Memorial Day Cocktail Recipes: The Refreshing ‘Big Ginger’
Memorial Day weekend is a time for family, friends, and lots of parties. It also marks the unofficial start of summer, and as the weather heats up we searched for a new beverage that would properly fit the season. We wanted something that was refreshing but didn’t require a ton of mixing, crushing of ice, or frilly additions. It also needed to be delicious without all the cloying sugary-sweetness one finds in bottled mixers and prepackaged drinks.
Oh, and it needed to have a kick.
That’s when we heard about the Big Ginger, which uses 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey as its base. (Get a little background on 2 Gingers below the recipe.) 2 Gingers offers hints of caramel, vanilla and citrus, and when combined with crisp, cold ginger ale it makes for a bright, grown-up drink that is both festive and sophisticated.
Memorial Day Cocktail Recipes
BIG GINGER
2 parts 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey
Ginger Ale
Lemon Wedge
Lime Wedge
METHOD: Pour the 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey into a pint glass with ice. Top with ginger ale, followed by a wedge of a lemon and lime.
FOR PARTIES: Just multiply the 2 Gingers parts by 8, pour over ice into any pitcher or punch bowl, and top with ginger ale and lemon and lime wedges. Have some extra wedges in a plate next to the pitcher or punch bowl so guests can add a fresh squeeze as they see fit.
Some Back Story
2 Gingers is the fastest-growing Irish whiskey brand in the United States. Founder and CEO Kieran Folliard created the whiskey in 2011 — naming it after his red-headed mother and aunt — for use in the four pubs he owned in Minnesota. It’s grown big in a short time, with Beam Inc. purchasing the company in 2012.
According to Forbes, Folliard’s marketing approach was two-fold:
First, transform whiskey from being a winter-only spirit to a seasonless option—even enjoyable in summer. Next, create and trademark a cocktail—the Big Ginger—that raises the 2 Gingers profile and becomes an accessible, refreshing alternative to beer. Doing so broadens the appeal to younger drinkers and non-whiskey-drinking men and women.
