DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (2024)

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Drinks
co*cktails

This homemade ginger liqueur can compete with Domaine de Canton on flavor—for less than half the cost and only 20 minutes of work.

Marcia Simmons

Contributor

Marcia Simmons is the author of DIY co*cktails: A Simple Guide to Creating Your Own Signature Drinks (2010).

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Updated December 02, 2022

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Why It Works

This homemade ginger liqueur can compete with Domaine de Canton on flavor—for less than half the cost and only 20 minutes of work.
Steeping time is very short, so this is a perfect DIY holiday gift.
Unleash your creativity by experimenting with different flavor combinations in small batches to make something you won't find on a liquor store shelf.

Ginger liqueur offers an exciting blend of sweet and spicy flavors. It can turn a basic drink into an intricately layered co*cktail experience. Sure, you can use ginger liqueur all year (it's great with sparkling wine, especially when muddled with peaches in the summer) but this potion especially calls to us in winter, when it's just the thing to spice up our drinks.

What's Available to Buy?

Domaine de Cantonis the most common ginger liqueur on the market. The ginger kick in Canton is balanced with vanilla, honey, and Cognac—it's elegant, but a bit sweet.Snapis a bolder ginger liqueur featuring nutmeg, cinnamon, and Rooibos tea in its mix of spices. It reminds me of a hearty gingerbread. Both cost about $30 a bottle—though I think Domaine de Canton is a more flexible co*cktail ingredient. TheKing's Gingeris a slightly more expensive high-proof ginger liqueur with an intense bite—smooth but barely sweet.

Stirrings also offers a less complex ginger liqueur for half the price. Though it has a lovely flavor, I find that it doesn't add any more dimension to mixed drinks than a well-made ginger simple syrup would.

Why DIY?

As easy as it is to buy a bottle of Canton, my recipe for DIY ginger liqueur takes only 30 minutes of work and tastes just as delicious and refined. The steeping time is very short, so this is a perfect homemade holiday gift. (Hear that, procrastinators?)

It's also fun to play with different flavor combinations in small batches. Add some cinnamon, star anise, and cardamom for an earthier liqueur that's a good match for ciders and warm holiday drinks. A little lemon zest and lemongrass will give you a bright, Asian-inspired flavor. The beauty of homemade liqueur is unleashing your creativity to make something you won't see on the shelf at some liquor store.

Use It!

Your homemade liqueur is perfect for jazzing up all sorts of co*cktails. The simpleTom Collinssuddenly tastes exotic with a bit of ginger, but you can also get more complicated than that. Add a little to a hot toddy on a cold night. And yes, it's goodin eggnog, or shaken up withrosemary and pears.

Ginger pairs well with so many flavors—think about food recipes that you like that include ginger, and then use those flavors in a co*cktail. Carrots, oranges, lemons, apples, pumpkin, green tea—these things are natural partners for ginger and could be the basis for a great new drink. If you give your liqueur as a gift, you can include some handwritten recipe cards featuring your favorite ginger liqueur co*cktails. That is, if you can bear to part with some of it.

December 2011

Recipe Details

DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe

Prep5 mins

Ingredients

2 ounces ginger root
1 vanilla bean
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 orange
1 1/2 cups brandy

Directions

Peel ginger and cut it into thin slices. Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise.
Bring ginger, vanilla, sugar, and water to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until ginger is soft—about 20 minutes. Let the syrup cool. Do not strain yet.
Zest orange and place zest only in a sealable glass container along with the syrup and brandy. Seal and shake, then let this mixture steep for one day.
After one day, remove vanilla bean and let mixture steep for an additional day.
Strain mixture through a coffee filter into your bottle or jar for storage. Let it sit for one more day before using to let flavors mellow.

Notes

Peeling ginger with a spoon allows you to navigate the curves and bumps more easily than using a peeler.

Store as you would any liqueur—no refrigeration is required. This should keep for a year, but if it develops off flavors or a cloudy appearance, discard it.

Special Equipment

Zester

Tres Coop
Grapefruit and Ginger Sparkler

Ginger

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
87	Calories
0g	Fat
13g	Carbs
0g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories	87
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g	5%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg	3%
Calcium 1mg	0%
Iron 0mg	0%
Potassium 3mg	0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

FAQs

What is ginger liqueur made of? ›

It is very easy to make and requires very few ingredients: ginger root obviously, alcohol, water and sugar. Like with any good liquor, a lengthy maceration and resting time is necessary, so that all the flavors are absorbed and for it to become nice and golden in color.

Discover More ›

What is a substitute for ginger liqueur? ›

When you want to lighten up the alcohol content of your ginger co*cktails, replace the ginger liqueur with ginger-infused syrup. It's easy to make at home and has a similar sweetness and ginger flavoring, but without the liquor base.

See Details ›

What do you put ginger liqueur in? ›

Pair It with Citrus

One of Alling's favorite citrus-ginger co*cktails is the Speightstown Punch. In a glass, mix 1-ounce rum, ¾-ounce fresh grapefruit juice, ¾-ounce ginger liqueur and 1.5-ounce mint green tea. Serve over ice. Morton also suggests adding an ounce of ginger liqueur to a classic mimosa or margarita.

Tell Me More ›

What is the difference between King's ginger and Domaine de Canton? ›

The most significant difference is that Canton is a little more accurate to the taste of raw ginger. It's also not quite as sweet as The King's Ginger, which is known for a bolder ginger kick and a hint of lemon that's distinguishable from Canton's vanilla and orange tones.

Show Me More ›

Does ginger liqueur go bad? ›

Most liqueur should be used within 6 months to a year after opening. While stable liquors mainly lose their potency and flavor after their seal is broken, liqueurs can spoil and grow bacteria over time. The more sugar in the beverage, the faster it will spoil.

Learn More ›

How long does ginger liqueur last? ›

Most opened (and well-sealed) liqueurs should last for six months to a year (or even longer), depending on the alcohol content and preservatives.

Get More Info ›

Does ginger liqueur need to be refrigerated? ›

Store as you would any liqueur—no refrigeration is required.

Tell Me More ›

Which liquor goes best with ginger? ›

Ginger is a versatile ingredient that is employed in a variety of co*cktails, from the classic Moscow Mule and Dark 'n Stormy to health tonics like the Switchel. The punchy rhizome gives drinks a fresh, spicy bite, and it pairs with everything from vodka and rum to smoky scotch.

Read The Full Story ›

What is the name of the ginger liquor? ›

While Domaine De Canton prides itself on being the original and is the most widely known ginger liqueur, it isn't the only on worth trying.

Know More ›

What does ginger liqueur taste like? ›

So how does it taste? The honey-colored liqueur has a good dose of ginger in the aroma, but when you take a sip you get hit by a syrupy sweetness first, and then the spiciness of the ginger only kicks in after a beat or two.

Read On ›

What are the health benefits of ginger liqueur? ›

Ginger Liqueur helps to improve blood circulation and expel “coldness” from the body. It is especially beneficial towards conditions such as cold hands and feet.

See Details ›

What liquor tastes like ginger? ›

Pataka Ginger Liqueur. 750ml. 4 out of 5 stars. 29 reviews. ...
Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur. 750ml. 4.9 out of 5 stars. ...
Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur. 375ml. 4.9 out of 5 stars. ...
King's Ginger Liqueur. 700ml Bottle. 4.7 out of 5 stars. ...
Pataka Ginger Liqueur. 50ml. 4 out of 5 stars. ...
Stirrings Ginger Liqueur. 750ml. 5 out of 5 stars.

Find Out More ›

Which is the best ginger in the world? ›

Buderim Ginger - The World's Finest Ginger.

How much alcohol is in King's ginger liqueur? ›

29.9 Percent

Get More Info Here ›

What is the best quality ginger in the world? ›

Cochin Ginger is widely considered to be one of the Finest in the world, commanding a Premium Price, because of its Lemon-Like Flavor, Low Fiber Content and High Moisture Content. The principal Markets of Cochin Quality Dried Ginger are the Middle East (particularly Saudi Arabia), USA, UK and The Netherlands.

What liquor is ginger? ›

Hand crafted in small batches from all natural ginger beer for a warm, spicy ginger beer finish. Great for mixing in Martinis, whiskey sours, or your favorite co*cktail.