17 Best Ginger Beer Cocktails

Ginger beer cocktails will be your new obsession once you get a sip of these invigorating fizzy drinks. 

The spicey, zippy snap of ginger beer makes a marvelous mixer for a range of spirits. Rum, vodka, gin, you name it!

Unlike ginger ale, ginger beer is a fermented beverage that packs an intense ginger flavor. It’s less sweet, very fizzy, and is usually non-alcoholic.

Mix up any one of these 17 ginger beer cocktails and you’ll perfect the craft of mixology in no time.

Then get ready, because you’ll be the shining host of cocktail hour.

Ginger Beer Cocktails & Drink Recipes

1. Moscow Mule

If there was one cocktail to showcase ginger beer in all its glory, it’s the Moscow mule.

A Moscow mule is a fizzy vodka-based drink that features ginger beer and fresh lime.

The spicy ginger kicks like a mule while the lime and mint seal the deal. 

This recipe recommends using Tito’s vodka which has a clean and slightly sweet taste.

You might also want to invest in some copper mugs because this is just the first of many mules to come. 

Ingredients: vodka, fresh lime juice, ginger beer, lime wedge

2. Pimm’s Cup

Pimm’s cup is like a gateway craft cocktail that will have you coming back for more.

It’s a simple cocktail to make, but it looks super fancy due to all the fun fixings. 

To make this recipe, you’ll combine Pimm’s No.1 and quality ginger beer in a tall cocktail glass.

I’m always amazed at how the floral essence of the gin liquor packs so much into one ingredient. 

Speaking of ingredients, you can pick and choose your garnishes of choice.

This particular cup uses orange slices, strawberries, cucumber, and mint. 

Ingredients: Pimm’s No. 1, ginger beer, cucumber, orange, strawberry, mint

3. Dark and Stormy

If you’re looking for an easy cocktail recipe, this is a great place to start.

A dark and stormy is very similar to a Moscow mule except it uses dark rum instead. 

The reason why dark and not light rum is that the bolder flavor is a much better choice for a full-bodied ginger beer. 

Mix this up in a copper mug or glass and add a wedge of lime. And yes, it does taste as dazzling as it looks! 

Ingredients: ginger beer, dark rum, lime wedge, ice

4. Blueberry Buck Whiskey Cocktail  

What makes this a buck is it combines a spirit with ginger beer and citrus. This one is even better by using fresh blueberries and blueberry juice. 

As for the spirit, you could use Irish, Scotch, or bourbon whiskey. Just make sure it’s top-notch!

I think this will be a phenomenal summer cocktail to chill around a campfire with a good group of friends. 

Ingredients: blueberry juice, lemon juice, blueberries, whiskey, ginger beer, fresh mint, lemon slice

5. Irish Mule

An Irish mule is another excellent spin on the classic Moscow mule. It gets the Irish twist by replacing vodka with Irish whiskey instead.

And yes, that’s “whiskey” and not “whisky.” The “e” is what differentiates it from Scotch whisky. 

This recipe uses Jameson which is a terrific choice to pair with a snappy ginger beer. 

Ingredients: Irish whiskey, fresh lime juice, ginger beer, ice, lime wedge, fresh mint

6. Foghorn Cocktail

If you prefer your mule with gin, then you will adore this foghorn cocktail. 

Originating in New York City, the foghorn is a fragrant fizzy cocktail that uses gin as the base.

In particular, this recipe recommends either Old Tom or London dry gin. 

Pair either one with some ginger beer and lime juice and you’ve got a supreme drink any gin drinker will appreciate.

Ingredients: Old Tom or London dry gin, freshly-squeeze lime juice, ginger beer or ginger ale, lime wedge

7. Ginger Rickey 

This is an exciting take on a classic gin Rickey. It combines gin with fresh cranberry juice, then floats ginger beer on top. 

It’s fruity, floral, tangy, and fizzy all in one glass. This would make an elegant holiday cocktail that you can serve individually or in a pitcher. 

You could even swap out the cranberry juice and try pomegranate or pear juice instead. 

Ingredients: gin, cranberry juice, ginger beer, ice

8. Skeleton Key

The name for this libation got inspiration from the striking rusty color of the glass. 

It combines smooth bourbon with fragrant St. Germain elderflower liqueur and ginger beer. Then finishes it off with a dash of bitters. 

Mix this up for a sophisticated refreshment at your next Halloween bash. It’s all about the treats here.

Ingredients: bourbon whiskey, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, ginger beer, bitters

9. Ginger Beer Margaritas

I never would have thought to add ginger beer to a margarita and now I can’t drink one without it!

Ginger beer adds an effervescent quality that perfectly complements the sweet and citrusy flavor of margaritas.

For this one, skip the mix. Use lime and simple syrup instead to make this cocktail super refreshing. 

Ingredients: agave tequila, lime juice, ginger beer, simple syrup, ice, coarse salt

10. White Wine Ginger Beer Sangria

Looking for a fruity fizzy batch cocktail? Ginger beer sangria is the perfect solution. 

This fun cocktail looks spectacular in a pitcher and tastes sensational. It’s full of bubbly ginger beer and sparkling white wine. 

It’s even got a heaping of fresh fruit and a homemade ginger simple syrup that’s purely divine. 

Whip this sangria up in 15 minutes, then get ready to entertain!

Ingredients: white wine, ginger simple syrup, orange, lemon, and lime juice, ginger beer

11. Horsefeather Cocktail

The name may sound odd, but this cocktail couldn’t be more delicious!

It combines whiskey with ginger beer, lime, and Angostura bitters. Angostura is a very popular aromatic bitter that calms acidity and enhances flavors. 

Oh, and if you’re wondering about the name, it’s what Kansas refers to as a whiskey mule. 

Ingredients: ice, whiskey, ginger beer, Angostura bitters, lemon or lime wedge

12. Ginger Beer Paloma

There’s something about pink cocktails that screams fun. And I’ve got the perfect one for your next cocktail hour with friends.

This vibrant paloma is citrusy, ginger-flavored, and slightly sweet. And I find the color to be absolutely ravishing! 

Pour grapefruit juice, tequila, and ginger beer into a glass. Add a dash of agave, give it a stir, and serve on the rocks.

Ingredients: grapefruit juice, lime juice, agave syrup, mezcal or tequila, ginger beer, salt, grapefruit juice, lime slices

13. Kentucky Mule

Of course, we can’t talk about all the amazing mules you can make without mentioning the Kentucky mule. 

What makes this three-ingredient version unique is it calls for Kentucky bourbon.

It also uses Powell & Mahoney ginger beer which is the perfect balance of bold and bright. 

The only hard part is deciding which bourbon to choose. After all, the Kentucky bourbon trail is full of award-winning distilleries. 

Ingredients: bourbon or whiskey, ginger beer, lime juice, fresh mint, ice

14. El Diablo

This Mexican cocktail is truly one of a kind.

The smoothness of reposado tequila and the tanginess of the creme de cassis pair beautifully with the boldness of ginger beer. 

But that’s not all, because this drink gets a twist of lime and a garnish of blackberries for some fruity flair.

I’d say this refreshment is tantalizing, but that would be an understatement. 

Ingredients: Reposado tequila, creme de cassis, lime juice, ginger beer, blackberry, lime wedge

15. Apple Cider Irish Mule

Autumn is the ideal time to imbibe in a spice-riddled apple cider mule.

The combo of Irish whiskey, apple cider, and ginger beer is soothing and comforting. 

Garnish with apples and a cinnamon stick for an elegant touch. Serve this in a copper glass to keep everything extra cold. 

I think this will make a delightful pairing with a warm bowl of apple brown Betty.

Ingredients: Irish whiskey, apple cider, ginger beer, apple slices, cinnamon sticks

16. Mexican Tequila Mule

The last mule I have to mention is this Mexican mule. If tequila is your brand of choice, you won’t want to miss this. 

The combo of ginger beer and lime juice is the perfect match for tequila. While the recipe is foolproof, the real secret is in the ginger beer. 

Some brands may be sweeter or spicier than others. If you like it spicy, this recipe suggests Q Ginger Beer.

Ingredients: tequila, lime juice, ginger beer, mint, lime

17. Ginger Beer Blood Orange Cocktail

There’s something about blood oranges that truly makes a cocktail special.

Add in ginger beer for a crowd-pleasing duo.

This cocktail is ripe with blood orange.

It uses both fresh blood orange juice and Solerno blood orange liqueur, which features fruit from Sicily. 

It tops that off with bold ginger beer and a splash of simple syrup.

The result is a bold, citrusy, effervescent refreshment you won’t want to miss.

Ingredients: Stoli Ohranj vodka, Solerno Blood Orange liqueur, blood orange juice, simple syrup, fresh lime juice, ginger beer