I was inspired by my cyclical ginger obsession to experiment with some homemade ginger ale. I juiced some ginger, made a simple syrup, and experimented with some proportions. It was refreshing and ahem, mixed well with others.
I started with a piece of whole ginger about an inch across and 2 inches long. This along with much of the proportions are estimates and need to be tweaked to taste. Either way, I juiced this and it came out to about half an ounce/shot.
I made a brown sugar simple syrup with 1 cup of brown sugar and 2 cups of water simmered down to about 1 cup of liquid. I really liked the caramel taste of the brown sugar and think it went perfectly with the ginger ale and helped with the coloring.
Next was just the proportions which really makes you realize how much sugar/high fructose corn syrup/sucrose and whatever they use to sweeten bottled ginger ale and others because I kept adding and adding.
Here are the proportions that I used and will start with next time and tweak from there. I plan to experiment over the summer by adding mint, mango, green tea, maybe basil? Give it a try and start with less and add more.
1 liter Carbonated Water
1/2 oz freshly squeezed Ginger juice
1/2 cup Brown Sugar Simple Syrup (1 cup brown sugar and 2 cups water simmered to 1 cup of liquid)
1 tsp-tbsp Lime juice
-Mix ingredients together, let rest for 5-10 minutes, pour over ice and serve
