This Moscow Mule Recipe is an effervescent refreshing cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime juice.
With 3 main ingredients this delicious cocktail is easy to make and fun to serve. We serve these amazing drinks in a beautiful copper mug.
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Moscow Mule Ingredients
- 2 ounces of Vodka (use your favorite brand, we advise using a high quality vodka)
- 4 ounces of Ginger Beer
- 1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
- Copper mugs or highball glass
- Ice
- Mint sprigs
- Lime slices for garnish
How to make a Moscow Mule
- Add the vodka and ginger beer into a copper mug (if you do not have copper mugs you can use a high ball glass)
- Fill the mug or glass with ice and stir
- Next add fresh lime juice and stir some more!
- Garnish with lime slices and a sprig of mint
- Serve and enjoy!!!
Why do they serve a Moscow Mule in a Copper Mug?
Yes, serving this beverage in a copper mug has been a long standing tradition. But, functionally it keeps the cocktail cool. The cold metal acts as an insulation for the ginger beer allowing the cocktail to stay cold and refreshing.
The folklore dates back to then Jack Morgan was dating a lady who owned a copper products company. Well, needless to say copper mugs might have been easy for him to stumble over!
The History of the Moscow Mule
No one truly knows the entire history of this lovely cocktail. But, storytellers say the history of the Moscow Mule dates back to the 1940’s. With the invention of the Polaroid camera, a young executive working with a well known liquor company grabbed one! He started roaming the local bars taking photos of bartenders, holding a bottle of their vodka, along with the classic copper mug.
This executive, named John G. Martin, had purchased the rights to Smirnoff Vodka in the late 1930’s. John, along with the owner of the Los Angeles pub named “Cock ‘n’ Bull”, Jack Morgan, stated that together they created the drink. But this claim has always been widely questioned. Along, with this rumor, their bartender at the time protested that the idea came from him.
What might be closer to the truth is, back then, Americans were not all that familiar with drinking vodka. This coincided with the bar owner ordering way too much ginger beer for the bar. Truth be told, this amazing cocktail’s origin might have come to us as an easy way to clean out the bars overstocked beverages!
Additional cocktails on our site:
- Classic Aperol Spritz
- Blueberry Vodka Cocktail
- Watermelon Vodka Cocktail
- Pineapple Vodka Cocktail
- Cucumber Mint Drinks
Serve these unique food pairings with your Moscow Mule Recipe
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Moscow Mule Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Copper Mug
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Vodka
- 4 ounces Ginger Beer
- 1 ounce Lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 slices Lime slice
- 1 sprig Mint
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Add the vodka and ginger beer into a copper mug (if you do not have copper mugs you can use a high ball glass)
- Fill the mug or glass with ice and stir.
- Next, add fresh lime juice and stir some more.
- Garnish with lime slices and a sprig of mint
- Serve and enjoy!
Tawnie Kroll
My favorite cocktail hands down! Loved reading about the history and copper mug!
Janelle
So refreshing!
Irina
Well, you are convincing me to buy these copper mugs 🙂 Love the recipe and cannot wait to give it a try!
Christie Gagnon
So refreshing and delicious! Love the folklore about the copper mugs. 🙂
Krissy Allori
This is one of my favorite cocktails. I never knew the story about why they serve these in copper mugs. Thank you for sharing.