Ginger Lemon Kombucha Cocktail with Bourbon

👩🏻‍🍳 Tamara Talks – About Kombucha

Fermented foods (and drinks) are top of mind for me given my love of craft beer and cocktails, and wine. Additionally, I have gut issues that mean fermented foods, and the health benefits that follow, are helpful. Always one to look at no or low alcohol options, I started looking at kombucha as an addition to my healthy diet.

I’ve made the decision to start making my own kombucha when we return from Peru in mid-August. Kombucha is a specialty item, and rather expensive. We’ve decided it has a place in our diet, and I’m always down for making food and drink at home.

The first kombucha I tried was this ginger-lemon kombucha. We’ve since tried several other brands and flavors, but this is our favorite. I’m looking forward to trying a recipe like this ginger-lemon kombucha. Whether you choose the commercial or homemade route, this kombucha cocktail is simple, quick, and requires only 3 accessible ingredients.

🫖 What is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that has gained popularity in recent years for its potential health benefits and unique taste. It is made by fermenting sweetened tea with a culture of bacteria and yeast known as a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast).

During the fermentation process, the SCOBY consumes the sugar and produces a tangy and slightly effervescent beverage. The fermentation typically takes around 7 to 14 days, depending on factors such as temperature and desired taste. The longer the kombucha ferments, the more acidic and tart it becomes.

Kombucha has a slightly sour and fizzy taste, often described as tangy and refreshing. It can have a variety of flavors depending on the ingredients used during brewing or added in secondary fermentation. Common flavors include fruity, herbal, or spicy variations.

📋 Ingredients Notes

Here is a quick look at the ingredients in the recipe – it’s handy to use at the grocery store or as a summary of what you need. Skip to the recipe for quantities.

• bourbon – The Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon is our “go to” mixing bourbon (not a sipping bourbon). You don’t need a “top shelf” bourbon, but use something decent. See 15 Best Bourbons for Mixing Cocktails if you need guidance.
• kombucha – Our local Sprouts market carries the full line of Health-Ade Kombucha, and we love their ginger-lemon. However, many brands make a ginger-lemon variety, and they’ll work as well!
• citrus bitters – I keep this bitters variety pack in my cocktail pantry. We love bitters, and I like to try new ones too. I would recommend either “citrus,” “lemon,” or “orange.”
• garnish – A generous twist of lemon is really all you need. On photo day, I really wanted to add a small slice of candied ginger to the cocktail pick, but alas, I did not have any on hand!

🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions

• Prepare any garnishes. A generous strip of lemon peel is perfect. You could also use a slice of candied ginger on a cocktail pick.
• Add a large ice cube to a rocks glass. NOTE: We prefer a single large ice cube because the reduced surface area means less dilution as you drink it. Of course you can serve it over regular ice, but I would avoid crushed ice.
• Fill a shaker or cocktail glass half full of ice. Add the bourbon, kombucha, and a few generous shakes of bitters.
• Stir vigorously before straining over a large ice cube.

❓ FAQ

💭 Tips

Don’t shake the kombucha! Shaking a bottle of kombucha can potentially cause it to explode or create excessive pressure buildup. For this reason, this kombucha cocktail is stirred rather than shaken!

I use a cocktail channel knife to cut lemon peel. See this Guide to Citrus Peel Cocktail Garnishes for other methods.

This kombucha cocktail is relatively low calorie at approximately 145 calories. It’s also relatively low alcohol (depending on your choice of bourbon). For more kombucha cocktail and mocktail inspiration, check out 9 Easy Kombucha Cocktails and Mocktails!

After nearly a month of soaring temperatures (100 degrees plus) in south Texas, we’re looking for lighter, refreshing cocktails. We also like this chilcano, or this sangria.

It’s always cocktail hour somewhere, right? We think this ginger-lemon kombucha cocktail is a perfect summer sipper, and I hope you’ll give it a try!