The Moscow Mule recipe
for your table
Fill the copper mug to the brim with ice cubes.
Pour in the vodka and lime juice.
Top up with ginger beer and stir gently once.
Garnish with a lime wedge and a sprig of mint.
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The story
The Moscow Mule was born from two emergencies: John Martin had to sell his newly acquired Smirnoff vodka in a country that drank whiskey, while Jack Morgan, owner of the Cock'n Bull pub in Hollywood, was left with cellars full of homemade ginger beer. Together, and according to legend with a batch of unsellable copper mugs from a Russian immigrant, they came up with the Moscow Mule in 1941. Smart marketing with Polaroids of drinking stars did the rest: within ten years, all of America was drinking vodka.
The right glass
Copper conducts cold better than glass: within a minute, the entire mug is ice-cold and that characteristic layer of condensation forms. That is exactly why a Moscow Mule belongs in a copper mug of approximately 45 to 50 cl, with a food-safe interior. Prefer glass? Then choose a mule glass with relief. That also gives you a beautiful presentation. In our Moscow Mule category, you will find both options. If you prefer glass to copper, pour it into a tall model from our highball glasses.
Speakeasy Moscow Mule Curved Mug 45 cl
RCR Tattoo Moscow Mule 42 cl (4 pieces)
Together € 76,90.
The right tools
For a Moscow Mule, besides the glass, you need a long bar spoon, a jigger for precise measuring, a citrus juicer and long ice sticks. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets. Want the complete set? There is also a 5-piece Moscow Mule cocktail set.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 4 bar tools together € 79,75.
What do you need to make a Moscow Mule?
You need vodka to make a Moscow Mule. Well-known bottles include Jägermeister and Smirnoff. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it works well in and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
With gin, it's called a London Mule; with dark rum, a Dark 'n Stormy cousin; and with bourbon, a Kentucky Mule. The copper mug suits them all. Muddle in some cucumber for a fresh summer version. Fresh ginger syrup alongside the ginger beer makes it extra spicy. Looking for more inspiration? Browse more than 100 cocktail recipes.
Serving tip
The difference between ginger beer and ginger ale is substantial: beer is cloudier, spicier, and makes the real Mule. Put the mugs in the freezer for fifteen minutes for maximum frost effect.
Good to know
Ginger beer or ginger ale
This difference determines the entire cocktail. Ginger beer is brewed or fermented with fresh ginger, is cloudy, and has a sharp, peppery bite; ginger ale is clear, sweetened, and much milder. With ale, you get a flat vodka lemonade in which the ginger barely comes through. Check the label for the ginger content and choose a brand with ginger high on the ingredient list. If you only have ale at home, stir 1 cl of fresh ginger syrup into the cocktail; it comes close, although the result remains sweeter.
How to clean and safely use a copper mug
Copper reacts with acid, so a good mule mug has an inner lining of tin, nickel, or stainless steel. Check this when buying one, and never leave an unlined mug filled for hours. Wash it by hand in lukewarm soapy water and dry it immediately afterward, as the dishwasher damages the lining and dulls the copper. If the outside turns green or brown, rub it with a tablespoon of salt mixed with a little lemon juice, rinse, and dry it. Twice a year is enough.
Non-alcoholic Moscow Mule
Leave out the vodka and you're left with lime and ginger beer, which is perfectly drinkable but feels a little thin. Instead, replace the 4.5 cl with non-alcoholic 0.0 vodka, or use 3 cl of strong, chilled ginger tea with a few drops of non-alcoholic bitters for more depth. Keep 1.5 cl fresh lime juice and 12 cl ginger beer, and fill the mug just as full with ice. The copper gets just as cold and develops the same attractive condensation, which for most guests is half the difference from the original.
How much ginger beer goes in a glass
The ratio you're looking for is about one to three: 4.5 cl vodka to 12 cl ginger beer, with 1.5 cl fresh lime juice in between. In a 45 to 50 cl mug, that fills it right to the brim with ice. If you use a larger glass, keep the same ratio instead of simply adding more ginger beer; otherwise, the vodka will disappear completely. One 20 cl bottle makes one and a half cocktails, so for six guests, have three to four on hand.
Moscow Mule ingredients at a glance
If you search for "what is in a Moscow Mule", you keep coming back to the same short list: 4.5 cl vodka, 1.5 cl fresh lime juice and 12 cl ginger beer, plus lime and plenty of ice. Every Moscow Mule ingredient has its own role. The vodka adds length without imposing its own flavor, the lime juice provides the acidity that balances the ginger, and the ginger beer delivers bubbles and bite. Don't replace the fresh juice with bottled juice: it lacks the sharpness and leaves the ginger tasting merely sweet.
The Moscow Mule cocktail and its name
The name of the Moscow Mule cocktail is usually explained as follows: Moscow refers to the vodka, which in 1941 was still mainly regarded as Russian, and mule refers to the kick delivered by the ginger beer. That also explains why it loses its character without ginger. If you find your drink turns out too sweet, look first at the ginger beer brand and only then at the vodka. A small extra splash of lime juice helps too, as acidity tones down the sweetness of the ginger beer.
Frequently asked questions
What is in a Moscow Mule?
A Moscow Mule consists of 4.5 cl of vodka, 1.5 cl of fresh lime juice and 12 cl of ginger beer, served over plenty of ice in a copper mug. Garnish with a lime wedge and, optionally, a sprig of mint. This 1941 classic needs no more ingredients.
How do you make a simple Moscow Mule?
Fill the mug to the rim with ice cubes, pour the vodka and lime juice over them, top up with ginger beer and stir gently once. Garnish with lime and you're done. Everything happens in the glass, so you don't need a shaker or strainer for this cocktail.
Why is a Moscow Mule served in a copper mug?
Copper conducts cold better than glass: within a minute, the entire mug is ice-cold and a layer of condensation forms, keeping the ginger bite sharp. Choose a 45 to 50 cl mug with a food-safe interior and place it in the freezer briefly beforehand; see our Moscow Mule glasses.
How much ginger beer is in a Moscow Mule?
Count on 12 cl of ginger beer per cocktail, compared with 4.5 cl of vodka and 1.5 cl of fresh lime juice. Use ginger beer, not ginger ale: the former is cloudier and spicier and makes the difference between a real Mule and a sweet long drink.
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