Summer Cocktail Series: The Moscow Mule

Those of you who read our blog and subscribe to our emails are likely aware of our ongoing Summer Cocktail Series. If not, it’s pretty simple: every week, we are featuring a different cocktail, highlighting some of the drink’s history, and then telling you everything you need to make it. This week’s cocktail is the Moscow Mule.

Sometimes referred to as a “Vodka Buck,” the Moscow Mule is a fairly simple cocktail. But don’t be deceived by its elementary composition. It packs a ton of flavor, and it’s a perfect drink for summer. If you’ve never had one, I would seriously encourage you to do so, and I’ll teach you how. But before I do so, I just want to talk quickly about one thing – the name and history of the drink.

Though the origins of the Moscow Mule are disputed (like many cocktails), there is one particularly prevalent narrative that I prefer. Sometime in or around the 1940s, despite vodka’s lacking allure in the US (it was mainly popular in Russia), a man named John G. Martin bought the US rights to French vodka brand Smirnoff. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sell it. No one wanted it.

So one day, John was talking with an L.A. bar owner, Jack Morgan, about his inability to sell the vodka. Morgan was in a similar predicament with ginger beer. Coincidentally, there was another businessman present who had a massive quantity of copper mugs he was sitting on. And the Moscow Mule was born. The story of how the drink got its name is even murkier than the history portion, but some suggest that “Moscow” was chosen because vodka was largely associated with Russia at that time, and “mule” was selected because of the flavor kick brought on by the ginger beer.

Who knows what’s true? Honestly, I don’t care that much. I quite like that story, and I like the drink even more.

Now, lets get into it. Below I’ll give you everything you need to make a proper Moscow Mule.

Ingredients (For 1 Drink)
2 oz. Vodka
Ginger Beer 
¾ oz. Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
Ice Cubes
Lime Wedge for Garnish

Tools Needed
Moscow Mule Mugs 
Lime Juicer 
Cocktail Jigger 
Cutting Board
Paring Knife

Preparation Instructions

1. Add vodka and lime juice into the mug.

2. Fill the mug with ice, and top it off with your ginger beer.

3. Add your lime wedge for garnish, and enjoy!

That’s all easy enough, right? So, what are you waiting for? Go make one and thank me later.