Light and Fizzy Bourbon Ginger Cocktail

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Bourbon drinks have a reputation of being strong cocktails reserved for the end of the evening. But they don’t have to be! This Bourbon Ginger Cocktail recipe uses ginger and lemon to create a light and fizzy bourbon drink that’s perfect for sipping during happy hour.

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Ingredients
How to Make It
Try These Bourbon Cocktails
Tips on Bourbon Ginger Cocktail
Happy Hour Snack Pairings
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Light and Fizzy Bourbon Ginger Cocktail

The smokiness of bourbon pairs deliciously with the fresh bite of ginger. Using ginger ale in this recipe keeps the ginger flavor in check while giving the drink a bit of sparkling fizz.

This is a great drink to serve to someone without a lot of bourbon experience or who’s never had a bourbon cocktail beyond an Old Fashioned. I often serve this drink to people who tell me they don't like bourbon. Typically they've never had a drink where bourbon wasn't the star, and this cocktail does a great job of blending flavors.

Ingredients

Bourbon - Choose your favorite bourbon for this recipe. Or create a twist on this drink with some homemade peach infused bourbon.
Ginger liqueur - This liqueur add both sweet and big ginger flavor to this cocktail.
Brown sugar syrup - Easily made with 2 ingredients, brown sugar syrup add sweetness and a subtle smokiness to the drink.
A lemon - Fresh lemon juice is best in any cocktail. You'll need about half of a lemon for this recipe. Before cutting it, give your lemon a roll on the counter while pressing down on it to release all of its juice and make it easier to squeeze.
Ginger ale or Ginger beer - This brings the fizz! Choose ginger ale for a more subtle ginger flavor or ginger beer to really up the ginger.

How to Make It

Combine bourbon, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and brown sugar syrup in a mixing glass filled with ice.

Pouring bourbon into a mixing glass full of ice

Stir the mixture with the ice for 5-10 seconds to chill it.

Strain into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice.

Pouring the mixed drink into a rocks glass full of ice.

Top with ginger ale.

Pouring ginger ale on the top of the bourbon cocktail.

Enjoy!

Try These Bourbon Cocktails

Tips on Bourbon Ginger Cocktail

Don’t have a mixing glass?

Use a mason jar! A wide mouthed mason jar is a great substitute for a mixing glass. Follow the directions for the cocktail. When it comes time to pour the drink into a glass, use the flat piece of the mason jar lid to hold the ice in the jar while you pour.

Make your syrup ahead of time.

Be sure to make the brown sugar syrup a few hours before you intend to make your cocktail. I like to make my syrups in the morning so they have lots of time to chill before happy hour arrives. Warm syrup will cause the ice to melt faster when you’re mixing your cocktail resulting in extra water in your drink, so always use cold syrups.