Classic Moscow Mule Cocktail

It may not be officially spring, but here in the Midwest, it’s been in the 60’s, which makes me feel in the mood for some warm weather cocktails!

I have plenty of drinks to sip on on a warm day, but I wanted to share a classic with you today.

The moscow mule. It’s traditionally served in copper mugs with plenty of crushed/nugget ice, and the outside of the mugs gets so frosty.

This classic cocktail is made using just 3 ingredients… that’s right… three!

Plus you don’t need any fancy equipment, no cocktail shaker, no muddler, etc. Just add everything to the cup and stir.

What do I need to make this recipe?

• Vodka – I find it’s best to use a middle of the road vodka for this. The other ingredients have a strong flavor, so using a top-shelf vodka would be a waste, and using bargain vodka may not taste as good. Smirnoff and Titos are the two vodka brands I like to use for this cocktail.
• Lime juice – the tartness of lime juice is perfect to cut through and compliment the ginger flavors. Fresh is definitely best though.
• Ginger beer – ginger beer generally packs a punch, as the flavor comes from strong ginger. There are several brands available, and despite the Reed’s brand pictured here, I typically use Fever-Tree. However, both brands work well in this recipe.
• Garnishes – these are optional, but make the cocktail feel like something you ordered at a fancy restaurant. We like to use a lime slice and a sprig of fresh mint.

Variations of this recipe

• Citrus – instead of lime juice, you could try lemon juice.
• Fruit juice – a fun seasonal variation would be to use about an ounce of a fruit juice (pineapple, orange, apple cider, watermelon, cranberry etc).
• Sweeter – if you prefer a sweeter cocktail, feel free to add a splash of simple syrup (you can make this or buy it from the store).
• Other liquors – while not a traditional moscow mule, there are several variations of this cocktail that use different liquors and have different names!
  • Mexican mule – use tequila in place of vodka.
  • Irish mule – use Irish whiskey in place of vodka.
  • Kentucky mule – use bourbon in place of vodka.
  • Gin mule – use gin in place of vodka.

Making a moscow mule cocktail ahead of time

This drink comes together super quickly, so there’s no need to make it ahead. Plus any fizziness from the ginger beer will be lost.

However, if you’re using fresh lime juice, that can be squeezed ahead of time and kept refrigerated.

Storage

Any leftover cocktails should be stored in the refrigerator and enjoyed within 1-2 days.

The ginger beer will likely go flat, so you might want to add an extra splash when you drink the leftover mule.