Can "ginger" be used as an adjective with the same sense as "gingerly"?

Solution 1:

The Oxford English Dictionary lists “ginger” as a synonymous backformation of “gingerly” (and unrelated to the plant/color “ginger”), with examples dating back as far as 1600. Of the modern examples it says “chiefly English regional and North American”.

Being American, I agree that it sounds natural in some cases:

  I was very ginger with her. I picked her up very lightly, put her down very gently. — Unscripted, 2003

But in your example I think it’s liable to be confusing, because “ginger sip” makes me think of ginger tea or ginger ale or some other drink that has “ginger” in its name (and/or ingredients).

Because it’s dialectical, I would suggest not using it (unless it’s part of your dialect, in which case conversationally it’s probably fine but not elsewhere like in international or formal writing).