Drinks Cocktails Whiskey & Bourbon Cocktails Spicy Whiskey Ginger 5.0 (2) 2 Reviews Try ginger three ways in this simple whiskey cocktail. By Lucy Simon Lucy Simon Lucy Simon is a New York-based wine, spirits, and food writer has been with Food & Wine since the spring of 2021. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 5, 2024 Tested by Julia Levy Tested by Julia Levy Julia Levy is an eater, maker and dabbler in all things food. With nearly a decade of work experience, over 1,000 recipes tested, hundreds of recipes developed and just as many articles published, she has become a veritable resource for all your food questions. Her work has appeared in Cooking Light, MyRecipes, Southern Living, Real Simple, Fine Cooking and other publications and websites. Meet the Food & Wine Test Kitchen Save Rate PRINT Share Close Photo: Linda Xiao / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley Total Time: 2 mins Yield: 1 drink Jump to recipe The combination of whiskey and ginger ale is a dive bar classic, but can often fall flat for those seeking a drink with a bit more flavor. Ginger and whiskey are a great match, but store-bought ginger ale is often too subtle to properly stand up to the caramel, spice, and vanilla notes of whiskey after being mixed. Consider the Spicy Whiskey Ginger an ode to the original. By combining fresh muddled ginger with spicy-sweet ginger syrup and piquant ginger beer, this drink has enough heat and flavor to contrast, and not just complement, full-flavored whiskey. Frequently Asked Questions What is a whiskey ginger? A whiskey ginger is a classic well drink (also known as a rail drink) made from whiskey and ginger ale. It's sometimes made with ginger beer, though ginger ale is the most classic. What the best whiskey for a Spicy Whiskey Ginger? There are a lot of great whiskeys on the market, and because the category includes bourbon, rye, and American single malt, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. When picking a whiskey to mix with, don’t overthink it: Choose something good enough that you’d sip it neat, but not so precious that you’ll overthink it. We like Woodford Reserve’s Distiller’s Select for its sub-$40 price point and sweet toffee and toast notes. 21 Whiskey Cocktail Recipes for Every Enthusiast Notes from the Test Kitchen Our testers preferred making this cocktail with bourbon over other types of whiskey like rye. As a predominantly corn-based whiskey, bourbon's sweeter notes blend harmoniously with the other ingredients, while balancing the ginger's heat. The more peppery aspects of rye whiskey can clash with ginger’s natural spice. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced 1 1/2 ounces whiskey 1/2 ounce ginger syrup 4 ounces ginger beer (such as Reed's Strongest) Directions Muddle ginger slices in a rocks glass until crushed, about 30 seconds. Add whiskey, ginger syrup, and large ice cube. Top with ginger beer, and stir to combine. Serve immediately. Rate It Print