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Moscow Mule
The Los Angeles classic that made the copper mug famous. A Moscow Mule is only three pours deep, but each one earns its place. The vodka stays clean and quiet, the ginger beer brings the heat, and the fresh lime pulls the whole mug together into something cold, bright, and far more lively than the short ingredient list suggests.
Ingredients
- 2oz (60ml) vodka
- 4oz (120ml) ginger beer
- 0.5oz (15ml) fresh lime juice
- Plenty of fresh ice
- Lime wedge, for garnish
- Mint sprig, for garnish, if you like
Method
- Chill the copper mug in the freezer for a few minutes if you can, because a cold mug keeps the drink frosty to the last sip.
- Fill the mug to the top with fresh ice.
- Pour in the vodka and the fresh lime juice.
- Top with the ginger beer, pouring slowly so the bubbles survive the pour.
- Stir once, gently, from the bottom to fold the lime through the ginger beer.
- Rest the lime wedge on the rim, tuck in the mint sprig if you are using one, and serve at once.
Tip: The ginger beer is the flavour engine in this mug, so buy the boldest bottle you can find, one with genuine heat and a dry finish. Keep it cold before you pour, because warm ginger beer loses its bubbles fast and the whole drink goes flat. One gentle stir is plenty. Every extra stir lets more fizz escape, and the sparkle is half the pleasure of this drink.
Zero Proof Version
Want it without the alcohol? Our sister site Mocktail O'Clock pours a Virgin Moscow Mule.
Serve It With
Our sister site Cooking with Dade pairs it with Teriyaki Shrimp Stir Fry.
Variations
- Kentucky Mule. Swap the vodka for bourbon and keep every other measure the same. The bourbon brings warm oak and vanilla under the ginger heat, and the mug drinks deeper and rounder while the lime keeps the finish bright.
- Mexican Mule. Swap the vodka for blanco tequila and add a tiny pinch of salt before you top with ginger beer. The tequila brings a green, peppery edge, the salt wakes up the lime, and the ginger heat lands longer.
Questions
What is in a Moscow Mule?
Vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. The vodka and the lime go over ice in a copper mug first, then the cold ginger beer tops the mug, and a lime wedge and a mint sprig finish the pour.
Why is a Moscow Mule served in a copper mug?
Copper takes on the cold of the drink fast and holds it, so the mug feels frosty in your hand and every sip stays sharp and cold. The mug also became the signature look of the drink when it first caught on in Los Angeles.
Does a Moscow Mule need ginger beer or ginger ale?
Ginger beer, always. Ginger beer is brewed for real heat and bite, while ginger ale is a sweet soda with a gentle ginger accent. In a drink this simple, ginger ale makes the whole mug taste soft and sugary.
Can I make a Moscow Mule without a copper mug?
Yes. A highball glass or a rocks glass filled with plenty of ice gives you the same drink, and the flavours do not change. You only lose the frosty feel and the classic look of the copper mug.
How do I make a Moscow Mule spicier?
Start with a hotter ginger beer, then muddle two thin slices of fresh ginger in the mug before you add the ice if you want more fire. The vodka is neutral, so the ginger sets the heat level for the whole drink.