July 22, 2019
Ayngelina
Drink
Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). Read the full disclosure policy here.
Did you know that the Moscow Mule is the most googled co*cktail?
This piece of trivia was on the drink menu at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort veranda bar in St.Petersburg and with the Florida heat I had to give it a try.
Cornelius, the escalator salesman from Chicago also sitting at the bar, chirped in that it was a great choice for the weather, in fact it’sone of his favourite drinks.
This is what I like about St.Petersburg, even visitors are cordial and it’s easy to make friends.
The bartender chimed in that it was a great drink and with that I was sold.
While the Moscow Mule is this summer’s hottest co*cktail, the drink isn’t new at all.
In fact, it was the hot drink in the 1950’s when the United States jumped on a co*cktail wagon.
While vodka is a common spirit now it wasn’t the liquor of choice in the 1940s and the popularity of vodka in co*cktails is attributed to the invention of the Moscow Mule.
Who Invented the Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is also known as a vodka buck, which means it’s a mixed drink with either ginger ale, ginger beer or citrus juice.
The name refers to the Russian vodka used in the drink, and not surprisingly it was invented in 1939 whenthe president of Smirnoff, president of a ginger beer company and president of a spirits distribution company sat down for drinks.
Vodka wasn’t selling well and neither was ginger beer but together they became one of the most popular drinks in the 1950s.
ALSO READ: 40 Classic co*cktails Around the World
I prefer tart and refreshing co*cktails and the combination of spicy ginger beer and sour lime is a great co*cktail for a hot day.
The key to the Moscow Mule is the copper mug. In fact Cornelius my new bar friend told me if it’s served in anything else he won’t drink it.
Moscow Mule Copper Mugs
These Moscow mule cups may keep the drink cold but originally it was just a marketing ploy.
John Martin, the vodka distributor bought them to set the drink apart from others.
He would go to a bar with a Polaroid camera and get bartenders to pose with the mug and the bottle of Smirnoff vodka to take two photos.
GREAT DEAL FROM AMAZON:
These Copper Mugs are Guaranteed Food Safe
He would leave one photo with the bartender but take the other to a competing bar to convince bar owners they were missing out on the hottest drink.
That ploy was successful and sales of Smirnoff took off.
Sadly when US-Russian relations started going South and Americans began to fear Communists the sales of Moscow Mules started to slide.
While neither Smirnoff nor the co*cktail was a Russian drink at all, the inference was enough for sales to tank.
However, it’s now enjoying a resurgence like many other classic co*cktails.
The Best Vodka for Moscow Mule
Most bartenders will tell you that when you are ordering a co*cktail you do not need to buy top shelf spirits.
Many Moscow mule recipes are made with Smirnoff as an homage to the original recipe. However, any vodka brand will be fine, no need to splurge.
Where to Buy Ginger Beer
While ginger ale is commonly found in supermarkets, ginger beer is more difficult in some cities. You want to use a high quality ginger beer as it provides most of the flavours.
Fever Tree Ginger Beer is a bartender favourite and easy to buy online.
Moscow Mule Recipe
A very easy recipe, the Moscow mule ingredients are simply vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime juice.
Recipes vary on the ratio of these three items and it’s evolved over the years.
It’s common now to see mint as a garnish. And depending on where you order one you may see it served with a cucumber.
If you want to jazz it up a bit the Moscow Mule is a forgiving recipe.
You can easily add berries or fruit like pomegranate or fresh summer peaches. I also think elderflower cordial would be wonderful in this recipe.
Prefer rum instead of vodka? Swapit out and you have adark and stormy.
And don’t worry if you don’t have a copper mug at home. A highball glass will do!
Classic Moscow Mule
Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
The Moscow Mule is this summer's hottest co*cktail, learn the classic 3-ingredient recipe that is so easy to make at home.
Ingredients
- 4 oz Ginger beer
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz lime juice
- 4 strawberries
Instructions
- In a copper mug, pour vodka over ice.
- Add lime juice, ginger beer and stir.
- Garnish with mint and a slice of lime.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 199Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 10mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although BaconisMagic.ca attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
