Don’t be fooled by the sudden heat waves Mother Nature is providing us. Leaves are transforming from emerald to gold and cool, crisp winds are calling for cozy blankets to canoodle with a beau by the fire. Fall is officially here and in time for the new season, mixologists have uncovered the next hot flavor to add another layer of innovation and intrigue to their masterpieces. Previous bartenders have featured mint, pomegranate, and basil to their drinks, making going out on a chilly night worth it. Recently, the title for top cocktail ingredient has been passed to a new herb, which has been quietly charming people for thousands of years. Exotic and deliciously sophisticated, ginger is candy sweet and fiery all at the same time, giving cocktail recipes a kick that’ll jumpstart any night out. When infusing ginger into vodka, one can savor its irresistibly fresh notes, ranging from cinnamon to roasted oranges. Check out our top picks for best ginger drinks and heat up your autumn evenings with these cool concoctions that you’ll easily fall in love with.
Top Ginger Cocktail: Fruit and Gingerly
This tart number, created by Adam Wilson of Beretta in San Francisco, tones down the sizzling spice with orange, grapefruit, pineapple, and lime juices. To keep things festive, handpicked cranberries are added to Fruit and Gingerly, making it a fizzy and lip smacking treat for Happy Hour. With one sip of a Fruit and Gingerly, you won’t feel sorry that summer is over.
Ingredients
2 oz. Ginger-infused vodka (We used SKYY Infusions Ginger)
0.5 oz. Orange Juice
0.5 oz. Grapefruit Juice
0.5 oz. Lime Juice
1.5 Tbsp. Cranberries
3 chunks of Pineapple
Club Soda
Preparation
Muddle cranberries and pineapple in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and rest of ingredients except soda and shake vigorously. Pour into a Collins glass with fresh ice and top with soda. Garnish with chunk of pineapple and/or three cranberries on a toothpick laid horizontally over rim of the glass.
Top Ginger Cocktail: Sweet Heat
Looking to spice things up? Then get ready to set your evenings on fire with Sweet Heat. This cocktail, created by Alex Straus of Suite 700 at the Hotel Shangri-La in Los Angeles, perfectly exemplifies the sweet and spicy notes of ginger, especially when Habanero pepper and vodka are added. We dare you to finish this drink with one gulp.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Ginger-infused vodka (We used SKYY Infusions Ginger)
0.5 oz. Small, de-seeded Habanero pepper slice
0.75 oz. Agave syrup
0.75 oz. Lime juice
Candied ginger
Preparation
Gently muddle pepper slice in cocktail shaker. Add the rest of the ingredients, with the exception of candied ginger, with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with candied ginger on rim of glass.
Top Ginger Cocktail: Ginger Sour
It’s difficult to resist a traditional Whisky Sour, which calls for sugar and lemon juice, but when you replace the smooth liquor with ginger-infused vodka, it’s certain to knock you out-and you’ll love it! Wilson brings us another prize from his bar, which includes maple syrup for fall, as well as a dash of egg whites to give it a foamy texture. Be warned, Ginger Sours are potent and can trigger scandalous behavior.
Ingredients
2 oz. Ginger-infused vodka (We used SKYY Infusions Ginger)
1 oz. Lemon juice
0.5 oz. Egg white
0.5 oz. Maple syrup
1 Lemon twist
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with twist of lemon.
Top Ginger Cocktail: Ginger Goddess
You can never go wrong with a flute of bubbly, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a yummy twist. Ginger Goddess, by Straus, is the ideal drink for champagne lovers as it incorporates the French wine with juicy kiwi, wintry pears, and ginger-infused vodka. Gents, order a Ginger Goddess to let any special lady know how you feel about them.
Ingredients
1.5 oz. Ginger-infused vodka (We used SKYY Infusions Ginger)
Kiwi slices
3 Large slices of Anjou pear
Champagne
Preparation
Muddle kiwi and pear in a cocktail shaker. Add ginger-infused vodka with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a champagne flute and top with champagne. Garnish with a slice of kiwi.
Top Ginger Cocktail: Ginger & Bloody Mary Ann
Need a quick pick-me-up for brunch? Skip the usual Bloody Marys and go for Wilson’s more sophisticated version of the classic cocktail. Ginger & Bloody Mary Ann revamps the old favorite with expected tomato juice and smoky Worcestershire sauce, but it also features some wonderfully bizarre additions, such as salted capers and bacon bits. However, just because a Ginger & Bloody Mary Ann could be a meal on its own doesn’t mean that it should be-unless you prefer a bloody migraine to finish your day.
Ingredients
2 oz. Ginger-infused vodka (We used SKYY Infusions Ginger)
4 oz. Tomato juice
0.5 oz. Lemon juice
0.5 Tbsp. Salted capers
1 Tbsp. Bacon bits
2 Dashes Worcestershire sauce
1 Pickled green bean
Preparation
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Garnish with pickled green bean.
