Comprar o preparar en casa un licor de jengibre: ventajas de cada opción
El licor de jengibre se elabora con aguardiente destilado infusionado con jengibre, hierbas y especias, y su versión casera puede ser más económica, aunque exige tiempo.
Ginger liqueur is made with distilled spirits infused with herbs and spices, and often sweetened with sugar. It's a sweet, low-alcohol drink that comes in a range of flavors, from spicy to fruity and nutty. Some also incorporate cream. Domaine de Canton is a popular brand that dominates the market.
Unlike soft drinks and ginger beer, ginger liqueur is made with three ingredients: alcohol, ginger, and simple syrup. It can be made with brandy, vodka, or rum, and the base spirit significantly affects the final result. Brands made with molasses spirit have the spicy notes of rum, while those made with a cognac base are sweeter. A neutral spirit like vodka leaves a more intense and clean flavor.
Generally, the ginger is left to macerate in the alcohol for at least three weeks, giving the base liqueur a golden color. Afterward, the slices are removed, and the liquid is combined with a simple syrup of sugar and water. The result can be served hot or cold, in cocktails or neat.
For under $40, you can buy a ready-made product with a wide variety of flavors and reviews to help you choose. Making the liqueur at home is usually cheaper and allows you to personalize it with vanilla, lemon, or pepper, or substitute the sugar with agave or a sugar-free sweetener. However, it does require time, as the ginger needs several weeks to macerate.
Before starting, it's best to have everything prepared, what in professional kitchens is called mise en place. Peeling the ginger is optional, and its skin adds an extra spicy touch. According to The Decision Lab, we tend to value homemade creations more, a phenomenon known as the Ikea effect, so a homemade creation isn't always objectively better than a store-bought one.