Highball recipe
Moscow Mule
Vodka, lime, and ginger beer do not need ceremony, but they do need cold service and restraint. The Moscow Mule should be brisk, gingery, and built for refreshment.
- Easy
- Built
- Ginger beer
- Copper mug
Why this spec
The Moscow Mule is a vodka highball with a sharp lime line and a ginger beer top. Vodka keeps the base clean, lime gives the drink a real edge, and ginger beer supplies spice, sweetness, and length.
The build stays simple because carbonation is fragile. Add vodka and lime over ice, top cold, stir briefly, and stop.
The bottle and the rest
Use vodka that tastes clean when chilled. It does not need to be loud, but harsh vodka will show once ginger heat arrives.
Ginger beer varies widely. A spicy, not-too-sweet bottle keeps the drink adult. Ginger ale is softer and changes the shape.
The build
Build vodka and lime over ice
Build vodka and lime juice in a chilled mug over ice.
Top with ginger beer
Top with ginger beer.
Stir once
Give it one brief stir.
brief lift
Keep the ginger beer cold and open it near service. Flat ginger beer makes a dull Mule.
Take it somewhere
Kentucky Mule
Bourbon noteSwap vodka for bourbon for a warmer, rounder highball.
Gin-Gin shape
Gin noteGin brings botanicals that sit well with lime and ginger.
More lime
Sharper noteAdd a small extra squeeze only when the ginger beer is sweet.
Mint garnish
Fresh nose noteA small mint sprig can lift the aroma without changing the spec.
Where it goes wrong
Warm ginger beer
Warm soda drops carbonation and turns the drink syrupy.
Over-stirring
A long stir knocks out bubbles. One brief lift is enough.
No lime
The lime is what keeps ginger beer from becoming sweet mixer with vodka.
Questions, answered
Do I need a copper mug?
No. It is traditional and useful for chill, but a cold highball glass works.
Ginger beer or ginger ale?
Ginger beer is the Bar Guru spec because it gives spice and structure.
Can I batch Moscow Mules?
Batch vodka and lime, then top each glass with ginger beer to order.
Cold metal, bright ginger
The Mule is built for speed, but not carelessness. Cold mug, fresh lime, spicy ginger beer, one short stir, done.