ginger beer

Though its name might conjure images of cold Russian Winters, the effervescent moscow mule is one of my favorite warm-weather cocktails. Gaining popularity in the 1950s and '60s, the American-born drink started off as a way to promote vodka, which was still relatively unknown in the US.

A simple combination of vodka, lime juice, and the crucial topper of ginger beer — not the milder ginger ale — the moscow mule presents a cool, spicy contrast with every sip.

Photos: Nancy Einhart and Flickr User blmurch
Since the drink is often garnished with cucumber, I recently made a version with Effen's cucumber and vanilla flavored vodka, though regular vodka goes down just as easy. Learn how to make a moscow mule.

Just at the turn of the seasons, San Francisco has finally gotten the word that it's Summer. While the entire city's been reveling in blue skies and warm weather, the lack of air conditioning has everyone reaching for an ice-cold beer. Me? I opted for an invigorating blueberry cocktail instead.

I consider gin, with its piney, clean flavors, to be the ideal spirit for creating thirst-quenching cocktails. When I got ahold of this recipe with ginger beer and blueberries, I had a feeling it'd be the ultimate refreshment. And it is: the blueberry buck is floral and zippy, with an effervescent ginger finish. For the recipe, be sure to read on.

I can't think back to beverages that remind me of my youth without picturing bottles of Jagermeister and Southern Comfort, the latter enjoyed in shots with a lime wedge as a chaser. So I got a good laugh and some fond flashbacks when I received a bottle of the New Orleans spirit recently — only this time, the company had the forethought to include the lime. Since I'm not much of a shots girl anymore, I settled on a glass of it on the rocks with a splash of ginger beer for a more sophisticated drink, named after one of Nola's oldest and liveliest neighborhoods. For the two-ingredient recipe, read on.

For a refreshment so popular, it's interesting to note how many misconceptions exist about ginger beer.

The drink, which originated in the mid-1700s in England, was first known as a fermented alcoholic beverage made from sugar, ginger, water, and a starter culture known as ginger beer plant. But today, the name "ginger beer" is actually a misnomer, as most commercial ginger beer is a soft drink, and contains no alcohol.

In comparison to ginger ale, ginger beer is more robust in flavor, with a spicy quality. Ginger beer can be enjoyed alone, but also plays a starring role in cocktails such as the Dark and Stormy and the Moscow Mule. How do you like to drink it?

Source: Flickr User blmurch

Although this cocktail recipe has a weird name, the ingredients are pretty ordinary and the flavor is absolutely sublime. It's similar to the classic bellini — because it combines peach puree with effervescence — but, thanks to the addition of vodka and Canton, it's much more potent. When blended together, the sweetness of the peach offsets the subtle heat of the ginger. The final cocktail is refreshing and easy to drink. For a rustic feel, serve in mason jars! If you can't find ginger beer, simply substitute sparkling water. Sound interesting? Get the recipe when you read more

From kalimotxo to caipirinhas to sangria, I've made a lot of interesting cocktails this Summer. One I haven't enjoyed, yet, I plan on serving them at my End of Summer barbecue, is the dark and stormy.

A refreshing mixture of rich, dark rum, and fizzy, slightly spicy ginger beer, the dark and stormy is a classic cocktail. Don't be fooled by the ginger beer, it's actually not beer, but a nonalcoholic, super-flavorful, incredibly fizzy ginger ale that can be found at Whole Foods.

I'll also have chilled wine, beer, and sodas for those who choose to imbibe something other than rum. To check out the recipe for the dark and stormy, read more