This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.
This Moscow mule recipe pairs simple ingredients for big impact! Vodka, ginger beer and lime make one classic drink.
It’s bubbly, tangy, looks impressive, and goes down easy. Meet the classic Moscow mule! This drink was invented in the 1940’s but has never gone out of style. It’s got just 3 ingredients and you can build it right in the glass, making it perfect for parties or a lazy evening drink. As expert mixologists and authors of over 300 cocktail recipes, the mule is a drink we never tire of! Here’s how to make this refreshing vodka cocktail.
Moscow mule ingredients
A Moscow mule is a classic cocktail invented in the 1940’s, made with vodka and ginger beer and traditionally served in a copper mug. It’s part of a family of cocktails called bucks, which are drinks made with liquor, ginger ale or ginger beer, and citrus juice. So, the drink is also known as a vodka buck! The ingredients for a Moscow mule recipe are:
- 2 oz vodka
- 4 oz ginger beer
- ½ oz lime juice
How to make a Moscow mule
Because a Moscow mule is all about the carbonation in the ginger beer, this drink is not mixed in a cocktail shaker. To preserve the bubbles, simply build the drink right in the mug, served over ice. This makes it one of the easiest cocktail recipes you can find, and quick and easy to mix up for parties. Here’s how to make a Moscow mule:
- Pour 2 ounces vodka and ½ ounce lime juice into a copper mug.
- Add 4 ounces ginger beer.
- Garnish. Add ice cubes, and garnish with lime wedges or a sprig of mint. It’s that simple!
The history behind the drink
The Moscow mule was invented around 1940 by Smirnoff executive John Martin and his friend businessman Jack Morgan, as a ploy to sell vodka and ginger beer. Martin claims the cocktail was invented at Morgan’s bar the Cock‘n Bull in Los Angeles in 1940.
Martin and Morgan are both credited as having invented the drink, as a solution for selling Cock’n Bull’s house made ginger beer and a surplus of vodka, which was not selling because the spirit wasn’t yet popular in America. However, it’s likely that Cock’n Bull bartender Wes Price was the person responsible for the actual drink creation, per a 2007 Wall Street Journal article and other sources. Whatever the case, the quickly drink caught on and brought a small fortune to both Martin and Morgan.
Why are Moscow mules served in copper mugs?
Moscow mules are traditionally served in a copper cup or copped mug for a few reasons:
- Copper keeps the drink cool in a different way than glass. Copper immediately takes on the temperature of the drink. The sensation of taking a sip of the drink with a cool copper rim makes it taste even colder and more refreshing.
- Copper mugs are traditional. There is some controversy around why the Moscow mule is served in a copper mug, and whether the mugs came from a German woman named Oseline Schmidt or a Russian immigrant named Sophie Berezinski. Whatever the case, people in Hollywood fell in love with it and soon there were lots of images of celebrities drinking mules in copper mugs. It caught on and it’s still the traditional way to drink this cocktail.
Where to find copper mugs
The best choice for copper mugs for a mule is solid copper. This is the best way to get that a refreshingly cold sip, so steer clear of other metals with a copper veneer. Moscow mule copper mugs make great gifts, especially as wedding gifts for couples who love to make great cocktails. Here’s a set of solid copper Moscow mule mugs we recommend.
Don’t have a copper mug? No problem. This Moscow mule recipe tastes good in any type of cup or glass. Use a lowball glass, jar, or a standard mug.
Best vodka for a Moscow mule
The best vodka for a Moscow mule? Use a mid-priced vodka, avoiding very inexpensive or high-end vodka. The ginger beer and lime flavors in a Moscow mule are very strong and can overpower a great vodka. Brands like Tito’s and Smirnoff work well here, as well as mid-range brands like Grey Goose vodka.
Avoid vodka that is very cheap for a Moscow mule, in the $10 to $15 per 750 ml bottle range. Low quality vodka can ruin the flavor of the drink.
Best ginger beer for a Moscow mule
For the best flavor for a Moscow mule, look for ginger beer made with real ginger, without artificial flavors or sweeteners.
Q Ginger Beer has great flavor and is made with real ginger. It comes in small cans so you don’t have to open a large bottle. Fever Tree Ginger Beer also has great flavor; it’s made with real ginger and has no artificial sweeteners. Here’s a list of more top ginger beer brands.
Variations on the mule
The Moscow mule is such an iconic drink that it’s spawned many variations. Changing the type of liquor makes different types of mules, or fruit juices or herbs can be added to make seasonal flavors. Here are some of the most popular Moscow mule variations:
- The Kentucky Mule uses bourbon instead of vodka for a whiskey-forward variation.
- A Mexican Mule uses tequila instead of vodka.
- The Irish Mule uses Irish whiskey in place of of vodka.
- A Gin Gin Mule is a modern classic cocktail, essentially a mashup of a mule and a Mojito using gin.
- The Dark and Stormy is another classic cocktail; it uses dark rum in place of vodka and is served in a highball glass.
- A Mezcal Mule uses tequila and mezcal for a smoky spin.
- The Watermelon Mule, Apple Cider Mule, and Cranberry Mule are seasonal spins with added fruit or juices.
Classic Moscow Mule
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
Description
This Moscow mule recipe pairs simple ingredients for big impact! Vodka, ginger beer and lime make one classic drink.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces* vodka
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- 4 ounces ginger beer
- For the garnish: lime wheel or wedge, fresh mint (if desired)
Instructions
- Pour the vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer into a copper mug.
- Add ice and garnish with a lime slice. Serve immediately.
Notes
*To convert to tablespoons, 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons.
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
More classic cocktails
Here are a few more of our classic cocktails to add to your repertoire:
- Classic Margarita The very best classic margarita: lime, tequila and Cointreau. Perfection! And here are 10 ways to make a margarita.
- Best Gin and Tonic Here are the keys to the very best gin and tonic, the most refreshing 2-ingredient cocktail! A few secrets take this crisp, botanical drink over the top.
- Tom Collins Cocktail This popular sweet sour cocktail is light and bubbly! Don’t forget the cherry.
- Whiskey Sour This is the best whiskey sour recipe you’ll find: perfectly balanced and sweet tart! Or try a Boston sour for a variation with a frothy top.
- Best Mimosa The best mimosa recipe! This one’s made with Italian Prosecco, orange juice, and a dash of Cointreau for the perfect bubbly citrus flavor.
I just made 4 batches of this dough for a MYO wood fired pizza night, and I love how simple the recipe is. The dough seems to be rising nicely. More than anything I wanted to compliment your site. I appreciate the option to keep my screen up while cooking, as I use my IPad on a stand while doing it. Also the ease with which I can size up the recipes AND a “Jump to recipe” option at the top. 👏👏👏
If I may, how the Moscow Mule came to pass. Sophie Berezinski had immigrated to the US from Russia in hopes of selling her family-made copper mugs. Having little success at sales (but meeting her husband, Max) in New York, she headed west.
The stars aligned at the Cock ‘n Bull pub on Sunset Blvd, where bar owner Jack Morgan and Jack Martin were working out their business dilemmas. Jack Morgan was trying to sell his homemade ginger beer–a favorite in England but hard to brew demand for in the US. Jack Martin had purchased American rights to the Smirnoff distillery. Martin was having an equally difficult time selling vodka in a post-war America.
In walks Sophie with her handcrafted copper mugs, and the three get to the task of combining their products–and a squeeze of lime–to create one of the most iconic classic cocktails. Ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice: the Moscow Mule cocktail is perfect in its simplicity.
However, a Moscow Mule is not complete without an original Moscow Mule copper mug. The copper uplifts the carbonation and delights the senses with a cool touch to match the cocktail within.
We’re wondering about the phrase “a copper mug or glass.” We don’t think that a copper glass exists; thus, it should read “a copper mug or a glass.”
We’ve clarified this in the recipe. Thank you!
I just used this recipe to make my drink and it was the perfect balance. Thank you!!
Can this be done in a pitcher for a party version? Would it have the same proportions?
Hi! You could do it right before serving, otherwise the ginger beer will lose it’s fizz. The same proportions would work.
You could also premix the vodka and lime juice, then just add ginger beer to each mug.
Enjoy!
Can I use any other fruit juice beside lime. We have an orange tree outside, can we use orange juice, or any other fruit as far as that goes?
Lemon juice would work, but orange juice is too watery and wouldn’t be tangy enough for this recipe.
Hey, thank you so much for being so detailed and helpful!!!!!! 10/10
What kind of vodka do you use?
We usually use Tito’s
Let us know if you have any questions!