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A spirited toast to all things alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg

Ginger is said to have all kinds of healing benefits—including everything from curing gas to firing up the digestive juices and stoking the aphrodisiac  fires in the bedroom. Personally, I like the way it tastes, especially in a cocktail.

I recently sampled Dragon’s Breath, a new imported hard cider from local resident Paul Quackenbush. Made in England and named for the breath of the dragon in which Excalibur, the magical sword of King Arthur was forged, this aromatic cider is refreshing and tasty all on its own, but even better when paired with a splash of tequila. 

Dragon’s Breath hard cider from William’s Orchards Ciders, courtesy photo.

Ginger and tequila pair well together. According to none other than Martha Stewart, “fresh ginger adds sharpness and complexity to classic Margaritas.”  Here’s a link to the Ginger Margarita that appears on her site. The Food Network‘s Guy Fieri also has variation on the Ginger Margarita Recipe. His includes freshly grated nutmeg, while Martha adds the more traditional Cointreau to hers.

Ginger flavors also pair well with Rum, like The Wayland’s Bermuda Black from SeriousEats.com or the tropical favorite Dark & Stormy from cocktailsabout.com.

Ginger-infused vodka is another great choice for cocktails. The nibble.com has a slew of recipes to try, including my personal favorite, the Ginger Minx, made with lime juice, Cointreau, grapefruit juice, honey and bitters.

Cheers!

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Originally published in Santa Barbara SEASONS on August 15, 2014.

Leslie Dinaberg

When she’s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes magazine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a “goal-oriented drinker.”