My last blog post shared a cocktail in the spirit of Chinese New Year called a ‘Happy Dragon cocktail’ made with homemade Ginger-Infused Vodka. It’s a cinch and I’ll provide the instructions so you may do the same.
Ginger is a coveted culinary and medicinal root. I have addicted friends who eat it like a beaver chomps through trees. It has a nice warming effect and is great for ailments of the stomach. (You may have heard of the motion sick remedy of Ginger Pills). I for one make a tea from it during the winter with a few 1/8 inch slices of unpeeled ginger, a slice of lemon and a bit of honey in teacup filled with boiling water. It’s light, flavorful and I’m sure good for me!
Ginger is a root and when mature it bears spiciness (like arugula is spicy, not like chilies). It is a distinct flavor you’ll identify in most Asian cuisine though it’s present in international cuisine. When infused in the vodka the vodka has a clear ginger flavor but it’s not strong in the way something like crystallized ginger is. Makes for a unique twist in vodka cocktails.
GINGER-INFUSED VODKA
I suggest using very light flavored Vodka for this infusion desiring the ginger to be the flavor to shine through.
Yield: approximately 2 cups infused vodka
Ingredients:
· ½ cup unpeeled ginger, sliced (about 1/8th inch thick)
· 2 cups quality Vodka
Place ginger and vodka in a sealable glass jar. Set in a dark location. Check flavor after 7 days. If it is strong enough for your taste you can begin to use it. If you’d like a stronger flavor allow it to sit 3-4 additional days, taste and either use or allow to sit longer. I did not remove the ginger from my Vodka once it was done though you can.
GINGERTINI
A ginger spin on a classic cocktail. I garnished with sliced kumquats on a skewer.
· 2 ounces Ginger-Infused Vodka
· 1 ounce Martini and Rossi Rosso Vermouth
· Splash Lemon Bitters
POMEGRANATE GINGER SPARKLER
I use organic, unfiltered pomegranate juice so it has a darker reddish-brown color to it that I love.
Ingredients:
· 1 ½ ounces Ginger-Infused Vodka
· ½ ounce Lemon Vodka
· ½ ounce Simple Syrup
· 2 ounces unsweetened Pomegranate juice
· Ginger ale
Combine vodkas, simple syrup and pomegranate juice in a shaker with ice. Shake and pour into a highball glass filled with ice. Pour in Ginger ale to fill glass. I garnished with a slice of an Asian pear.
A few straight forward options; one a redo of a classic Vodka Tonic….
GINGER-VODKA TONIC
· 1 ½ -2 ounces Ginger-Infused Vodka
· Tonic
Fill a highball glass with ice. Add vodka and fill with a quality tonic.
GINGER-VODKA AND GINGER ALE
· 1 ½ -2 ounces Ginger-Infused Vodka
· Ginger ale
Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in vodka and fill with Ginger ale.
In case you missed this…..
HAPPY DRAGON COCKTAIL
This drink is very fresh tasting with the tangerine juice and ginger. You could easily make it non-alcoholic by omitting the ginger-infused vodka.
Makes: I cocktail
· 1 to 1 ½ ounce Ginger-Infused Vodka
· Juice of 2 tangerines, freshly squeezed
· Splash lychee fruit syrup (most easily found from a can of lychees)
· Ginger ale to fill
Fill an 8 ounce flute with ice. In a separate glass add the ginger-infused vodka, tangerine juice and lychee syrup. Stir and pour into the flute. Fill glass with ginger ale. Garnish with a lychee fruit on a skewer.
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Hot damn! I hadn't even thought to make my own infused spirits at home!
The happy dragon cocktail sounds amazing, I love lychee to death.
I'll warn you Kiri, once one opens the infusing door there are no limits! I look at almost everything as 'infusable' now!
Goodness, how do you get anything done with all of these wonderful cocktails in your life?!
I might just have to switch from wine to hard liquor so I can try some!
I think the better question is 'how do you have any space in your pantry with all the mason jars of infusions'? I do more creating than drinking.
Not only am I going to infuse some vodka, I am trying out your warming tea.
I hope you will try the tea! It's very good especially if you are feeling under the weather.
I am going to have to try ginger infused vodka. Right now in my cool dark place I have mason jars of bubble gum infused vodka, resse's peanut butter cup infused vodka and peppermint infused vodka. I have two more days left in the process. As soon as those are done, I'll be starting the ginger one! Yum.
Wow! That is quite a collection of vodkas. I wonder if you'll be making up cocktails with them all and if so I'd love to see them!
TGIF!!! LOVIN’ the sound of infusing ginger to make all these amazing cocktails. I can’t wait to try it. I bet these drinks are amazing. WOWZA!
Hi Yvette! Great to have you pop by and thank you for your kind remarks about the cocktails! It's a fresh twist on regular vodka and certainly without limit on how it could be used! Have a great weekend.
I am looking forward to trying this and know I'll want to infuse some of everything.
I’m SO glad I found your site ! I love infusing spirits… I have a recipe where I infuse fresh ginger with tequila. I’ve also invented a drink where I infuse ginger with gin, add fresh juiced cucumber, fresh squeezed lime juice, a splash of simple syrup, shaken with ice and served in a chilled martini glass (I keep a dozen in my freezer at all times – for emergencies), and served with either a paper thin cucumber floater, or a sprig of fresh mint. Hail Daylight Savings Time !
I’m glad you found me too Tre! I agree on the infusing. Once you start the world of possibilities open up, don’t they? I love the gingery things you’ve made! I made some Ginger Vodka last year that I wound into a Chinese New Year cocktail with mandarin orange. It’s a great ingredient. Thanks for ‘popping in’; hope you’ll continue to find things your like and keep me posted on your inventions too!