The delightfully warming spice, ginger, whose tangy and peppery flavor has been appreciated for over 5,000 years, continues to make our cocktails more fascinating. This age-old relative of turmeric and cardamom made one of the earliest journeys in the world's spice trade from Asia, earning a distinctive place in food and beverages across diverse cultures.

Ginger has found its way into countless cocktail glasses, creating a riot of flavors with a melange of spirits. From being freshly muddled in glasses, enriching ginger beer with its signature spicy kick, to being converted into syrup or liqueur, ginger is a cocktail-maker’s delight.

Here's a handpicked list of nine cocktails that wonderfully illustrate the use of ginger from classics to modern concoctions.

The first on the list is a simple highball mixing dark rum, fresh lime, and ginger beer named Julia Hartbeck. Tracing its roots back to sailors in Bermuda right after World War I, it has overshadowed the popular Moscow Mule. Just a little history - the "Dark ’n Stormy" brand was trademarked by Goslings Black Seal Rum in 1991. However, for homemade versions, any rich dark rum can be paired with the ginger kick.

Bartender and activist Ashtin Berry contributed to the appreciation of ginger with her mezcal-based cocktail, ignited by a sweet and spicy fig-ginger syrup. Dressed with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a touch of ground nutmeg, this cocktail serves as a perfect drink for festive, colder seasons.

Famous bartender Sam Ross, courtesy of New York City's notable Milk & Honey, mixes in ginger by creating an aromatic version of the whiskey sour. The blending in of rich scotch, lemon juice, honey-ginger syrup topped with Islay single malt scotch results in a cocktail that promises to revive all your senses.

Taking the freshness up a notch is a ginger syrup and tea infused summer drink - a curious blend of black tea, ginger tea, fresh lemonade, and ginger syrup. For those who like it stronger, vodka or bourbon can be gently stirred in.

Ginger again shines up the classic whiskey marriage in a mugful of warm, toddy. Freshly infused ginger tea, Bourbon, honey, a dash of bitters, and a twinge of lemon peel come together to create this heart-warming drink.

A big shoutout to the spicy drink from Hawksmoor, New York City - a semi-frozen mix of gin, ginger, and lemon, capped with beer and served ice-cold. Now a global favorite, this high-value cocktail strikes the perfect balance between refreshing and intensely flavorful.

The fiery ginger also combines well with tequila in a hot drink with a blend of cinnamon and other spices that elevates the agave spirit's earthy tones. Reposado tequila, ginger cinnamon tea, a hint of agave syrup, and a sprinkle of whole cloves and orange peel, makes this aromatic structure good company for winter.

Ginger transcends the traditional to spice up a low-alcohol punch made from spicy ginger ale, tart cranberry juice, dry sparkling wine, baking spices, and a citrus brandy liqueur. Frozen cranberries, thinly sliced clementines, keep the drink cold, citrusy, and colorful.

Lastly, a triple treat for ginger lovers in a whiskey cocktail where ginger dances in three forms: fresh, syrup, and as a part of ginger beer. Bourbon can be your whiskey choice here, as it sweetly mingles with ginger's punch, creating a well-balanced score on the taste scale.