What’s better than a cool, refreshing Moscow mule on a warm summer night? The answer is … nothing! This classic vodka cocktail is a crowd pleaser with freshly squeezed lime juice, slightly spicy ginger beer, and of course – a copper mug.
Mules are one of our favorite specialty cocktails to serve at events. They only require three simple ingredients, and the combination of fresh citrus paired with spice from the ginger beer leads to a perfectly balanced cocktail.
Today we’re sharing with you the classic Moscow mule recipe, plus ideas to customize your mule and scale it up for a party!
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Like all cocktails, the quality of ingredients leads to the quality of the cocktail. For a Moscow mule, that starts with a great vodka. For a standard mule go with an unflavored vodka like Tito’s or our new local favorite, Oola Vodka made from organic wheat.
Next up is ginger beer. People are pretty particular when it comes to their preferred brand of ginger beer. We suggest trying out a few to find the one you like as they will vary in their level of sweetness and spiciness. To get you started, we love: Rachel’s Ginger Beer from Seattle, Gosling’s Ginger Beer, and Reed’s Jamaican Ginger Beer.
Finally, you will need freshly squeezed lime juice (no concentrate please!), ice, and if you have one, a stainless steel lined copper mug. The copper mug keeps your drink super-chilled, and is the quintessential Moscow mule accessory!
Classic Moscow Mule Recipe
Serving size: 1 cocktail
- 2 oz vodka
- 5 oz ginger beer (about half of a can or bottle)
- Ice
- Juice of 1/2 of a lime (plus more to garnish)
Instructions
- Fill your copper mug with ice
- Combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice directly into your mug
- Garnish with a lime wedge (voila! It’s as easy as that!)
CUSTOMIZE YOUR MULE
Once you have the classic recipe down, the Moscow mule is the perfect cocktail to customize. When you’re first experimenting, pick one of the customization ideas below to find out what you like! Here are three easy ways to customize your mule:
Flavored Ginger Beer
Easily add a twist to your mule with a flavored ginger beer. Rachel’s Ginger Beer comes in 10+ amazing flavors, we love the blood orange!
Infused Vodka
You can do the same with vodka by swapping for a flavor-infused option. We suggest staying away from overly sweet vodka (like whipped cream), but an infused blueberry or jalapeno vodka makes a killer mule!
Garnishes
Garnish your mule with fresh herbs like mint, rosemary, or basil. You can also add fresh fruit to complement the flavored vodka or ginger beer if you used it. One of our favorite combinations is blueberry-infused vodka with a basil garnish. Go wild!
MAKE IT FOR A GROUP
Moscow mules are one of our go-to signature cocktails to make ahead for events. Make a big batch for your next party using our recipe below.
Batch Moscow Mules
Serving size: 12 cocktails
- One bottle vodka (750 ml)72 oz ginger beer (i.e. six 12oz cans)
- 6 limes (plus 3 more for garnish)
- Ice for serving
Instructions
- Combine vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice in a pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate.
- When ready to serve, pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a lime slice, herbs, or fresh fruit.
Let us know if you make this cocktail! Post your perfect mule photo and tag us at partyontherocksseattle. Happy cocktail-ing!