A Moscow mule, a classic vodka drink created in the 1940’s. Made with 3 ingredients and served over ice in a copper mug, this cocktail is easy to make and oh so stylish. Get the recipe and learn a little about this classic cocktail.
A Moscow mule is a vodka cocktail mixed with spicy ginger beer and cut with lime juice. The flavors blend beautifully together to crate a crisp and flavorful drink.
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Origins of the Moscow mule
This drink was created in the 1940’s to help bolster sales of Smirnoff vodka. At the time vodka was not as popular as other spirits in the US. Combined with a surplus of ginger beer the 2 companies partnered with a bar owner in Hollywood to create a drink that would win over the in crowd. And the Moscow mule was born!
Why the copper mug?
A Moscow mule can be served in any glass, but traditionally it’s mixed up in a copper mug. The original bar served this drink in a copper mug and so the tradition stands. A rocks or high ball glass works just fine, but there’s something about drinking a mule from a cold copper mug that makes it taste so good. The copper does a good job of keeping the drink cold too.
These mugs are ideal for serving up a tray of Moscow mules.
Selecting a ginger beer
Moscow mules are seeing a come back recently and many beverage companies are meeting that demand with their own brands of ginger beer. This is a non-alcoholic carbonated soda made with spicy ginger root. Some of them sweet, some of them spicy, it just depends on the brand. A few to try:
- Goslings ginger beer. I find this to be just the right balance of sweet, smooth and spicy.
- Stoli ginger beer. A sweeter version made by Stoli vodka to mix up the perfect Moscow mule.
- Aldi ginger beer. An inexpensive and spicy blend that makes a mule with a kick!
Try a few types of ginger beer and play around with the ratios of ingredients in your mule to find what suits your taste.
Moscow Mule
A classic vodka cocktail combing spicy ginger beer and lime.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce fresh lime juice
- 4-6 ounces ginger beer
- Lime for garnish
Instructions
- In a shaker filled with ice pour vodka and lime juice. Shake well and strain in to a copper mug filled with ice.
- Top with ginger beer and a wedge of lime for garnish.
Now that you know how to make an easy Moscow mule, grab some vodka, ginger beer and a few limes and make your own.
Get creative and try a few variations on the classic cocktail. Strawberry, watermelon cranberry just to name a few. Add flavored vodka or syrup and fresh fruit to take your drink up a notch.
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