Stray Gator – Southern Comfort, Lime & Ginger Ale Highball

The Stray Gator combines Southern Comfort, lime juice, and ginger ale in a simple highball. Southern Comfort brings peach, spice, and sweetness, lime supplies the acidity, and ginger ale stretches the drink with fizz and a mild ginger bite.

What You'll Need

Ingredients

• Southern Comfort: provides the peach-forward, spiced alcoholic base.
• Lime Juice: adds tartness and keeps the drink from tasting too sweet.
• Ginger Ale: supplies sweetness, ginger flavor, and carbonation.

Ginger beer can replace ginger ale for a spicier variation. A whiskey-plus-peach-liqueur combination can approximate Southern Comfort when needed.

Equipment

• Highball Glass
• Jigger
• Bar spoon
• Ice

Sweet, Tart, and Fizzy in One Glass

The 3/4 oz lime measure is important because Southern Comfort and ginger ale both contribute sweetness. The citrus gives the drink enough contrast, while a gentle final stir protects the carbonation.

Substitutions & Variations

• Use ginger beer for more ginger heat.
• Replace part of the ginger ale with soda water for a drier version.
• Add a mint sprig for extra aroma.
• Use lemon juice for a softer citrus variation.

Helpful Tips

• Use fresh lime juice.
• Fill the glass generously with ice.
• Chill the ginger ale before building.
• Add the ginger ale last.
• Stir only once or twice after topping.