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.

By

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

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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

What is a good 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.

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 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.

What is the Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur? ›

Domaine de Canton is a ginger-flavored liqueur made in France since 2007. Its earlier formulation (called Canton) was made in China from 1992–1997.

Does ginger liqueur need to be refrigerated? ›

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.

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.

How long does ginger liqueur last? ›

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

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.

Can I use fresh ginger instead of stem ginger? ›

Although the big, knobbly hands of fresh ginger are called 'root' ginger, stem ginger is exactly the same stuff, just peeled and cooked slowly in syrup.

Which is the best ginger in the world? ›

Buderim Ginger - The World's Finest Ginger.

What is the most potent form of ginger? ›

In fact, the most potent form of ginger is the essential oil because it contains the highest levels of gingerol. The essential oil is the best way to use ginger. It can be taken internally to treat health conditions or rubbed topically with a carrier oil on an area of pain.

Which ginger is strongest? ›

Dried ground ginger has a very different flavour and texture, and is twice as strong as fresh ginger. Similarly, fresh ginger is intense, juicy and fibrous, with a more pronounced, fiery taste and heavy citric notes.

What is the strongest liqueur in the world? ›

At the top of our list is Spirytus Rektyfikowany, a Polish spirit boasting an eye-watering 96% alcohol by volume (ABV). Known as a rectified spirit, this clear and neutral grain alcohol is not for the faint of heart. A drop or two is enough to turn any drink into a high-octane experience.

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 is Edelweiss liquor? ›

Product of: Switzerland. See more Edelweiss liqueurs. This Swiss liqueur is flavoured with edelweiss, a small white flower found high in the Alps, perhaps best known for lending its name to the show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music.

What can I use instead of liqueur? ›

Liquor and liqueurs.

Coffee-flavored liqueurs can be replaced with espresso powder dissolved in water, or plain brewed coffee; ditto chocolate liqueur and cocoa powder. No orange liqueur? Orange juice to the rescue.

What can I use if I don't have orange liqueur? ›

Our Top 9 Best Cointreau Alternatives
  • Grand Marnier. Grand Marnier is our top substitute for Cointreau. ...
  • Triple Sec. Triple sec is a clear, orange-flavored liqueur commonly used as a substitution for Cointreau in co*cktails and baking. ...
  • Curaçao. ...
  • Aperol. ...
  • Campari. ...
  • Combier Liqueur d'Orange. ...
  • Luxardo Triplum. ...
  • Bols Dry Orange.
Mar 8, 2023

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