Moscow Mule

An easy classic Vodka based cocktail, the Moscow Mule is essentially Vodka and Ginger Beer creating a cold and refreshing cocktail for Vodka lovers. Pack this with plenty of crushed ice, similar to a Mint Julep in this fashion, but, of course, with different flavours.

This cocktail is usually served in a copper mug, but if you don't have one on hand, a Rocks Glass or Ceramic Mug will do. Technically the proper mug ads to the taste of the drink, but, if you're making cocktails at home, you may not have everything on hand.

The Moscow Mule has lead to a variety of variations with an alternative base spirit, so feel free to expiriment.

Total Time 4

Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients

60 mL Vodka
15 mL Lime Juice
90 mL Ginger Beer
Garnish with lime wedge or wheel

Instructions

Fill a Mule Glass (or rocks glass) with crushed ice. If you don't have crushed ice on hand, it's easy enough to crush some normal sized ice cubes by wrapping them in a tea towel and using a rolling pin.
Add Vodka and Lime Juice.
Top up with Ginger Beer.
Garnish, enjoy.

We Have a Bit More to Say About the Moscow Mule

Is the Moscow Mule really from Moscow or is it just called that because it’s made with Vodka? We don’t know, but we do know it’s a nice cocktail. The Moscow Mule has gone on to inspire a large number of variations, usually also made with Ginger Beer and Lime Juice, but replacing the Vodka with another spirit. Variations include drinks like the Mexican Mule which uses Tequila, the Irish Mule which uses Irish Whiskey, and the Jamaican Mule which uses Spiced Rum. And that’s only a few of the different Mules out there! If you like Ginger Beer and you like Vodka, this is most definitely the cocktail for you!

Can I make a few Moscow Mules at once?

That should be easy enough, however, you wouldn’t be making the cocktail in the glass, which is OK. Just mix everything in a mixing glass or jug and you should have a few Moscow Mules before you know it! Then you can share them with all of your friends.

Can I make this cocktail in advance?

No you can’t. It’s important that the Ginger Beer is fresh and fully carbonated when you serve a Moscow Mule. Making it advance and letting it sit will mean that the Ginger Beer will go flat, then you won’t have as good a cocktail as possible.

When is the best time to try a Moscow Mule?

Although a little bit long, the Moscow Mule is a nice drink before dinner. It also works well as a general afternoon drink, at a picnic, or a barbeque. Basically, this cocktail is a great alcoholic replacement for a soda or soft drink. While Ginger Beer can have quite a bold flavour, it’s toned down quite a bit by the Vodka and Lime Juice, so it’s actually a relatively mellow drink to have.

That being said, while you can have a Moscow Mule with food, there are still some decent Ginger Beer flavours here, and they may take away from the taste of your food if you’re having something more subtle. But if you’re having something simple like picnic samples or just a hamburger at a barbeque, one of these would go down a treat!

How strong is a Moscow Mule?

There’s some kick to this cocktail, but it’s roughly average when compared to a lot of other cocktails. Take a look at a lot of other cocktail websites on this website and you’ll notice that the majority of them have about 45-60 mL of liquor in them. Although this usually makes them a bit stronger than, say, a glass of wine, if you’re comparing one cocktail recipe to another, you’ll note that the Moscow Mule is on par with pretty much everything else. On the other side of things, with the Lime Juice and Ginger Ale dilute the alcohol by volume created by the Vodka, it’s not as much as a lot of other longer cocktails that use more mixer or more fruit juice (or both!).

Is there a good type of music to listen to while having a Moscow Mule?

Let’s be lit bit cliched here and suggest listening to Russian folk music. Yeah, it’s not the most creative idea, but it’s a Moscow Mule! We don’t know much about Russian folk music, but we’re sure that after a few of these bad boys you’ll be sure to love it!

And why stop there? Try a few more Mule variations with music from a given country: Aussie Mule (Bundaberg Rum), listen to Pup Rock; Glasgow Mule (Scotch Whiskey), bagpipe music; New Orleans Mule (Bourbon), New Orleans Jazz; Southern Mule (Southern Comfort), Country Music! You get the idea… Just be careful, if you’re doing all of these back to back it’s going to be a long day. And you’ll probably be hurting in the morning.

Let’s take a look at a few more cocktail recipes!

It’s a classic, it’s easy, it’s a Moscow Mule! We have a few categories that this cocktail fits into, so take a look at them to see other stuff you might like:

Top 10 Vodka cocktail recipes: obviously the Moscow Mule is made with Vodka. Come take a look at our favourite cocktail recipers with Vodka.

All Vodka cocktail recipes: we also have a ton of cocktail recipes that have Vodka in them. Even if you like our favourites, perhaps you’ll find something you like even more.

All classic cocktails: the Moscow Mule is a bit of a classic. Have look at the other classic cocktail recipes we have on the site.

All easy cocktail recipes: the Moscow Mule is also a very easy cocktail to make. Here’s a whole bunch more easy ones for you.