Moscow Mules: “Mojitos” with Nostalgia and Bite

Moscow Mules are traditionally served in copper mugs.

Ok, not quite a mojito, but if you’re looking for a simple, refreshing, nostalgic cocktail, then a Moscow Mule might be just the ticket. Reminiscent of a mojito, this drink has a ginger bite, but is equally addictive.  Simple because it traditionally has only three ingredients:  vodka, ginger beer, and lime.  Refreshing because its a sweet and citrusy drink that’s served cold over ice.  Nostalgic because its origin dates back to 1941, just after prohibition.

History Behind the Cocktail

So the story goes…three gentlemen,  Jack Morgan, president of Cock ‘n’ Bull Products and producer of ginger beer; John G. Martin, president of G.F. Heublein Brothers Inc. of Hartford, Conn.; and Rudolph Kunett, president of the Pierre Smirnoff, Heublein’s vodka division met one evening over drinks. Brainstorming over new marketing schemes to boost vodka and ginger beer sales, they began experimenting with the idea of combining 2 shots of vodka with ginger beer and a squeeze of lime.  Before long, mugs of ice were served and new drink craze, “The Moscow Mule”, was born.  Morgan began marketing the drink in copper mugs (still the traditional serving method), and vodka sales nearly tripled, replacing gin as the liquor of choice.

Moscow Mule Recipes

Thirsty for a Moscow Mule?  Let’s start with the most simple and traditional version:

Traditional Moscow Mule

1 part vodka
1 part lime juice
3 parts ginger beer (recipe)

Mix ingredients and serve over ice in traditional copper mugs.

Oprah’s Moscow Mule

If you caught the episode of Oprah camping in Yosemite, then you saw her serving Moscow Mules to her camping neighbors, in the traditional copper mugs no less.  Well here’s the recipe that Oprah uses.

1 1/4 oz Smirnoff vodka
3 oz. ginger beer (recipe)
1 tsp. sugar syrup
1/4 oz. lime juice
1 sprig mint
1 slice lime

In a copper mug, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice.

Sugar syrup: Mix 1 part water and 1 part sugar – bring to boil in saucepan until sugar dissolves and cool.  That’s it!

Variations on a Moscow Mule

Tons of variations have evolved from this basic recipe.  Below are just a few ideas for you to play with, or create your own variations.  Just be sure to post them for the rest of us to try!

• Mule’s Kick, served over crushed ice in a copper (or other metal) mug, with no fruit.
• Three Legged Mule, with Jameson Irish Whiskey
• Passionfruit Mule, served with 42BELOW Passionfruit vodka. Also known as Passionate Mule in the UK.
• Mule Special, served with slice of orange instead of lime and seasoned with salt and pepper. Very Popular in NZ.
• Garden Mule, served with fresh melon & cucumber slices crushed into a shaker (o. Severino)
• Vanilla Mule, served with vanilla vodka, lime juice (and a wedge), ginger beer, bruised mint leaves, over ice.
• Mexican Mule, which replaces the vodka with Tequila and Kahlúa which is in turn added to the ginger beer and lime juice, over ice.
• Paris Mule, with Grey Goose La Poire, Anjou pear flavored vodka.
• Satanic Mule, with lemon replacing the lime and adding mint leaves.