This refreshing Turmeric Gin and Ginger Cocktail features turmeric, ginger beer and gin, delivering loads of health benefits in a tasty libation.
We can make cocktails healthy, right? Oh yes, we can! Case in point with this Turmeric Gin and Ginger Cocktail.
This week was a bit of a rough one for me, in a good, “I’m-so-sore-I-can’t-even-laugh-or-lift-my-arms-over-my-head” kind of way. After both going to the gym AND playing seven games of beach volleyball on Monday (seeing as I hadn’t been on the beach for oh, about four months) I realize that I might have gone just a tad too far. Tuesday was rough (as in, barely able to move) but after an Epsom salt and lavender essential oil soak on Tuesday night, I woke up on Wednesday morning feeling a good deal better. Just in time for leg day! Let’s just see how long I can keep this going…nothing like a little #sweatingforthewedding, right?
Whatever, I wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s so rare that I have time to get down to the beach to play volleyball these days that I’ll take it whenever I can get it. I’ll just have to start getting down there a little more often than every four months!
The Benefits of Turmeric
So now you’ve heard the whole sob-story about my “rough” week, now comes the fun part where I tell you about this inflammation-busting Turmeric Gin and Ginger Cocktail. My friend Milan actually suggested the idea of a turmeric cocktail a few months back and, although I was a bit skeptical, I was intrigued. I’ve been using turmeric in my smoothies for a few months now, especially when I’m whipping one up after an extra-tough workout. You probably already know that turmeric gets its bright orange-yellow color from curcumin, but what you may not know is that this brightly colored pigment is also a potent anti-inflammatory agent. In fact, it’s been said that it’s just as effective as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as Motrin. Crazy, huh?
Aside from the anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric supports cognitive function and cardiovascular health, and also promotes a healthy mood balance. If this doesn’t sound like a great ingredient for a cocktail, I don’t know what does!
How to Use Turmeric in Cocktails
The turmeric is fairly easy to hide among all of the other ingredients I add to my smoothies (I typically throw in some cinnamon, maybe some coconut, plus all of the other fruits and veggies I use) but it was going to be a little tougher to balance out this VERY strong flavor in a cocktail. I quickly referred to my new favorite, The Flavor Bible, and looked up what ingredients pair well with this sassy spice. Well, hello, ginger! I could work with this.
In addition to my turmeric and ginger ambitions, I had to come up with whatever alcohol I wanted to use to really make this drink pop. I decided to use gin as my alcohol of choice for a couple of reasons: (1) I am a huge gin fan and (2) I felt that the different spices in the gin would complement the turmeric beautifully (I was right!) I’m not the biggest fan of fresh ginger, but I LOVE ginger beer, so I went that route to add the ginger flavor to this incredibly easy drink. Plus, there’s nothing the tummy likes better than a bubbly ginger beer!
What You Need for a Turmeric Gin and Ginger Cocktail
Really, this Turmeric Gin and Ginger Cocktail is so easy. You only need four ingredients!
- Gin
- Turmeric
- Lime
- Ginger beer
Simple as that. Throw everything together in a tall glass filled with ice and you have the perfect cocktail to kick off your weekend in less than five minutes flat. Now drink up and let all of these super-foods do their thang…Drinking “healthy” has never been so easy…
Turmeric Gin & Ginger Cocktail
Ingredients
- 4 ounces gin
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- Juice of ½ a lime
- 6-8 ounces ginger beer
- Lime wheels for garnish
Instructions
- Add gin, turmeric and lime juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Strain mixture evenly among two highball glasses filled 2/3 of the way with ice.
- Top with even amounts of ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel and serve!
Nutrition
I’ll take my “healthy” with a side of gin, please!
This post contains affiliate links. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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