DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (2024)

  • Ginger

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

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Marcia Simmons

Marcia Simmons

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Updated December 02, 2022

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DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (1)

In This Recipe

  • What's Available to Buy?

  • Why DIY?

  • How to Use It

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

Cook25 mins

Active25 mins

Infusing Time72 hrs

Total72 hrs 30 mins

Serves16 servings

Makes2 cups

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces ginger root

  • 1 vanilla bean

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 1/2 cups water

  • 1 orange

  • 1 1/2 cups brandy

Directions

  1. Peel ginger and cut it into thin slices. Split vanilla bean in half lengthwise.

    DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (2)

  2. 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.

    DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (3)

  3. 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.

    DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (4)

  4. After one day, remove vanilla bean and let mixture steep for an additional day.

    DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (5)

  5. 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.

    DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (6)

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

Read More

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

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories87
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 1mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 13g5%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg3%
Calcium 1mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 3mg0%
*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.)

DIY Ginger Liqueur Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How long does homemade ginger liqueur last? ›

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.

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.

What is a substitute for ginger liqueur? ›

For an organic alternative, FruitLab Ginger Liqueur is sure to please. Ginger brandies are similar, though most are likely a little sweeter. Ginger syrup is a good substitute, and since it's nonalcoholic, using it will lower the drink's strength.

What can I use ginger liqueur for? ›

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.

Can I drink 10 year old baileys? ›

Over time the taste will change and the liquid tends to go a bit darker but only really noticeable if you do a side by side comparison. I've tasted samples of all ages up to and including 10 years old - didn't taste "off" or cause any sickness.

Does homemade liqueur go bad? ›

They will begin to lose their bright color and some flavor after one year but they will not “go bad” because the alcohol is the preservative. I usually have no problem using them up within one year.

Does ginger ferment into alcohol? ›

Brewers would boil ginger, add sugar to the liquid, and then allow the resulting liquid to ferment, resulting in a beverage (ginger beer) with about an 11 percent alcohol content. That's high! Today's ginger beer is rarely fermented, however, so you'll note on the label that it is completely alcohol free.

What is French ginger liqueur? ›

The World's Original Ginger Liqueur

Each batch of Domaine de Canton is the marriage of the finest ingredients carefully selected from different ends of the world to create a perfectly balanced flavor. learn more. "A sublime liqueur... adds richness, spice and dimension to cuisine and co*cktails." –

What are the ingredients in King's ginger liqueur? ›

The King's Ginger is made using a grain spirit base, lemon, ginger, sugar syrup and water.

What liquor tastes like ginger? ›

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.

What is the closest flavor to ginger? ›

Galangal. This can be hard to find, it's not usually carried at your local grocery store than ginger is, but it's a great substitute if you're dealing with an allergy or aversion. Galangal, sometimes called "Thai ginger," tastes very similar to ginger but a bit more mellow and slightly citrusy.

Is eating stem ginger good for you? ›

Antioxidants and other nutrients in ginger root may help prevent or treat arthritis, inflammation, and various types of infection. Ginger may also reduce the risk of diabetes, cancer, and other health problems.

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.

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.

What do ginger shots do for your health? ›

How a regular ginger shot can help you... Ginger shot benefits range from providing powerful wellness support to soothing everyday digestive distress. A ginger shot could help to soothe an upset stomach, counter occasional bouts of everyday nausea, and support balanced metabolism from day to day.

How do you store homemade liqueur? ›

Generally, the only thing that will spoil a liqueur is oxygen, so you just need to be sure your bottle has a tight seal if you plan to store it for a long time. The exception is cream liqueurs; most websites recommend storing homemade cream liqueurs for only 1 month and keeping it in the fridge.

How long do flavored liqueurs last? ›

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.

Does liquid ginger go bad? ›

Organic Ginger Juice | Ginger Juice | Turmeric Juice

Once opened, refrigerate and consume within three months.

How long does ginger last in alcohol? ›

Simply wash and cut the fresh ginger into 1-inch pieces, place them in a jar, and cover them with vodka. Any vodka will do as long as it has an alcohol volume of around 40%, via Preserve and Pickle. Store the jar in a kitchen cabinet out of the light, and you'll have fresh ginger to use in recipes for a whole month.

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