I absolutely love the spicy, zippy kick that ginger beer brings to a drink.
It is less sweet and much fizzier than regular ginger ale, making it an elite mixer for vodka, rum, gin, and beyond. I put together these 17 ginger beer cocktails so you can totally nail your next happy hour at home.
Ginger Beer Cocktails & Drink Recipes
1. Irish Mule
Ingredients: Irish whiskey, fresh lime juice, ginger beer, ice, lime wedge, fresh mint
2. Ginger Beer Paloma
I firmly believe that pink drinks are just inherently more fun to consume. This vibrant paloma delivers a huge punch of citrus and ginger with just a touch of sweetness.
The color looks absolutely ravishing in a glass filled to the brim with ice. Just stir grapefruit juice and tequila with a splash of agave before topping it off with bubbly ginger beer.
Ingredients: grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, mezcal or tequila, ginger beer, salt, lime slices
3. Moscow Mule
This classic drink is easily the best way to showcase the spicy glory of ginger beer. You get a super fizzy vodka base perfectly balanced by fresh lime and bright mint.
I highly recommend grabbing a bottle of Tito’s for its clean and slightly sweet profile. Just pour it all into a frosty copper mug and get ready for a seriously refreshing sip.
Ingredients: vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger beer, lime wedge
4. Ginger Beer Blood Orange Cocktail
Blood oranges always bring a highly special and dramatic flair to any drink they touch. This recipe goes all in by using fresh juice alongside a premium Sicilian blood orange liqueur.
Adding a splash of simple syrup and a heavy pour of bold ginger beer balances everything out beautifully. You end up with a wildly effervescent and citrus forward refreshment that guarantees a good time.
Ingredients: Stoli Ohranj vodka, Solerno Blood Orange liqueur, blood orange juice, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, ginger beer
5. Skeleton Key
This spooky libation gets its name from that gorgeous rusty color in the glass. Smooth bourbon meets up with highly fragrant elderflower liqueur and spicy ginger beer for a truly unique sip.
I always add a few drops of bitters to balance out the sweetness. It is definitely the ultimate sophisticated treat for your next Halloween gathering.
Ingredients: bourbon whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, ginger beer, bitters
6. Dark and Stormy
If you need an incredibly easy drink to make tonight, look no further. This recipe swaps out the usual vodka for dark rum to create a deeper flavor profile.
That rich rum holds up beautifully against the bold bite of a strong ginger beer. Serve it over ice with a wedge of lime and enjoy every dazzling drop.
Ingredients: ginger beer, dark rum, lime wedge, ice
7. Apple Cider Irish Mule
Autumn calls for cozy evenings and heavily spiced apple cider beverages. This specific mule brings Irish whiskey together with sweet cider and zippy ginger beer for pure liquid comfort.
I love dropping a cinnamon stick and fresh apple slices right into the frosty copper mug. It is practically begging to be served alongside a warm bowl of seasonal fruit cobbler.
Ingredients: Irish whiskey, apple cider, ginger beer, apple slices, cinnamon sticks
8. Ginger Beer Margaritas
I honestly never thought to put ginger beer in a margarita until now. The bubbles add this gorgeous effervescence that perfectly highlights the sweet citrus notes of the drink.
You will want to skip the store bought mixers entirely for this one. A little fresh lime and simple syrup keep the whole glass tasting incredibly bright and clean.
Ingredients: agave tequila, lime juice, ginger beer, simple syrup, ice, coarse salt
9. Foghorn Cocktail
Gin lovers will absolutely adore this vintage New York City concoction. It is a highly fragrant and fizzy drink that leans heavily on the botanicals of a good London dry or Old Tom gin.
A splash of tart lime juice cuts right through the robust ginger beer. You really end up with a supreme beverage that goes down entirely too fast.
Ingredients: Old Tom or London dry gin, freshly squeezed lime juice, ginger beer or ginger ale, lime wedge
10. Pimm’s Cup
I consider this simple drink the ultimate gateway into craft mixology. You just mix Pimm’s No. 1 and a quality ginger beer in a tall glass for an incredibly fancy presentation.
The floral gin liquor brings so much complex flavor to the table all on its own. Add a colorful pile of orange slices, strawberries, cucumber, and fresh mint to really make it pop.
Ingredients: Pimm’s No. 1, ginger beer, cucumber, orange, strawberry, mint
11. Kentucky Mule
We simply cannot discuss ginger beverages without giving a massive shoutout to the Kentucky mule. This incredibly easy recipe stands out by calling for high quality Kentucky bourbon.
A beautifully bright and bold ginger beer pairs beautifully with the rich caramel notes of the spirit. Your only real challenge will be deciding which award winning distillery to showcase in your glass.
Ingredients: bourbon or whiskey, ginger beer, lime juice, fresh mint, ice
12. White Wine Ginger Beer Sangria
A massive pitcher of sangria is my absolute favorite way to serve drinks to a crowd. Sparkling white wine and bubbly ginger beer team up for a sensational flavor pairing.
It gets even better when you add heaps of fresh fruit and a magical homemade ginger simple syrup. You can literally throw this together in fifteen minutes before your guests arrive.
Ingredients: white wine, ginger simple syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, ginger beer
13. El Diablo
I find this specific Mexican cocktail to be completely in a league of its own. Smooth reposado tequila and tangy creme de cassis join forces alongside a robust pour of ginger beer.
A sharp twist of lime and a few plump blackberries add the perfect amount of fruity flair on top. Calling this vibrant drink tantalizing feels like a massive understatement.
Ingredients: Reposado tequila, creme de cassis, lime juice, ginger beer, blackberry, lime wedge
14. Blueberry Buck Whiskey Cocktail
Any drink that blends a spirit with ginger beer and citrus qualifies as a buck. This particular version takes things up a notch with fresh berries and tart blueberry juice.
Grab your favorite top shelf Irish whiskey or bourbon to build the perfect base. I honestly think this is the ultimate summer refresher for relaxing around a campfire.
Ingredients: blueberry juice, lemon juice, blueberries, whiskey, ginger beer, fresh mint, lemon slice
15. Ginger Rickey
I love this exciting and festive spin on a classic gin Rickey. You mix up gin and tart cranberry juice before floating a generous splash of ginger beer right on top.
The final glass is fruity and floral with the perfect amount of fizz. It looks elegant enough for holiday parties and scales up beautifully in a large pitcher.
Ingredients: gin, cranberry juice, ginger beer, ice
16. Mexican Tequila Mule
Anyone who adores a good tequila pour needs to mix up a Mexican mule immediately. Fresh lime juice and spicy ginger beer honestly create the ultimate flavor bridge for agave spirits.
The real secret to nailing this foolproof beverage is simply choosing the right ginger mixer. Grab a super spicy bottle if you want a drink that really wakes up your palate.
Ingredients: tequila, lime juice, ginger beer, mint, lime
17. Horsefeather Cocktail
Do not let the unusual name fool you into skipping this insanely delicious beverage. It is essentially a regional take on a whiskey mule made famous in Kansas.
You just mix whiskey with lime and ginger beer before adding a heavy dash of aromatic bitters. Those bitters work wonders to calm the acidity and amplify every single flavor note.
Ingredients: ice, whiskey, ginger beer, Angostura bitters, lemon or lime wedge