Beverages, carbonated, ginger ale

Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger extract or ginger syrup, ranging from pale "dry" styles with a subtle ginger bite to golden styles with a stronger, spicier flavor. It's drunk on its own over ice, used as a mixer in cocktails like a whiskey highball or Moscow mule variation, and often used to lighten fruit punches or as a splash in glazes and marinades for ham or chicken where a mild sweetness and ginger note are wanted. It also shows up as a poaching liquid for pears or as a quick way to add fizz and flavor to a fruit sorbet base.

At just 34 calories per 100 grams, ginger ale is one of the lower-calorie carbonated beverages, with 8.9 grams of sugar and 7 mg of sodium per 100 grams. Because it has almost no fat, protein or fiber, it functions purely as a beverage or mixer rather than contributing meaningfully to a meal's nutrition. Keep it sealed and chilled or at room temperature before opening; once opened, refrigerate and drink within a few days for the best carbonation, since the fizz fades noticeably once the cap has been off for a while, much like any carbonated soda left uncapped.