As you can see, the brandy based homemade ginger liqueur is darker, there is also more of it. It uses a simple syrup, which adds some water to the liqueur. The vodka based ginger liqueur adds sugar, but no water. They both use vanilla beans and I used orange peel in both. I love ginger and am never without it in my kitchen, ready to chop or grate into myriad dishes, as well as plenty of ground ginger and (bliss) a jar of stem ginger in a gorgeous luscious syrup. I enjoy ginger drinks aplenty, especially at this time of year, when the peppery warmth of the spice is particularly welcome. The ginger flavour hits just the right note in this cordial, adding a warm, peppery finish and cutting through the sweetness nicely (honey is an ingredient). It’s my go-to soft drink with spicy stir-fries. Works as a hot drink too. These days, there’s so much more than Irish cream to choose from too — new, innovative flavours are inspired by comforting desserts, seasonal spices and plenty of chocolate.

This splendid gold concoction of macerated ginger root, sugar and lemon zest was created by Berry Bros & Rudd in 1903 for King Edward VII to revive him on cold winter days out. Wonderfully sweet, gorgeously peppery and with a fresh lemon lift. James White Organic Zinger Ginger Shot Peel and finely dice 4 oz. of fresh ginger. Combine the peeled, chopped ginger and brandy in a 1-liter glass jar. Cover, shake and store in a cool, dark place for 1 week, shaking daily. Sweet and oh-so-indulgent, liqueurs are the perfect end to any meal. Typically, they will have a lower ABV of around 15-20% (as opposed to a straight spirit such as gin, which will be upwards of 40%), making them ideal drunk neat or over ice. Fine-strain the liquid through multiple layers of cheesecloth (or use a nut-milk bag or coffee filter) while funneling into a clean glass bottle. Cap (or cork) and store at room temperature for up to 6 months. With a vegetable peeler, remove the outer peel (or zest) of the orange, taking care to avoid the white pith. Use a paring knife to split the vanilla pod lengthwise. Add the orange peel and vanilla pod to the ginger-brandy mixture. Without straining, pour the ginger-chamomile honey syrup into the ginger-brandy mixture. Cover, shake and store in a cool, dark place for 1 week, shaking every few days.The brand story behind this liqueur revolves around King Edward VII who reigned from 1901 to 1910 and is said to have been a thoroughly sociable chap who amongst other activities enjoyed driving his horseless carriage, a Daimler. The brand legend has it that his physician was concerned about Edward's health, exposed as he was to the elements in his new automobile. Thus he commissioned Berry Bros. & Rudd, the King's wine and spirits merchants to formulate a liqueur to warm His Majesty. In 1903 King Edward VII granted Berry Bros. their first Royal Warrant. To find the best liqueur, our panel of 10 WSET-trained experts and consumers tried 37 fun flavours from the leading supermarkets and brands. They were looking for a well-balanced, easy-drinking liqueur they’d be proud to serve at the end of a meal. All products were served chilled and blind to prevent brand bias. If you like it too and want to turn the spice heat up, I urge you to splash out on a bottle of the glorious King’s Ginger Liqueur, below, one of my favourite winter drinks.

Ginger Liqueur is an amazing liqueur, so warm and inviting. The best part is that is so easy to make Homemade Ginger Liqueur, this vodka based version can even be gluten free with potato vodka!

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After 1 week, peel and finely dice the remaining ginger. In a small saucepan, combine this ginger with water, honey and chamomile tea. Bring just to a simmer, stir until the honey dissolves, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. The making of ginger liqueur is not a difficult concept: Infuse fresh ginger in alcohol, sweeten, and bottle. But in reality, ginger liqueurs have quite a variation to them. The method of sweetening varies, additional botanicals are often used, and some are filtered and some are not. (Unfiltered varieties should always be shaken well before each use; that sediment is loaded with flavor.)

A blend of two-thirds apple juice to one-third ginger juice, which delivers a zesty shot that should be drunk cold straight from the fridge. Tastes wonderfully fresh and certainly wakes up an early morning palate. Bottle Green Ginger & Lemongrass Cordial