After lunch, on my way out the door, I stopped the waitress to ask how they made it. She gave me a general idea, which I have attempted to recreate in the steps shown here. The diner version included a little touch of ground clove and cardamom if I recall correctly. I didn’t add those spices, without them the ginger ale still turned out just great! It’s quite easy to make. You may need to adjust the proportions depending on how intense or sweet you want your drink. The basis of ginger ale is carbonated water, ginger, and sugar. The drink can be enjoyed on its own or as a mixer for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

How Long Can You Store Homemade Ginger Ale?

Store the ginger water and the simple syrup in the refrigerator separately. The ginger water lasts 1 to 2 weeks. If the color or the odor of the water changes, discard it. The simple syrup should last up to 1 month. The assembled ginger ale, a combination of the ginger water, simple syrup, and club soda, will last until the carbonation goes flat. It’s best to combine the three immediately before serving.

More DIY Drinks That Taste Better Homemade

Homemade Sassafras Root Beer Kombucha The Best Detox Smoothie Iced Chai Latte Cold Brew Coffee

1 cup peeled, finely chopped ginger 2 cups water

Simple Syrup

1 cup sugar 1 cup water

To Serve

Club soda Ice, optional Lime juice Lime wedges

Remove from heat and let sit for 20 minutes. Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Discard ginger pieces.