Combine sliced fresh ginger, sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes to infuse. Remove from heat, cool to room temperature, then strain into a jar, pressing ginger to extract flavor. Refrigerate. Yields ~6 oz; use 0.5 oz per cocktail.

Cocktail Assembly

Prepare passion fruit

If using fresh passion fruit, cut one fruit in half and scoop out pulp and seeds. Measure roughly 1 oz of pulp (about the contents of one large passion fruit). If using bottled passion fruit purée, measure equivalent volume.

Build the cocktail

In a cocktail shaker, add the passion fruit pulp, 0.5 oz fresh lime juice and 0.5 oz ginger syrup. Add 2 oz Ketel One vodka. Fill the shaker halfway with ice. Shake vigorously for 10–12 seconds to chill and slightly aerate the mixture.

Combine with ginger beer

Fill a highball or mule mug with fresh ice (about 1 cup). Strain the shaken mixture into the prepared glass. Top with about 3 oz cold ginger beer and gently stir once or twice to combine without losing carbonation.

Garnish and serve

Garnish with a lime wheel or wedge and a half passion fruit with visible seeds or 1 thin slice of candied/fresh ginger. Serve with a straw or short stirrer. Advise guest to stir briefly before sipping to distribute passion fruit throughout the drink.