Love Ginger? The Red Zinger Spritz Lives Up to Its Name

There are ginger cocktails, and then there are ginger cocktails. The Red Zinger Spritz falls into the latter category thanks to its star element, ginger beer. The spicy-sweet ingredient can make anything taste like the holidays, but it’s not the Red Zinger Spritz’s only calling card. The drink’s vibrant burgundy hue is courtesy of chilled hibiscus tea, which is cut with tangy lime juice and floral ST~GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur. A fragrant garnish of dehydrated orange and licorice-y star anise help to elevate this already complex-flavored quaff.

Cocktail Courier’s Red Zinger Spritz kit includes everything you need to make this tempting drink, which is a cinch to whip up: Simply measure everything (save the ginger beer) into a cobbler shaker filled with ice, then shake it all vigorously and strain into a chilled glass filled with fresh ice. Top it off with ginger beer, then garnish. Hosting a socially-distanced shindig this holiday? Get the classic-sized kit to serve a group of up to eight. And if your gathering is shaping up to be a bit smaller this year, go for the mini-sized kit; it makes enough for you and a friend.

The Red Zinger Spritz Kit

The Red Zinger Spritz kit includes hibiscus tea bags, Q mixers ginger beer, dehydrated orange wheels, star anise, lime, and ST~GERMAIN Elderflower Liquer.

• Cocktail Courier

A drink like the Red Zinger Spritz, whose flavor completely hinges on the quality of its components, absolutely demands top-notch ingredients. That’s why the ginger beer—what gives the drink its “spritz”—is Q Mixers Ginger Beer. Made with real ginger, it packs a true punch. Plus, it’s sweetened with a touch of organic agave (no high-fructose corn syrup here) and further zinged up with zesty coriander, aromatic cardamom, a hit of lime, and extra carbonation for even more lift. And that lingering spiciness? It’s from actual chili peppers. The resulting drink is a ginger beer that veers to the spicier end of the flavor spectrum, without being overly sweet.

Q Mixers Ginger Beer isn’t actually “beer,” of course—it’s a zero-proof mixer. While the term “ginger beer” once referred to a gingery style of alcoholic beverage that was actually brewed and fermented, which was popular in the mid-19th century, such libations are harder to come by in modern times. These days, ginger beer usually refers to a soft drink that packs a more ginger-y oomph than its more milquetoast cousin, ginger ale.

So what gives the Red Zinger its boozy kick? That’s the ST~GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur, an entirely unique French concoction made with fresh elderflowers. ST~GERMAIN drinks like a classic cocktail ingredient, but it’s actually fairly new on the scene—it was only first invented in 2007. Hand-picked once a year in late spring, elderflower blooms lend the spirit a symphony of hard-to-place botanical notes—almost like peach, pear, and grapefruit all rolled into one. Those who order the classic-sized kit will be treated to an extra ST~GERMAIN recipe card and recipe book, so drinkers can continue to experiment with this palate-expanding liquor. Also included in the classic kit? A gorgeous ST~GERMAIN carafe to elevate your drinking experience.

ST~GERMAIN is a perfect match for the cocktail’s hibiscus tea, which is made by steeping dried hibiscus petals in boiling water. Hibiscus petals have been used for food and drink for centuries, if not longer, in cultures that span West Africa to Central America. The tea is what gives the Red Zinger Spritz it’s deep red hue; it also delivers a hit of tartness and a cranberry-like flavor.

We like to play up the drink’s spiced ginger notes by pairing it with a Persian-inflected feast: A giant platter brimming with fragrant, saffron-scented couscous, topped with a barberry-stewed tagine of fall-off-the-bone lamb shank. Add to that a steaming plate of golden-brown tahdig, a decadent sort of rice casserole complete with crispy pan-fried bottom. And for dessert? Ginger-scented halva, a sweet, tahini-based confection infused with floral rosewater.

Ready to mix up the perfect Red Zinger Spritz? Grab your kit and follow along below. And for even more tips on mixing up the perfect holiday cocktail, RSVP now for our Holiday Happy Hour Cocktail Class — December 10th at 6pm ET. At this exclusive virtual mixology class, you’ll learn how to make three great festive cocktails for holiday entertaining at home. Cheers!

Ingredients (Serves 1):

• 1 oz ST~GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur
• 1 oz chilled hibiscus tea
• 0.25 oz lime juice
• 2 oz ginger beer
• Garnish: dehydrated orange wheel and star anise

Add ST~GERMAIN, hibiscus tea, lime juice into shaker with ice. Shake until cold. Add ginger beer into shaker. Strain into wine glass with ice.