Greetings Comrades.

In this installment of the Hump Day Happy Hour we are going to make and drink my new favorite Springtime, I mean, all the time drink, the Moscow Mule.

The creation of The Mule is really a case study in exceptional marketing. A vodka distributer, John G. Martin, could not sell his recently acquired Smirnoff Vodka to the masses. While wallowing in his defeat at the Cock ‘n’ Bull Pub in Los Angeles, he found himself in a conversation with the bar’s owner who had his own troubles. You see, he couldn’t sell his home-brewed, spicy ginger beer.

Now get this, there’s ANOTHER fella who owned a copper mug company and, guess what, it was failing. You can’t make this stuff up.

So the three of them put their products together, added lime, and boom, one of the greatest combinations in the annals of cocktails (and sheer ingenuity) was born.

And get this…The Moscow Mule is said to have really jump started the popularity of vodka in the US. Total game changer.

Now, I’m not exactly sure how The Mule (as I so loving refer to it) came to tantalize my taste buds, but I’m glad it did. It’s so simple to make and amazingly refreshing.

So, let’s get to it:

The Cocktail Novice Moscow Mule Recipe

• 2oz Vodka (went with the Tito’s here, as always)
• Juice of ½ a lime
• Top off with Ginger Beer (Goslings here since that’s all they had a Giant)

In a copper mug filled with ice, combine the vodka with the lime juice and top it off with the ginger beer. Garnish with a lime wheel or toss the whole ½ of lime shell in. We don’t judge here.

Drink. Mix. Repeat.

I love The Mule. I might say it’s in my top 5 favorite cocktails all time. I might just say that. It’s got this great, refreshing initial flavor but then you get zinged by the peppery zip of the ginger beer. All held together by the sweetly sour lime juice. Oh, and delivered to my lips so eloquently by the copper mug…I guess?

Speaking of ginger beer, check out Bill’s post on this spicy little nectar. He gives you the rundown on the available brands and even teaches you how to make your own. Crazy.

Variations on The Mule

There are some great variations of the old Mule out there that are equally amazing. If you swap out the vodka with rum you have yourself a Dark and Stormy. Which, I might add, was gifted to my by my fellow Novice Bill one cold Christmas Eve. I remember the drink being hot.

Another great variation is the Kentucky Mule where you are switching out the vodka with bourbon. Switch the lime with lemon and you have a Whiskey Buck. The options are endless.

We love trying out new ginger beer here at The Cocktail Novice, so let us know what brand of ginger beer gives your Moscow Mule it’s kick!