Moscow Mule Recipe
Vodka, ginger beer and lime in a copper mug.
A Moscow Mule is a three ingredient highball. Strong ginger beer carries the whole drink, so choose one with real ginger heat.
Ingredients
- 45 ml Vodka
- 15 ml Fresh lime juice
- 120 ml Ginger beer
Garnish: Lime wedge and mint sprig
How to Make a Moscow Mule
- Fill a copper mug or highball glass with ice.
- Add vodka and lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Stir gently once.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and mint.
Best Bottles for a Moscow Mule in India
Widely available, mixes well
Clean and crisp
Smoother, worth it for a special round
Irish whiskey makes an Irish Mule
Prices are the lowest listed India price and vary by state. Check each spirit page for the full state-wise table.
Tips for a Better Moscow Mule
- Fill the mug with ice before anything else. A warm mule is a flat mule.
- Use ginger beer with real ginger heat, not ginger ale.
About the Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is American, not Russian. It was created in 1941 at the Cock 'n' Bull pub on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. John G. Martin of Heublein had just bought the US rights to Smirnoff vodka, which almost nobody was buying. Jack Morgan, who owned the pub, was stuck with cases of his own ginger beer.
They combined the two with lime and served the result in a copper mug. The pub's head bartender, Wes Price, later said he made the first one simply to clear stock from the cellar. Martin then toured American bars with a Polaroid camera, photographing bartenders holding the mug and a Smirnoff bottle.
The campaign worked. The Moscow Mule introduced vodka to the United States and started the shift that made it the country's best-selling spirit. A revival in the 2010s made copper mugs standard bar equipment again.
Moscow Mule Variations
- Kentucky Mule: bourbon in place of vodka.
- Mexican Mule: tequila blanco in place of vodka.
- Gin Gin Mule: gin, mint, lime and ginger beer, created by Audrey Saunders in New York.
- Dark and Stormy: dark rum and ginger beer.
- London Mule: gin in place of vodka.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Moscow Mule?
How strong is a Moscow Mule?
Why is a Moscow Mule served in a copper mug?
Are copper mugs safe to drink from?
Can you use ginger ale instead of ginger beer?
What is the best vodka for a Moscow Mule?
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