Moscow mule drink: what to buy and how to make it

A Moscow mule drink is vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime juice, poured over ice and traditionally served in a copper mug. At The Wild Duck in Boston we stock the vodka and mixers it needs, and this guide covers the ratio, the method and how to choose each bottle.

What is a Moscow mule drink?

A Moscow mule is a short, cold, fizzy cocktail built from three ingredients: vodka, ginger beer and lime. It is served over ice, usually in a copper mug, with a lime wedge on the rim.

The taste is bright and slightly spicy. The ginger beer gives warmth and sweetness, the lime adds sharp acidity, and the vodka stays in the background and gives the drink its strength. It is a long drink, so it is easy to make for one person or for a table.

The cocktail is generally dated to the 1940s in the United States. Its simple structure, a spirit, a ginger soda and citrus, is the reason so many variations exist, and we cover the common ones further down.

What is a Moscow mule made of?

You need three things: vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime juice. A lime wedge or wheel for garnish and plenty of ice complete the list. Mint is an optional garnish if you like a fresher smell.

For the vodka, browse our vodka shelf. For the ginger beer, look in our mixers section, where we carry Fever Tree. Limes are best bought fresh and juiced just before mixing.

Bottled lime juice will work if you have nothing else, but it tastes flatter and sometimes slightly bitter. Fresh juice is the one ingredient where the extra minute makes an obvious difference.

What is the classic Moscow mule ratio, and how do you make one?

The classic ratio is 2:4:1, which means two parts vodka, four parts ginger beer and one part lime juice. For a single drink, many home bartenders use 2 ounces of vodka, 4 ounces of ginger beer and between half an ounce and one ounce of lime juice. Start with the smaller amount of lime and add more if you prefer a tarter drink.

To build it, fill your mug or glass with ice first, because a cold container keeps the drink fizzy longer. Add the vodka and lime juice, then top with the ginger beer. Pour the ginger beer last and slowly so the bubbles survive.

Stir once, gently, with a bar spoon or a long spoon. Over-stirring knocks out the carbonation. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve straight away.

A jigger helps keep the measures consistent from one drink to the next. A hand juicer gets the most juice from each lime and keeps the seeds out.

Do you need a copper mug for a Moscow mule?

No. A copper mug is traditional and it holds the cold well, so the drink feels very cold in your hand, but any sturdy glass works. A highball glass or a tumbler filled with ice makes a good mule.

The mug matters for presentation more than for flavor. If you use a copper mug, check that the lining is suitable for acidic drinks, and follow the maker's care instructions. Use whatever glass you already own if you do not have a mug.

Whatever the container, fill it with ice. A half-empty glass warms quickly and the ice melts faster, which thins the drink.

What vodka is best for a Moscow mule?

A clean, smooth vodka at a reasonable quality is best, because the ginger and lime will cover most of the difference between bottles. You do not need the most expensive vodka on the shelf for this drink, and a very rare bottle is better sipped on its own.

What matters is that the vodka tastes neutral and has no harsh edge when cold. Brands we carry include Smirnoff and New Amsterdam, and you can compare more options in our vodka category.

Flavored vodkas also work. A citrus vodka adds extra lime or lemon character, and a ginger or berry vodka gives a different direction. If you try one, keep the fresh lime juice in the recipe so the drink still has some acidity.

How do you choose a good ginger beer for a Moscow mule?

Choose a ginger beer with a clear ginger flavor and a lively fizz. The ginger beer makes up about two thirds of the glass, so it has more influence on the result than the vodka does.

Styles range from sweet and mild to dry and spicy. A spicier ginger beer gives the drink more bite and balances the lime. A sweeter one makes an easier, softer mule. Try a small bottle or two to see which you prefer before you buy for a party.

Ginger beer and ginger ale are not the same. Ginger ale is lighter, sweeter and has far less ginger flavor, so a mule made with it tastes milder and less spicy. If ginger ale is all you have, use a little extra lime to keep the drink from tasting flat.

We stock Fever Tree mixers, and our full mixers section is the place to look for other options.

How do you make Moscow mules for a crowd?

Scale the 2:4:1 ratio and build the drinks in the glass, or mix the vodka and lime in a pitcher and add ginger beer to each glass as you serve. Do not put ginger beer in the pitcher ahead of time, because it will lose its fizz.

For eight drinks, combine 16 ounces of vodka and between 4 and 8 ounces of fresh lime juice in a pitcher and chill it. Fill each glass with ice, pour in the chilled mix, and top each one with about 4 ounces of ginger beer. Set out limes and mint so guests can garnish their own.

Plan on opening ginger beer bottles only as you need them. If you are hosting in Boston, Cambridge or Brookline and prefer not to carry everything yourself, we offer pickup and delivery, and our liquor delivery in Boston, Cambridge and Brookline pages explain the areas we serve.

What are easy Moscow mule variations?

The easiest variation is to change the spirit or the citrus. Each one keeps the same ginger beer and lime structure.

A Kentucky mule uses bourbon in place of vodka and tastes warmer and rounder. A Mexican mule uses tequila, which suits a lime-forward drink. A London mule uses gin and adds herbal and botanical notes. A rum mule uses rum and tastes slightly sweeter.

For an orange Moscow mule, add about half an ounce of orange juice or an orange liqueur to the standard recipe and garnish with an orange slice. Reduce the lime slightly so the citrus stays balanced.

If you want a version without alcohol, our non-alcoholic section has spirit alternatives you can use in the same recipe.

Can The Wild Duck help you pick bottles for a Moscow mule?

Yes. The Wild Duck is a liquor store at 86 Massachusetts Ave in Boston, and we can help you match a vodka and a ginger beer to the kind of mule you want to make. We have more than 4,500 products in stock from more than 700 brands, and customers rate us 4.6 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews.

Our store is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on Sunday from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Pickup runs from 9:00 AM Monday to Saturday and from 10:00 AM on Sunday, both until 11:00 PM. You can read how that works on our in-store pickup page.

We also ship, and you can find the details on our liquor delivery page. If you are planning drinks for a larger event, our gift guide may help with ideas for hosts and guests.