Moscow Mule: What to Buy and How to Make It

A Moscow Mule is a cocktail of vodka, ginger beer and lime juice, served over ice and traditionally poured into a copper mug. At The Wild Duck in Boston, we are a liquor store, and this page explains the classic ratio, the steps, and how to choose the vodka and ginger beer so you can make a good one at home.

What is a Moscow Mule and what is in it?

A Moscow Mule is made of three things: vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime juice. It is built over ice in a mug or tall glass, and most people garnish it with a lime wedge or a sprig of mint.

The taste is cold, crisp and a little spicy. The ginger beer brings sweetness and a gentle heat, the lime adds sharp acidity, and the vodka keeps the flavour clean so the other two ingredients come through.

Because the recipe is so short, each ingredient matters. A weak ginger beer or old lime juice shows up in the glass straight away, which is why the choices in the sections below are worth a few minutes of thought before you shop.

This drink is for adults of legal drinking age only. In Massachusetts that means 21 or older.

What is the classic Moscow Mule ratio?

The classic ratio is 2 parts vodka to 4 parts ginger beer to a small splash of lime juice. In a standard mug, that usually works out to 2 ounces of vodka, 4 ounces of ginger beer and about half an ounce of lime juice.

If you find the drink too sweet, add a little more lime. If you want more ginger heat, use a spicier ginger beer rather than adding more of a mild one, since extra mild ginger beer only makes the drink sweeter and weaker.

To make Moscow Mules for a group, keep the same proportions and multiply. For six drinks, measure 12 ounces of vodka and 24 ounces of ginger beer, and squeeze about 3 ounces of lime juice. Pour the vodka and lime into a pitcher without ice, and add the ginger beer to each glass just before serving. Adding it earlier lets the bubbles fade.

How do you make a Moscow Mule step by step?

Fill your mug or glass to the top with ice, then pour in the vodka and the lime juice. Top with cold ginger beer, give it one gentle stir, and garnish with a lime wedge.

Chilling everything first helps. A cold mug, cold ginger beer and plenty of ice keep the drink from going flat and watery. Pour the ginger beer slowly down the side of the glass or over the back of a spoon to hold on to the carbonation.

Do not shake a Moscow Mule. Shaking a carbonated mixer knocks the fizz out of it. Build the drink directly in the glass, and stir only once or twice to combine.

Squeeze the lime yourself if you can. A lime wedge pressed into the drink and dropped in gives you both the juice and the garnish in one step.

Do you need a copper mug for a Moscow Mule?

No, you do not need a copper mug. The mug is the traditional way to serve the drink, and copper conducts cold quickly, so the mug feels icy in your hand and the drink stays cold. A tall highball glass makes the same drink and tastes the same.

If you do use copper, check that the inside is lined with a food-safe metal such as stainless steel or nickel, since unlined copper should not hold acidic drinks like lime juice. Stainless steel or glass avoids the question completely.

For a party, a row of matching glasses is easier to keep cold and wash than a set of mugs. Fill each glass with ice before you start pouring, and the drinks will stay cold for longer.

Which vodka is best for a Moscow Mule?

A clean, smooth vodka at a moderate level of quality is the best choice. Ginger and lime are strong flavours, so an expensive bottle chosen for subtle character will mostly be lost in this drink. Pick a vodka that tastes neutral and not harsh when it is cold.

If you want to browse, our vodka section is the place to start. We also have brand pages for Smirnoff and New Amsterdam, two makers whose bottles we stock more of than most. Both are familiar vodkas that mix well with ginger beer.

Flavoured vodkas can work too. Citrus vodkas such as lime, lemon or orange suit the drink well, while very sweet flavours tend to clash with the ginger. If you are unsure, start with a plain vodka and add flavour with fruit and herbs.

How do you choose a good ginger beer, and can you use bottled lime juice?

Choose a ginger beer with a real ginger bite, and use ginger beer rather than ginger ale. Ginger ale is a milder, sweeter soft drink with only a light ginger flavour, and it makes a Moscow Mule that tastes thin. Ginger beer is brewed or made with more ginger and has the heat the drink depends on.

Ginger beers range from sweet and mild to dry and sharp. If you like a spicy drink, look for one that describes itself as strong or fiery. For a softer drink, a sweeter style is fine.

To see what we have, browse our mixers section. Fever-Tree is one of the brands we carry most of, and the maker is known for its mixers, including ginger beer.

On lime juice, fresh is better. Bottled juice is acceptable if you need it, but it tastes flatter and a little bitter, so use slightly less and taste before you serve.

What are easy Moscow Mule variations?

The simplest variation is an Orange Moscow Mule. Use an orange-flavoured vodka, or add a small splash of orange juice and an orange wheel as garnish, and keep the ginger beer and lime as they are. The orange softens the sharpness of the lime.

You can also swap the spirit, and each swap has its own traditional name. A Kentucky Mule uses bourbon, a Mexican Mule uses tequila, and a gin mule, sometimes called a London Mule, uses gin. The method and ratio stay the same.

Other easy changes are a few muddled mint leaves, a slice of fresh ginger, or a dash of bitters on top. Make one change at a time so you can tell what each one does to the drink.

If you want another vodka drink to try, we also carry the Rokz Bloody Mary Lover Set.

How can you get your Moscow Mule bottles from The Wild Duck?

You can walk in, pick up an order, or have an order delivered or shipped. We are at 86 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02117. The 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.

For in-store pickup, our pickup hours are Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM and Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Delivery runs Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 10:30 PM. You can check the delivery areas for your address, and we have pages for Boston, Cambridge and Brookline.

Our shelves hold more than 4,500 products from more than 700 brands, and our store is rated 4.6 out of 5 from more than 60 Google reviews. If you are unsure which vodka or mixer to choose, ask us in the store and we will help you pick.