spiced rum and fiery ginger beer combine with tart cranberry juice in this flavorful cool-weather cocktail.
Book Club Sangria
This sweet-tart wine punch was invented by members of the Junior League of Houston book club in the 1970s.
Venetian Cup
A mix of Campari, Pimm’s No. 1, and ginger beer, this drink makes an excellent warm weather apéritif.
The Black and Stormy
This recipe for a modified Dark and Stormy uses fresh ginger juice for a kick of refreshing heat.
Rhubarb Fizz
This bubbly cocktail features champagne, ginger beer, rhubarb, cardamom, and just a hint of vanilla.
Horse’s Neck
This simple highball mixes cognac with ginger beer and a spiral peel of a whole lemon.
