Moscow Mule Recipe

ByElien Lewis
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The Moscow mule is one of the most crowd-pleasing cocktails out there. It’s vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, served over ice. Simple, refreshing, and super easy to make.

A copper mug filled with a cocktail, garnished with fresh lime slices and mint leaves, sits on a white coaster. Additional limes, mint, and another mug are in the background on a marble surface.

About the moscow mule

The Moscow mule was born in the 1940s when a vodka seller and a ginger beer maker decided to combine forces, and honestly, it was a perfect match. The combination of sharp ginger beer, bright lime, and smooth vodka just works.
I love the Moscow mule to serve at parties. The ginger beer does most of the heavy lifting, so as long as you use a good one, you’re going to get a great cocktail. I like a ginger beer with real bite, not the overly sweet kind. The spicier the ginger beer, the better the mule.
You’ll see this served in a copper mug everywhere, and while it looks great, it’s absolutely not essential. A rocks glass or a highball works just fine. The copper mug keeps the drink cold, but ice does the same job.
If you’ve already tried my spicy mule or tequila mule, this is the classic version that started it all.

The ingredients

  • Vodka: A clean, unflavored vodka. It doesn’t need to be top shelf since the ginger beer and lime are doing a lot of the work, but avoid anything that tastes harsh. Something smooth and neutral is what you want.
  • Ginger beer: This is the star of the drink, so it matters. Use a proper ginger beer (not ginger ale, which is much milder and sweeter). I like one with real ginger heat and not too much sugar. The spicier the ginger beer, the better the mule. If you can only find ginger ale, it’ll still taste good, just softer and sweeter.
  • Fresh lime juice: Always freshly squeezed. Bottled lime juice has a dull, slightly bitter taste that you’ll definitely notice in a drink this simple. Half a lime gives you roughly 1/2 oz / 15 ml of juice, which is all you need.

Method

  1. Fill a copper mug, rocks glass, or highball glass with ice.
A clear liquid is being poured from a glass into a copper mug filled with ice cubes, sitting on a small white plate on a marble surface.
  1. Add the vodka and fresh lime juice.
A glass pitcher pours a golden liquid over ice cubes in a copper mug with a handle. Fresh mint leaves are scattered nearby on a white surface.
  1. Top with ginger beer and give it a gentle stir. Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint.

Tips

  • Choose a spicy ginger beer: The ginger beer makes or breaks this drink. Look for one with real ginger listed as an ingredient and less added sugar. Brands like Fever-Tree, Bundaberg, or Fentimans are good options.
  • Don’t skip the lime: Fresh juice is essential. It lifts the whole drink and keeps it from tasting just like ginger beer.
  • Try it with gin: Swap the vodka for gin and you’ve got a foghorn cocktail. The botanicals add a lovely layer of flavor.
  • Make it spicy: Add a few slices of muddled jalapeño for a spicy mule. It’s one of my favorites.
  • Copper mug or not: The copper mug is iconic but optional. It keeps the drink extra cold, but any glass with plenty of ice works.
A copper mug filled with a cocktail, garnished with lime slices and fresh mint, sits on a white surface with ice cubes, mint sprigs, and lime wedges scattered around. Another similar drink is partially visible nearby.

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If you love this Moscow mule, try some of these cocktails next:

A copper mug filled with a cocktail, garnished with fresh lime slices and mint leaves, sits on a white coaster. Additional limes, mint, and another mug are in the background on a marble surface.

The Moscow Mule

Elien Lewis
The classic Moscow mule made with vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. It's refreshing, has a great ginger kick, and is one of the easiest cocktails to make. Use a spicy ginger beer for the best results.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Cocktails
Servings 1
Calories 173 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 4 oz ginger beer
  • 1/2 oz lime juice fresh, about half a lime
  • Ice

Instructions
 

  • Fill a copper mug, rocks glass, or highball glass with ice.
  • Add the vodka and fresh lime juice.
  • Top with ginger beer.
  • Stir gently to combine.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of fresh mint.

Notes

  • Both US customary and metric measurements are provided.
  • Use a spicy ginger beer with real ginger for the best flavor. Ginger ale will work but gives a milder, sweeter drink.
  • Always use freshly squeezed lime juice. Bottled lime juice tastes flat and slightly bitter.
  • For a spicy mule, muddle 1 to 3 slices of jalapeño in the glass before adding ice.
  • Swap vodka for tequila for a Mexican mule, or gin for a foghorn cocktail.
  • The copper mug is traditional and keeps the drink cold, but any glass works.
  • To make a pitcher for 4, multiply the vodka and lime juice by 4, add to a pitcher with ice, and top with about 16 oz / 480 ml of ginger beer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serveCalories: 173kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.01gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 18mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 0.2mg
Keyword moscow mule
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Elien is a self-taught drink maker and the creator of Mint and Twist, where she share approachable cocktail and mocktail recipes.

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