Moscow mule
Vodka, lime and spicy ginger beer over ice. Cold, sharp and ready in two minutes.
- Time
- 3 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Glass
- Highball
- Strength
- 2 UK units
How to make a Moscow mule
- Fill the glass with ice. Fill a tall glass or copper mug right to the top with ice, until the sides feel cold.
- Add vodka and lime. Pour in the vodka and fresh lime juice.
- Top with ginger beer. Pour in the ginger beer slowly and stir once from the bottom. The drink should be pale gold and well fizzing.
- Garnish and serve. Slap a mint sprig between your palms, tuck it in with a lime wedge and serve at once.
- Glass
- HighballNo highball? A copper mug, if you have one.
- Ice
- Ice cubes
- Garnish
- A lime wedge and a sprig of mintOr: A lime wheel dropped in the glass.
What you need to make a Moscow mule
Kit
JiggerA double-ended measure, usually 25 ml and 50 ml.
Citrus squeezerFresh juice makes the biggest difference of anything.
Bar spoonA long teaspoon does the job.
Bottles we'd use
- A spicy ginger beerFever-Tree or Old Jamaica ginger beer both have a proper ginger kick.Find it on Amazon
- A clean vodkaSmirnoff or Absolut. The ginger beer is the main flavour.Find it on Amazon
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The Moscow mule story
The story most often told places it in Hollywood in 1941. John G. Martin, who sold Smirnoff vodka, and Jack Morgan, who owned the Cock 'n' Bull restaurant and made ginger beer, are said to have combined their stock, and the copper mugs have their own legend. It is a well-known story, but the details do not all match across accounts.
Quality shows in the ginger beer, so pick a spicy one, not a sweet ginger ale. Fresh lime stops it tasting like a soft drink. A copper mug keeps it very cold, but any tall glass works.
Moscow mule: your questions answered
What is in a Moscow mule?
A Moscow mule is made with 50 ml vodka, 15 ml fresh lime juice and 100 ml spicy ginger beer. Garnish: a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.
How strong is a Moscow mule?
Made to this recipe, a Moscow mule contains about 2 UK units of alcohol per drink. That is worked out from typical bottle strengths, so it changes with the bottles you use. UK guidelines advise not regularly drinking more than 14 units a week.
What glass do you serve a Moscow mule in?
Serve a Moscow mule in a highball over ice. No highball? A copper mug, if you have one.
