What 'Dry' Really Means For Ginger Ale

Avid soda drinkers often dub their beloved beverages spicy, crisp, sharp, or dry. One particularly prominent example is ginger ale, which you might have seen described using all of these words. This might not seem quite right — soda is a liquid, after all, and thus not dry at all. So what does it truly mean when people describe ginger ale using these terms?

Soda isn't spicy in the same sense as a jalapeno pepper or a plate of hot wings — there's no true heat involved. But the drink has a certain fizzy bite to it that is indeed akin to spiciness. Wine enthusiasts must also admit that the beverage has an edge that brings to mind a dry vintage. Moreover, fizzy sodas set off the same pain receptors in your tongue that foods like horseradish, hot peppers, and intense alcohol activate. Ginger ale truly is a dry drink — and that makes it a uniquely multifaceted one.

Dry ginger ales are known for having incredibly pungent ginger flavor, to the point that they're too much for many drinkers to take. This unique taste is the result of careful work, fine-tuned over many years. Manufacturers of dry ginger ales, like Schweppes, use specific techniques to craft their beverages: In the case of that brand, they use a particular ginger blend, a complex process of steeping and cold pressing, and a finishing touch of citrus oils and chilis.

As you might expect, such a dry ginger ale is not for the faint of heart. There's no casual sipping, here — this drink demands your full attention, and even concentration. If you're an avid lover of ginger specifically, this is a tremendous boon: Dry ginger ales are all about the unfiltered flavor of that sought-after root. Mixologists should also pay attention — a dry ginger ale can seriously kick your mint mocktails up a notch. But if you're someone who loves that balance of sweet and spicy — perhaps with an emphasis on the former flavor — in your ginger ale, then consider picking up another version of the classic soda.

While some versions of ginger ale might have a few extra additives, many manufacturers make ginger ale quite simply, with carbonated water, ginger flavor (which might come from a natural or artificial source), and sugar. Homemade varieties of the drink might be made through the fermentation of ginger root and sweetener, but this process is rarely done commercially. Indeed, quite a lot of ginger ale isn't made with real ginger. If you want the real deal, make sure to do your research.

While the process of making ginger ale is pretty basic, not all ginger ales are equal — and it's not just a matter of dryness. In fact, ginger ale comes in a few different varieties. "Regular" ginger ales are the most common — this is the standard drink you'll find in vending machines and airplane beverage carts all over the world. Diet ginger ales use calorie-free sweeteners in lieu of sugar. And then, of course, there is dry ginger ale. Each variety has its own strengths, so it's worth taking the time to consider which is best for your personal needs.