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Popular for good cause, the Moscow Mule is a traditional vodka-based beverage that is simple to create and excellent. Even the sound of the drink’s name conjures up thoughts of the traditional copper cup used to serve a Moscow Mule.
The straightforward concoction contains lime, ginger beer, and vodka. It’s an in-mug drink that can be made without any instruments. While using the aforementioned cup is obviously desirable when serving, it is not required and shouldn’t stop you from creating a Moscow Mule. Don’t worry if all you have is a highball glass or rocks glass; the drink tastes wonderful regardless of the container.
The Moscow Mule will taste great with any high-quality vodka, but now is not the time to try it with poor ginger beer. You want a premium alternative that is served from a bottle, not a soda can, and has just the right amount of heat to balance the vodka and lime. The combination of the elements makes it difficult to imagine a more reviving option on a hot summer day.
A legendary cocktail from the 1940s, the Moscow Mule was created in 1941 and played a role in vodka’s ascent in the United States. It was created, so the story goes, by two men. Smirnoff vodka, a brand-new and little-known liquor at the time that John Martin’s distribution business had just acquired, needed to be sold. Another guy, Jack Morgan, the proprietor of the Cock ‘n’ Bull tavern, needed to finish the supply of ginger beer taking up space. The two were combined with a little lime juice, and the rest is history. Oh, except for the mug. There are rumors of a third party attending that meeting with a serendipitous supply of copper mugs, though no one is quite sure where that came from. Whatever the method of creation, the easygoing blend of vodka, spicy ginger, and acidic lime, presented tastefully in an eye-catching mug, was a hit. More than a quarter century later, it’s still a smash.
This recipe updates the storied beverage while maintaining its refreshing roots. The Moscow Mule is an ideal cocktail for every season because it is fundamentally really simple and straightforward to create.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1/2 ounce lime juice, freshly squeezed
- 3 ounces ginger beer, chilled
- Garnish: lime wheel
Steps
- Fill a Moscow Mule mug (or highball glass) with ice, then add the vodka and lime juice.
- Top with the ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
