Relax the day away as you sip on the strong, spiced and sweet Ginger Lemonade.
The rickety old ship was starting to shake. Blasting out of interstellar space and coming into the orbit of the ancient waystation/giftshop in the middle of the solar system always put a strain on the second-hand work vessel. After ten galactic years, it might be time to trade it in for something newer and not as loud. But first, I had to dock this rustbucket and grab a drink.
It had been at least four years since I had set foot on terra firma. My little sleeping cubicle back on Earth was calling my name after working salvage way out past the planetoids that were so insignificant they didn’t have names. After paying the 40,000 spacebucks for parking, I soon found myself walking through the biggest crossroads in the system, looking for my favorite watering hole.
In a far corner of this grungy and oil-soaked station, I sat down on a rat-eaten old stool and ordered my favorite libation from the only barkeep in off-world that had a supply of planet-side ingredients. I wanted a taste of home, and they poured me a tart, tangy and spicy Ginger Lemonade. Even the ice cubes were made with actual water and not repurposed Freon from spent blaster cannisters.
I sat and drank in exhausted silence, tired from my journey and the dangerous, nightmare-inducing work of starfaring construction. Each sip of the lemon juice and ginger-infused vodka concoction brought me closer to home, pining for a supposedly simpler time from eons past.
What is the best vodka to use in a Ginger Lemonade?
Since we’re making a large amount of this concoction, we’ll be searching for a cost-effective spirit that’s also smooth and clean-tasting. Don’t get the cheapest thing on the shelf, but find a vodka that you’re familiar with that will both have the right crisp texture and amount of heat on the finish. You’ll want your alcohol to balance with the ginger syrup and lemon juice, neither disappearing amongst them or coming on too strong as you sip.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces lemon juice
- 4 ounces ginger syrup
- Lemon wheels and sprigs of fresh mint
- 16 ounces club soda divided
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the vodka, fresh lemon juice, and ginger syrup. Add lemon wheels and mint sprigs and stir well to mix.
- Fill the pitcher about halfway with ice. Stir continuously for about 20-30 seconds to chill and properly dilute the mixture.
- Fill four collins or highball glasses with fresh ice and strain the cocktail mixture from the pitcher, dividing it evenly among the prepared glasses. Top each glass with chilled club soda.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
Fill some highball or collins glasses with ice and pour your beverage in. Garnish each with a few fresh sprigs of mint and lemon wheels.
What is the best option for ginger syrup?
While you can purchase premade and packaged ginger syrup from your local grocery or liquor store, you can also make your own at home. Chop up some fresh ginger and gently boil it with equal parts water and sugar, then drain into a resealable glass bottle or jar and keep chilled in your fridge.
Other drinks similar to the Ginger Lemonade
The tart sweetness of citrus and rich flavor of ginger always find a comfortable home in cocktails. After sipping on a few Ginger Lemonades on a hot day, you may be furrowing your sweaty brow, wondering how many mixed drinks out there feature these irresistible elements. Out of the almost countless examples, here are a few you can try out this weekend.
- Frozen Ginger Peach Bellini – Ginger syrup helps make this frozen treat a summertime favorite.
- Moscow Mule – A classic combination of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.
- Lemonade Cocktail – This vodka drink is both vibrant and fizzy.
- Horse’s Neck – A long strip of lemon peel adds some zip to the mixture of bourbon and ginger ale.
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