Moscow Mule
An ice-cold, fresh vodka drink with sharp lime and biting ginger, classically served in a frosted copper mug.
Ingredients
- Vodka40 ml
- Lime juice, freshly squeezed20 ml
- Ice, to the brimfill the glass
- Aromatic bitters (Angostura)e.g. Angostura2 dashes
- Ginger beer, fiery and spicytop up
- Lime, to garnish (optional)1 wedge
Method
- Chill the copper mug in the freezer for a few minutes, if you have time.
- Fill the mug right up with ice cubes.
- Pour the vodka and freshly squeezed lime juice over the ice.
- Add the Angostura bitters for extra depth.
- Top up with a fiery ginger beer and stir briefly and gently with a bar spoon, so the bubbles hold.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and serve at once, while the mug is still ice-cold.
About this drink
The Moscow Mule was created in 1941, when John Martin and Jack Morgan each needed to shift a stock of vodka and ginger beer respectively, and the solution was this simple, refreshing drink. The signature copper mug began as a sales trick but turned out to keep the drink colder for longer. It has since become one of the most recognisable highballs in the world.
Questions and answers
Does a Moscow Mule have to be served in a copper mug?
Tradition says yes. The copper keeps the drink colder for longer and is part of its visual identity, but the glass makes no difference to the flavour. An ordinary highball glass works just as well.
What if you want a Mule without vodka?
Switch to bourbon and you get a family cousin such as the Kentucky Mule; switch to gin and it becomes a Gin-Gin Mule. Ginger beer and lime are the common core.
