Easy
Spicy, Crisp & Citrusy
2 Minutes
Mule Mug
Ingredients
The Moscow Mule is a classic vodka cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime juice, served over ice in its signature copper mug and garnished with a lime wedge.
Invented in Los Angeles in 1941, it remains one of the most ordered vodka cocktails in the world and the copper mug is as much a part of the experience as the drink itself.
The ginger beer brings a sharp, spiced heat, balanced by the tartness of fresh lime juice and the clean, neutral character of vodka. A drink that works as a summer aperitif just as naturally as it does at a winter dinner party.
Here’s our Moscow Mule recipe and everything you need to make one properly.
How To Make a MOSCOW MULE COCKTAIL
Bar tools you’ll need
Jigger
Knife
Citrus Press
How to Mix
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Fill a pre-chilled stainless steel mug or copper mule mug with ice cubes.
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Use a knife to cut a Lime in half, save a Lime Wedge for garnishing later.
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Use a citrus press to juice the Lime halves.
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Use a jigger to measure and pour Lime Juice into the mug.
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Use the jigger to measure and and Absolut Vodka.
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Top up with Ginger Beer.
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Garnish with a Lime Wedge placed directly on top of the ice cubes.
All about the Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is a popular, easy-to-make vodka cocktail made with vodka, lime juice and ginger beer, served in its signature copper (or stainless steel) mule mug.
The Moscow Mule is zesty, sharp and spicy. Fresh lime juice delivers a bright, tart acidity, the ginger beer brings a bold, spiced heat and Absolut Vodka provides a clean, smooth base, holding everything together.
Despite the name, the Moscow Mule has no Russian roots. Created in Los Angeles in 1941, the “Moscow” in the name was a nod to the American association of vodka with Russia at the time – a marketing decision as much as anything else.
The story goes that a bartender, a vodka distributor and a ginger beer maker – each with something to sell – came together and created a cocktail that solved all three problems at once.
The copper mug was the masterstroke – distinctive, memorable and impossible to ignore. It turned a simple drink into a moment, and the Moscow Mule has never looked back.
- Fresh lime juice only
Those fresh, zesty notes of lime are essential to a Moscow Mule and the only way you’ll achieve it is if you use fresh lime juice. No store bought stuff – buy fresh limes and juice them yourself. - Chill your mugs in advance
Place your mug in the refrigerator 10 minutes before making your drink. - Choose a spicy ginger beer
The taste of ginger beer takes center stage in a Moscow Mule, so you’ll want to use a ginger beer that’s spicy. The spicier the better! So, if you have a favorite brand of ginger beer, use that.
Claude responded: Here’s the revised version:
- What is the difference between an American Mule and a Moscow Mule?
The American Mule swaps vodka for American whiskey – usually bourbon – adding a warm, caramel and oak character that the Moscow Mule doesn’t have. Everything else stays the same: ginger beer, fresh lime juice, copper mug and ice.The Moscow Mule is clean and zesty; the American Mule is warmer and rounder. If you see a Kentucky Mule on a menu, it’s the same drink under a different name.
- Substitute Ginger Beer for Ginger Ale
Replace ginger beer with ginger ale if you prefer. Ginger ale is similar to a ginger-flavored soda whereas ginger beer is more intense, spicier and is carbonated via fermentation. Ginger ale has a sweeter yet more intense flavor. The choice is yours! - Raspberry Mule
If you’re partial to a Mule, then you’ve got to try the Raspberry Mule, which uses Absolut Raspberri instead of Absolut Vodka. The combo of ginger, raspberry and lime is guaranteed to take your tastebuds to new heights! - Fiery Mule
Swap Absolut Vodka for Absolut Peppar and the spiced heat of the ginger beer gets a bold, peppery amplification. The result is an Absolut Fiery Mule – a similar drink but with significantly more heat. - Moscow Mule mocktail
Want to make an alcohol-free version (aka Moscow Mule Mocktail)? Simply leave out the alcohol. However, note that since ginger beer is brewed, it may contain low amounts of alcohol (e.g., 0.5% ABV), make sure you use a ginger beer that is alcohol-free. - Reduce the sugar
To make a low-sugar mule, choose a ginger beer or ginger ale that’s low sugar or sugar-free. Most supermarkets sell low-sugar varieties of these popular mixers, so you should be able to find a low-sugar variant without any problems.
- This cocktail has to be served in a copper mule mug. And that’s a tradition that we personally like to follow. But the truth is, a rocks glass will work just as well.
- Garnish with a lime wedge to complement the cocktail’s zesty flavor. Squeeze the lme over the ice to release its tangy essence before dropping it into the glass, allowing the citrusy aroma to enhance the refreshing blend of vodka and ginger beer.
- Let whoever’s drinking the cocktail adjust the acidity levels to their liking by pressing a ¼ to ½ medium sized lime into their cocktail.
- If you’re making a traditional Moscow Mule and a non-alcoholic version, garnish the alcohol-free variant differently from the alcoholic version to distinguish between the two. For example, you could use a lemon wheel instead of the lime wedge.
If you’re making a drink with two ingredients like the Moscow Mule, make sure they’re the best you can buy.
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Moscow Mule FAQ
No one knows where it was invented for sure, but it’s almost with certainty that we know it was not in Russia. Rumor has it that it was invented in New York in 1941. Other rumors suggest that it was invented in Hollywood.
The only real link to Russia is that it includes vodka. But even the origin of vodka is unclear. Was Vodka invented in Poland or Russia? In any case, we prefer using Swedish Vodka. An Åhus Mule, anyone?
You can find ginger beer and ginger ale in your favorite liquor store or supermarket.
You’ve probably seen someone order a Moscow Mule in the bar, glanced down at your own cocktail and whispered gently to the bartender: “Why isn’t mine served in a nice shiny mug?” No? OK, then it’s just us.
It’s traditionally served in a copper mug. But why it is served in a copper mug is not just about tradition; the copper mule mug plays an important role in maintaining the chill of the ginger beer, ensuring that the cocktail stays cool and won’t be affected by the temperature of your hand.
It also looks impressive and will make everyone else jealous of your impeccable taste in cocktails!
The truth be told though, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you served this cocktail in another metal mug or a rocks glass. It would still be a great cocktail.
No. While Copper Mugs are super easy to clean by rinsing them with warm, soapy water and drying them immediately after use, Copper Mugs are not dishwasher safe.
Our Moscow Mule recipe is made with 45 ml Absolut Vodka (1 part), 15 ml fresh lime juice (0.25 parts), topped with approx. 120 ml (2.5 – 3 parts) ginger beer, served over ice in a copper mug and garnished with a lime wedge.
Why is a Moscow Mule called a Moscow Mule if it’s not Russian? Although there are several theories, the fact is no one knows quite how the cocktail got its name.
Moscow Mules are served in copper mugs because copper conducts cold faster than glass or ceramic. The mug chills on contact with the ice, keeping the drink colder for longer and frosting on the outside in a way that no other vessel does. It’s as much about the experience as the function.
Don’t have a copper mug? A rocks glass works perfectly well. Sure, you’ll lose the look, but not the flavor.
