What to Mix With Ginger Beer: 7 Picks (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on December 30, 2022 by Lydia Martin
If there’s a cocktail that can showcase ginger beer’s crowning glory, it is the Moscow Mule—but the fun doesn’t end there.
This spicy ginger finish is also perfect for mocktails and can create multiple Moscow Mule variations.
Its fizziness can add flair to concoctions and upgrade all kinds of mixed drinks.
Learn what to mix with ginger beer and serve summer in a glass with these recipes below. Read on.
Top 7 Best Ginger Beer Mixers
7. Vodka
Quick Description: Vodka and ginger beer combination plus a little lime juice makes a classic vodka-based concoction—the Moscow Mule cocktail.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2oz Vodka
- 4oz Ginger beer
- ½oz Lime juice
- 1pc Lime wedge, optional
Instructions: Pour the vodka and lime juice into a copper mug filled with ice. Top off with ginger beer and add an optional lime wedge garnish, then serve.
Serving: 1
6. Rum
Quick Description: This delicious highball cocktail with ginger beer, dark rum, and lime can create a Dark ’n Stormy cocktail, a rum version of Moscow Mule.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2oz Dark Rum
- 4oz Ginger beer
- ½oz Lime juice
- 1pc Lime wedge or dash of bitters
Instructions: Add dark rum and lime juice to a highball glass filled with ice. Pour ginger beer on top and garnish with a lime wedge or dash of bitters.
Serving: 1
5. Tequila
Quick Description: Ginger beer matched up with the Mexican twist—tequila can build a crisp and bold Mexican Mule cocktail.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2oz Tequila
- 4oz Ginger beer
- ½oz Lime juice
- 1pc Lime wheel or mint leaves
Instructions: Combine tequila, lime juice, and ginger beer in a copper mug, then fill it with ice. Serve with a lime wheel or mint leaves on top, and enjoy.
Serving: 1
4. Pimm’s No. 1
Quick Description: A gin-based liqueur like Pimm’s No. 1 plus ginger beer creates a summer cocktail called Pimm’s Cup.
“Ice cold ginger beer – that feisty, zesty stuff that brings tears to your eyes and make you sneeze.”
– Fennel Hudson, Countryside Author
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2oz Pimm’s No. 1
- 3½oz Ginger beer
- 1oz Lemonade
- Fresh mint sprig for garnish
Instructions: Pour Pimm’s No. 1 and lemonade into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with ginger beer and finish with a fresh mint sprig garnish.
Serving: 1
3. Lime Juice
Quick Description: You can make a refreshing and healthy Ginger Beer mocktail by mixing lime juice with the spicy ginger beer.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1oz Lime juice
- 5oz Ginger beer
- 1oz Simple syrup
- Mint leaves, for garnish
Instructions: Add lime juice and simple syrup in a highball glass filled with ice, then stir. Top with a ginger beer and garnish with mint leaves, then serve.
Serving: 1
2. Whiskey
Quick Description: Try this whiskey and ginger beer combination using Irish whiskey and make an Irish Mule cocktail.
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2oz Irish whiskey
- 6oz Ginger beer
- ½oz Lime juice
- Mint sprig, for garnish
Instructions: Add whiskey and lime juice to a highball glass. Fill the glass with ice, then top it with ginger beer. Garnish it with a mint sprig, and enjoy.
Serving: 1
1. Grapefruit Juice
Quick Description: The spiciness of ginger beer plus the fruity notes from grapefruit juice creates an extra special fruity non-alcoholic mixed drink.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3oz Grapefruit juice
- 3oz Ginger beer
- ½oz Lime juice
- ½oz Simple syrup
- Mint leaves, optional
Instructions: Combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until cold, pour it into a highball glass with ice, then garnish with mint leaves.
Serving: 1
FAQs
Can you drink ginger beer straight?
Yes, you can drink ginger beer straight. This bubbly beverage can be enjoyed by itself like any other fizzy soda.
Is ginger beer just a mixer?
No, ginger beer isn’t just a mixer. Even though ginger beer is a top choice for mixers in making cocktails, you can consume it on its own.
Is there alcohol in ginger beer?
In Summary
From simple mocktails to endless cocktail mule variations, ginger beer is the ultimate top mixer for refreshing concoctions—and making cocktails with it is never complicated.
Moscow Mule is a great choice to make your first ginger beer cocktail, but if you want it alcohol-free, with just some ingredient alterations, you can make mocktails with ginger beer.
Vodka, rum, tequila, lime juice, you name it—the zippy snap and spiciness of ginger beer can complement not just alcoholic drinks but also other fruit juices.
References:
- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ginger%20beer
- https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/drinks/a15873518/alcoholic-ginger-beer-vs-ginger-ale/
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.
