16 Snappy Ginger Beer Cocktails to Mix Up

Botella de llenado de un vaso de whisky con hielo sobre una mesa al aire libre con la luz del sol — Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Getty Images

From the Moscow mule to the dark and stormy, ginger beer is used to make some amazing mixed drinks. Ginger beer cocktails have an invigorating, snappy flavor with a touch of spice that is sure to tantalize anyone's taste buds.

This non-alcoholic drink mixer is a fantastic addition to any bar. It can be paired with a variety of flavors and works with nearly any liquor, from vodka and rum to whiskey and tequila.

There are many ginger beer options available as well. Some are spicier than others and you can even create your own mock ginger beer at home. No matter which you choose, use these tasty recipes to start your ginger beer journey.

Featured Video

01 of 16

Moscow Mule

The Spruce Eats

The first ginger beer cocktail that everyone should try is the Moscow mule. It's the drink that brought the spicy brew back into the spotlight. Incredibly easy, the recipe simply requires vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. If your bartender has been mixing this one up with ginger ale, you're missing out on the true taste of this drink.

The 8 Best Moscow Mule Mugs in 2021
02 of 16

Dark and Stormy

The Spruce Eats

The other essential ginger beer drink is the dark and stormy, which is for drinkers who prefer rum. To make the authentic recipe, you'll need to mix Gosling's Black Seal Rum with Barritt's Ginger Beer, though any brand of either ingredient will do. The lime juice is optional but worth trying as you explore the possibilities of this drink.

The 11 Best Ginger Beers for Moscow Mules and Beyond
03 of 16

Añejo Highball

Bill Boch / Getty Images

A modern classic, the añejo highball amplifies everything that's great about the dark and stormy. It's the ultimate summertime cocktail, made with aged rum, orange curaçao, and lime juice. Add bitters and top it off with an impressive ginger beer, and a refreshing highball is yours to enjoy.
04 of 16

Gin Gin Mule

The Spruce Eats

Equally popular, the gin gin mule was also influenced by classic cocktails, but designed for today's drinkers. It's a bit of a twist between a Moscow mule and a mojito, though gin is the liquor of choice. The drink is a flavor sensation, offering a sweet lime and mint base that is a delight against the botanicals of a great gin and the spice of ginger beer.

Continue to 5 of 16 below.
05 of 16

Irish Ale

The Spruce Eats

If whiskey is more your speed, the Irish ale is the drink for you. Similar to the others, this refreshing tall drink is a fantastic way to enjoy that Irish whiskey in your bar. Simply add lime and ginger beer and you have an ice-cold beverage that can easily become your new everyday drink.
06 of 16

El Diablo

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Tequila is on the menu this time around and el diablo is a cocktail you won't want to miss. It's a fun drink to mix up and, if you want, can even be made with extra visual pizzazz. This recipe uses the same lime juice and ginger beer accents as the other drinks, but it adds a new flavor. Backed up by reposado tequila, crème de cassis gives it a wonderful fruity sweetness.
07 of 16

Foghorn

The Spruce

The foghorn is a fascinating taste experience. Think of it as a simplified gin-gin mule, though this cocktail predates that one by more than a few decades. This is a simple mixed drink of gin and ginger beer that was created at the renowned Waldorf-Astoria. To be true to the original, pick up a bottle of Old Tom gin.
08 of 16

Christi Extreme

Photography by Bobi/Moment/Getty Images

The beauty of exploring ginger beer cocktails is that most have a few ingredients in common. This allows you to give the base a new flavor profile with a few simple additions. That's what happens in the Christi extreme, which begins with a top-shelf vodka, ginger beer, and lime. Building on that mule base, you'll add lingonberry syrup and grapefruit juice. It's fun and lively, perfect for those times when you want to impress with an unusual taste.

Continue to 9 of 16 below.
09 of 16

Broad Stripes and Bright Stars

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

When you're ready for a real drink adventure, mix up the very interesting broad stripes and bright stars cocktail. It is nothing short of extraordinary, starting off with a base of blueberry vodka and absinthe. The flavors build up from there, with fresh blueberries, raspberry, lemon, and simple syrup. Ginger beer marries all of that into one unforgettable drink.
10 of 16

Skeleton Key

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Designed for Halloween, the skeleton key is a fascinating bourbon cocktail that can work just as well any day of the year. At first, it seems normal, with a foundation of whiskey, St. Germain, and lemon topped with ginger beer. To give it a "bloody" twist, you'll douse it with more bitters than you've poured in your life. It's an unusual drink, but it really does work!
11 of 16

Christmas Mule

The Spruce Eats

Warming up your ginger beer brings the mixer's spice alive and creates a beverage that is as comforting as any other hot cocktail. In the Christmas mule, steaming ginger beer is a wonderful and simple complement for a pear vodka. A cinnamon stick adds another layer of flavor, resulting in a cocktail that will get you through the coldest nights of the year.
12 of 16

Cranberry Ginger Shandy

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

The shandy is a favorite beer mixed drink for summer, but with a few tweaks, it can become an autumnal delight. In the cranberry ginger shandy recipe, bright lemons are swapped out for the darker taste of cranberry juice and ginger beer adds its warming spice. Finish it off with a nice wheat beer or pale ale and you have a pitcher drink ready for fall entertaining.

Continue to 13 of 16 below.
13 of 16

Apple Cinnamon Mule

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

The apple cinnamon mule is another seasonal wonder and it mixes up quickly. It pairs a fine vodka with apple cider and lime juice, then tops it off with ginger beer. Adding an apple slice and cinnamon stick garnish will continue to infuse flavor into the mix, leaving you satisfied to the very last sip.
14 of 16

Early Autumn

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

This recipe is perfect for anyone who loves homemade liquor infusions. You'll start out by creating an apple- and pear-infused gin. After a week, that will be ready to mix with absinthe, apple cider, pear brandy, and chocolate bitters. When you add a bold ginger beer, the early autumn offers a taste you will not find in any other cocktail.
15 of 16

Spiced Silver Bell

The Spruce Eats / S&C Design Studios

Spice up the holiday season with this enchanting tequila cocktail. You'll need to make a cranberry spice syrup with the fresh berries and warming spices. Once that's cool, simply mix it with tequila, lime juice, and ginger beer and the spiced silver bell is ready for your Christmas party.
16 of 16

Pot of Gold

jackmalipan / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Ginger beer is just as fitting in spring and the pot of gold is a wonderful drink to enjoy as the seasons change. Showcasing ginger beer's softer side, the recipe combines the taste of cucumber, elderflower, and mint in a sparkling vodka martini that is both beautiful and uplifting.