When friends arrive over the festive season, a good drink should be easy to put together and worth sitting down to enjoy. Bradley’s Ginger Beer is brewed with fresh root ginger and lemon, giving it an aromatic flavour and a proper ginger kick. Pour it chilled over ice, or use it to bring that same character to a drink made for sharing.

Here are four serves to make at home. You’ll find a cucumber and lime refresher, two spirit-based highballs, and an orange and cranberry drink that our collaborator, The Random Mug Coffee House, prefers without ice. Each recipe makes one, so it is easy to mix different drinks for different guests.

Content:

• Stormy Channel
• Orange & Bourbon Ginger Highball
• Pomegranate Ginger Mule
• Orange, Cranberry & Ginger Beer

1. Stormy Channel

In this recipe, our collaborator, The Random Mug Coffee House, pairs Ginger Beer with cucumber, fresh lime and a couple of dashes of aromatic bitters in this lively refresher. It comes together straight in the glass, with no shaker or syrup needed.

Ingredients · Makes 1 drink

• 160 ml chilled Bradley’s Ginger Beer
• 15 ml freshly squeezed lime juice (about half a lime)
• 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
• 3 thin cucumber slices
• Ice
• 1 lime wedge, to garnish

Method

1. Fill a tall glass with ice and add the cucumber slices.
2. Squeeze in the lime juice and add two dashes of Angostura bitters.
3. Top with the chilled Ginger Beer, stir once gently and garnish with the lime wedge.

Angostura bitters contains alcohol. For a drink with no alcohol, use alcohol-free aromatic bitters instead.

2. Orange & Bourbon Ginger Highball

Bourbon brings a mellow warmth to the ginger, while orange juice keeps this highball bright and easy to sip. The cinnamon stick adds a festive aroma without needing to make a spiced syrup.

Ingredients · Makes 1 drink

• 40 ml bourbon
• 40 ml Bradley’s Orange Juice
• 120 ml chilled Bradley’s Ginger Beer
• Ice
• 1 orange slice and 1 cinnamon stick, to garnish

Method

1. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add the bourbon and orange juice and stir briefly.
2. Slowly top with the chilled Ginger Beer and stir once gently.
3. Garnish with the orange slice and cinnamon stick. Serve straight away.

3. Pomegranate Ginger Mule

Pomegranate gives this vodka and ginger drink its deep red colour and a pleasing tartness. A squeeze of lime sharpens the finish, making it a particularly good pour before a festive meal.

Ingredients · Makes 1 drink

• 40 ml vodka
• 40 ml pomegranate juice
• 10 ml freshly squeezed lime juice
• 120 ml chilled Bradley’s Ginger Beer
• Ice
• 1 lime wedge and a few pomegranate seeds, to garnish

Method

1. Fill a tall glass or mule mug with ice. Add the vodka, pomegranate juice and lime juice, then stir.
2. Slowly pour in the chilled Ginger Beer and give it one gentle stir.
3. Garnish with the lime wedge and pomegranate seeds. Serve immediately.

4. Orange, Cranberry & Ginger Beer

The Random Mug Coffee House found that this fruit and ginger combination works best in a whisky tumbler without ice. Chill the glass and ingredients first, then finish with orange, berries and rosemary for a festive look and aroma.

Ingredients · Makes 1 drink

• 100 ml chilled Bradley’s Orange Juice
• 50 ml chilled cranberry juice
• 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
• 90 ml chilled Bradley’s Ginger Beer, or enough to top a 250–300 ml whisky tumbler
• 1 orange slice
• A few cranberries, redcurrants or blackcurrants
• 1 rosemary sprig

Method

1. Pour the orange juice and cranberry juice into a chilled whisky tumbler. Add two dashes of Angostura bitters and stir briefly.
2. Top with the chilled Ginger Beer and give it one gentle stir. Do not add ice.
3. Garnish with the orange slice, berries and rosemary sprig. Serve immediately.

For a drink with no alcohol, replace the Angostura with alcohol-free aromatic bitters.

Keep Bradley’s Ginger Beer chilled and add it last to retain its bubbles. Explore Bradley’s Ginger Beer for your festive drinks table.