Ginger flavor is a symphony of compounds derived from the rhizome (root) of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale). The leader of the band is known as 6-gingerol. In the Spirit Chemist's lab, we measure 6-gingerol concentration using liquid chromatography to determine the amount of ginger in Spiritopia Ginger Liqueur. The other flavor compounds follow suit as long as there is plenty of water and alcohol present. Beverages that are solely water-based tend to fall short since gingerol is not very soluble in water.
Recently, we tested several products to see how they compared to Spiritopia Ginger Liqueur for ginger content. While the results did not surprise us, we thought that they were worth sharing (see graphic below). As expected, the "premium" ginger ale has very low ginger content. The ginger beer fared better even though it is also non-alcoholic. True ginger beers that are brewed with yeast or a yeast-bacteria symbiotic pair are alcoholic and can have stronger ginger flavor. Ginger vodka fared somewhat better than the non-alcoholic entries, but may be lost in a cocktail depending on the strength of the other ingredients. The last comparison is with Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur. While I would normally not identify a specific brand (other than our own!), Canton is probably the most widely known ginger liqueur and labeling it as the "leading ginger liqueur" wasn't going to fool anybody. While Canton is a quality product, I have always felt that it is too sweet and not gingery enough (i.e. not aligned with my "Philosophy of Balance"). The graph below illustrates the differences in ginger between the products. The far right of the image shows Spiritopia Ginger Liqueur with more than twice the ginger of the others. The full-flavored ginger is balanced with raw cane sugar and fine spirits for the best ginger sipping experience. When mixing, Spiritopia will stand up and deliver ginger zing in the finished cocktail. The bottom line here is that if you want great ginger flavor, whether it is for sipping or mixing, Spiritopia Ginger Liqueur is the way to go!
The Spirit Chemist
