Recipe: Sparkling Raspberry Ginger Beer

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated May 29, 2019
summer
Post Image
Credit: Joe Lingeman
A recipe for an easy pitcher cocktail made with bourbon, ginger beer, and raspberries.

Serves6

Jump to Recipe
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Post Image
(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

I casually set this pitcher cocktail and some ice-filled glasses out for a group of friends — bourbon-lovers (myself included) and non-bourbon-lovers alike. I didn’t give too much away about what was in the drink. Those who claimed they weren’t a fan of the brown spirit went for a second pour before the rest of us did.

That’s because this drink is so much more than whiskey — it’s fruity, gingery, and, most importantly, bubbly. These elements make it a hit among a crowd. The bourbon adds a nutty, caramel-like note to the pitcher to round it out, so truly everyone ends up being a fan. And for you, the host, did I mention this only requires three hard-working ingredients?

A Bubbly Bourbon Cocktail in Pitcher Form

I feel strongly that ginger beer makes an instant cocktail if you just add booze to it. That’s because it’s a drink that has a lot already going on — it’s spicy, sweet, and fizzy — so it really only needs a splash of something to make it ready for happy hour. Here it makes a super base for a pitcher cocktail because of all those elements. Bourbon is a great match for it, as its background flavors of caramel and vanilla complement that gingery bite. Throw in a few big handfuls of juicy raspberries and they’ll add a pop of color to the situation, making it hard for anyone to resist a glass.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

3-Ingredient Pitcher Cocktails

If you’re looking to serve up festive cocktails to the crowd at your next gathering, be it a impromptu happy hour or a backyard bash, know that it is a whole lot easier than you may think. If you’ve got a pitcher on hand and just 3 ingredients, you’ve got all it takes to kick off the party.

Sparkling Raspberry Ginger Beer

A recipe for an easy pitcher cocktail made with bourbon, ginger beer, and raspberries.

Serves 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups

    bourbon

  • 3

    (12-ounce) bottles non-alcoholic ginger beer, chilled

  • 2 cups

    fresh or frozen raspberries (about 1 pint)

  • Ice

Instructions

Show Images
  1. Combine the bourbon, ginger beer, and raspberries in a pitcher. Serve in ice-filled glasses.