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Vodka and ginger ale is one of the easiest highball cocktails you can make! Here’s my go-to ratio for this simple and refreshing drink.
When it comes to cocktails, even though I’m a home mixologist expert, there are always times I want to skip the cocktail shaker and fancy syrups. In fact, I’ve found some of the best drinks are just two ingredients.
Such is the case with Vodka and Ginger Ale! Mix vodka with a little bubbly ginger ale and it’s pretty fantastic, no need for any fancy liqueurs. Here’s how to make this tasty, refreshing highball drink!
What’s a Vodka and Ginger Ale?
The Vodka and Ginger Ale is cocktail whose closest relative is the Vodka Tonic or Vodka Soda. Though it’s similar, it’s not really a relative of the Moscow Mule, which pairs vodka with ginger beer and lime. Vodka and ginger ale has a sweet, bubbly flavor with a subtle ginger finish. Here’s what to know about this drink:
- Vodka and ginger ale is a highball cocktail that’s a mix vodka and ginger ale: it’s like a spin on the Whiskey Ginger. Serve it in a highball or lowball glass with ice, and it’s a refreshing cocktail that highlights the subtle flavor of ginger ale.
- The ratio: 2 oz vodka to 4 oz ginger ale. Serve it over ice with a squeeze of lime.
How is it different from the Moscow Mule? The Moscow Mule is a classic cocktail that pairs the strong flavors of lime and spicy ginger beer with vodka. Of course, it’s always served in a copper mug!
Choosing Your Vodka
A highball cocktail is a drink where the non-alcoholic mixer makes up a larger percentage of the drink than the alcohol. Drinks like these make it easy to cover up sub-par alcohol: this was in fact the reason that many highball cocktails were invented.
All that to say: the quality of the vodka in a Vodka and Ginger Ale isn’t highly important! Don’t waste the good stuff by covering it up with ginger ale. But the ginger ale…that quality does matter.
Top Brands of Ginger Ale
There are several types of ginger ale brands on the market. The quality does matter here, because many brands can be too sweet and make the drink taste flat. Grab one of these brands for your Vodka and Ginger Ale:
- Q Ginger Ale: Our top choice! We like that it comes in small cans so you only have to use a little at a time. It’s also our top brand of ginger beer.
- Fever Tree Ginger Ale: Fever Tree is made with real ginger and has no artificial sweeteners.
- More Ginger Ale Brands: Here’s a list of more top brands.
Ginger Beer Vs Ginger Ale
You can serve vodka and ginger beer too! But that makes it closer to a Moscow Mule than a highball drink. Wondering the difference of ginger beer vs ginger ale? Here’s a break down:
- Ginger beer is very bubbly with a strong ginger flavor and a spicy finish. It’s brewed and fermented.
- Ginger ale is mild and mellow, and is much sweeter than ginger beer. It’s essentially a ginger-flavored soft drink.
Easy Variations on Vodka and Ginger Ale
Once you’ve made the standard, you can add different variations:
- Cranberry vodka ginger: Add a splash of cranberry juice for a more tart spin on the Vodka Cranberry Cocktail.
- Extra ginger: Add ¼ ounce ginger simple syrup for more ginger flavor.
- Flavored vodka: Using a lemon or vanilla vodka works nicely.
- Big batch pitcher: For 4 drinks, stir 1 cup vodka in a pitcher with the juice from ½ lime, then add 2 cups chilled ginger ale right before serving.
When to Serve This Drink
Vodka and ginger ale is easy and laid back, perfect for patio sipping or impromptu parties. Try it as a:
- Summer drink
- Afternoon drink
- Dinner party drink
- Before dinner drink (aperitif)
More Highball Cocktails To Try
Mixing carbonated mixers with alcohol is an ages old tradition! There are lots of spins on this concept. Once you’ve tried the Vodka and Ginger Ale, here are some favorite variations:
- Stick with vodka for a Vodka Tonic, Vodka Soda, or Vodka and Coke
- Try a Whiskey Ginger, Whiskey Tonic or Whiskey Highball
- Go for a Cuba Libre, Rum and Coke, or Rum and Ginger Ale
- Opt for a Tequila and Ginger Ale, Ranch Water, or Tequila Soda
- Try a Pimm’s Cup, a British drink with Pimm’s No. 1 and ginger ale
- Mix ginger ale with beer for a Shandy
Frequently Asked Questions
Not an official one. Most people call it a vodka ginger. Sometimes it’s confused with a Moscow Mule, which uses ginger beer and lime.
Whiskey is the classic for a whiskey ginger, but vodka, rum, tequila, and gin all pair well.
A drink with 2 ounces of vodka and 4 ounces of regular ginger ale has about 170 calories.
Not really; it’s so simple to make that you can make it to order.
Vodka and Ginger Ale
Vodka and ginger ale is one of the easiest highball cocktails you can make! Here’s my go-to ratio for this simple and refreshing drink.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 4 ounces ginger ale
- 1 lime wedge
- Ice, for serving (try clear ice)
Instructions
- Add the vodka and ice to a glass and stir to combine.
- Top with the ginger ale. Squeeze in the juice from the lime wedge and serve. Garnish with additional lime wedges or wheels.
Notes
Big batch pitcher: For 8 drinks, stir 2 cups vodka in a pitcher with the juice from 1 lime, then add 4 cups chilled ginger ale right before serving.
Let’s say i left this drink out without a lid for like 12 hours is it bad now? I don’t know whether or not i wasted it
Unfortunately it probably is not good anymore.