Classic Moscow Mule
Learn how to make the best Moscow Mule cocktail! Moscow Mules are so easy to make at home once you know which ginger beer and vodka to buy.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on July 10, 2025
Today, I’m sharing everything you need to know about Moscow mules. Ready?! Moscow mules are delightfully fizzy drinks made with fiery ginger beer, vodka and fresh lime.
Moscow mules are refreshing on hot summer days, to be sure, but they’re also holiday-appropriate thanks to their strong ginger flavor. They strike that elusive balance between spicy, sweet and strong, and I’d sip one any day.
Bonus: Moscow mules are super easy to make. You’ll need just three basic ingredients:
- Vodka
- Ginger beer
- Fresh lime
The ginger beer component makes the biggest difference between a so-so and fantastic Moscow mule. So, I bought all the ginger beers I could find and tried them at home. Keep reading to find my recommendations!
Watch How to Make Moscow Mules
Moscow Mule Ingredients
1) Vodka
Tito’s brand vodka is my go-t0 for Moscow mules. Tito’s is affordable, high quality and made not-so-far-away in Austin, Texas.
The ginger beer dominates the other flavors so much that any decent vodka on your shelf will do, really.
2) Ginger Beer
The best ginger beer for Moscow mules is Fever-Tree brand ginger beer. My assistant Mara said, “It tastes the most like a Moscow mule,” and I wholeheartedly agreed. Fever-Tree’s ginger beer has the most clear and pronounced fresh ginger flavor, thanks to a blend of three gingers from Nigeria, Cochin and the Ivory Coast.
I found my Fever-Tree at Natural Grocers, but I’ve also seen it at Whole Foods, World Market and Amazon (affiliate link). If you’re curious, you’ll find our ginger beer tasting notes below.
3) Fresh Lime
Be sure to squeeze your lime juice from fresh limes. Avoid using stale bottled lime juice (for anything, ever). You’ll also want to garnish your drink with a lime wedge.
Copper Mug Notes
Moscow mules are typically served in copper mugs, which make them seem extra-cold and refreshing. Why? Copper is an excellent conductor, meaning that cold or hot temperatures spread rapidly through the material.
While the copper material of your mug doesn’t actually make the drink colder, it makes it seem colder than it would if you were drinking it out of a regular glass or mug.
If you don’t have copper mugs at home, you can get by with a regular cocktail glass. If you’re shopping for copper mugs, be sure to buy food-safe mugs lined with stainless steel rather than solid copper mugs. Copper leaches into acidic drinks and poses health risks, yikes!
Moscow Mule History
Rumor has it that the Moscow mule is a product of American capitalism. Three business owners with a surplus of vodka, ginger beer and copper mugs schemed up a plan to get rid of their excess products, and a delicious cocktail was born.
The details are murky, but Moscow mules actually helped popularize vodka in the 1940s when it was new to the United States.
Easy Variations on Moscow Mules
- Kentucky Mule: Use bourbon instead of vodka.
- Horsefeather: Use whiskey instead of vodka.
- Gin-Gin Mule: Use gin instead of vodka.
- Mexican Mule: Use tequila instead of vodka.
- Jamaican Mule or Cuban Mule: Use rum instead of vodka.
- Dark ‘n Stormy: Use Gosling’s spiced rum instead of vodka.
Ginger Beer Tasting Notes
A couple of ginger ales snuck in, but you definitely need intensely flavored ginger beer for a great Moscow mule! Here they are, ranked from best to worst.
- Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer: This ginger beer offers the most straightforward ginger flavor. It burns so good!
- Bottoms Up Ginger Beer: This ginger beer doesn’t seem to be as carbonated as the rest. It doesn’t offer as much ginger flavor as Fever-Tree, but I like it.
- Fentiman’s Ginger Beer: This ginger beer has a lot of bite. It’s yeasty, with a kombucha-like fermented flavor that distracts from the ginger.
- Reed’s Extra Ginger Brew: This ginger beer has more of a bite than ginger ale, but it’s still mostly clear and doesn’t pack enough ginger punch.
Please let me know how your Moscow mules turn out in the comments! I hope you make the best Moscow mule you’ve ever had.
Looking for more classic, ice-cold cocktails? Don’t miss my recipes for the perfect Aperol Spritz, Mojito, Tom Collins, Ranch Water and Fresh Margarita.
Moscow Mule Cocktail
Learn how to make the best Moscow Mule cocktail! They are so easy to make. Recipe yields 1 cocktail.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka (I recommend Tito’s brand)
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice (about ½ medium lime)
- 4 ounces ginger beer (I recommend Fever-Tree brand)
- Lime wedge, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a copper mug or similarly sized glass with ice. Pour in the vodka and lime juice. Fill the glass with ginger beer and gently stir it with a spoon once to mix.
- Garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy!
Notes
Change it up: Garnish your Moscow Mule with a sprig of fresh mint for a drink reminiscent of a mint julep.
Recommended equipment: I love this citrus juicer for squeezing limes and lemons, and this stainless steel jigger for measuring small amounts of liquid. (Those are affiliate links.)
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
The best ginger beer – ever – is Bundaberg Ginger Beer. It can be hard to find, but if you can get it, give it a try. I’m sure you will agree! Love this site and try lots of your suggestions!!
I’ve been a big fan of Moscow Mules forever and I don’t hesitate to share my love for them. Maine Root makes a great Ginger Brew as well. They call it wicked spicy! It is yum. When I can’t find Fever Tree, Maine Root does nicely! I use Pinnacle Vodka, also known as ‘baby goose’ (for Grey Goose Vodka)
I introduced Moscow Mules to 2 neighbors at outside socially distanced get togethers on my front lawn here in VT. this summer!
I feel that the ginger beer has lots of carbs and sugar so I used Goslings diet Ginger beer and it was still WONDERFUL!!
I, too, use Gosling’s Diet Ginger Beer! And it makes spectacular Moscow mules! And, since we’re all trying to watch our calories in my house, the ‘diet’ makes it even better! No guilty feelings here, just enjoyment! ✨
Spread kindness!
Nicki
Followed your instructions adapted to 4oz Titos; 1 lg lime; 6.8 oz Fever Tree GB (full bottle) and OMG is this the best cocktail ever!!!!
I’ve never bought ginger beer, but ended up buying Fever Tree without knowing it’s the one you recommended! So I made this recipe, and the ginger was too strong for me. But that’s just personal preference – I added an ounce of simple syrup, and I like it much better. But I agree – if the ginger flavor is too weak, you just end up with vodka, tonic, and lime. I actually love those, but sometimes you need something with more bite – and this Moscow Mule does the trick! I’m using Baikalskaya vodka. It’s vodka made with water from Lake Baikal in Siberia. I spent a couple months in Siberia, and I brought it back to the States. Very smooth!
Thank you for your details, Joy! I’m glad it was helpful.
If it’s available to you, try Goya Jamaican style ginger beer. Packs a whallop!
I love Moscow Mules. Thank you for the insight on the ginger beer. I find that key as well to making the most flavorful mule. Have a wonderful and safe holiday season!
Well Im in Fl trying to make the Monster Mule having a real hard time figuring it out
Never even heard of this cocktail before certainly will be trying in near future.
I hope you love it! Thank you for your review.
I’m hooked on Moscow Mules! Not really but…
I’ve just found Fever Tree ginger beer at Costco today. WOW, it is good and really packs a ginger taste.
Wanting to purchase copper mugs-do you have any suggestions?
Also, do you have recipes for holiday Moscow mules?
I can’t wait to try this recipe.
Hi! The links you can find in the post. 18 Festive Holiday Cocktails has some great festive cocktails!
of course, I used Tito’s and for the ginger beer, I used some homemade ginger kombucha. Added fresh lime and a few mint sprigs and yum yum. It may be NYE in WI but the copper cup is a must.
For a bit more of a hit try using an alcoholic ginger beer! We have lots of choices here in Australia, with my favourite being Diablo from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. It has a good ginger hit with a subtle chilli finish.
My new fave cocktail
So the one thing I would propose is an alcoholic ginger beer, and as an additional kiss, some mint stirred into the drink. Mint seems to compliment the ginger
Runamok Maple makes a Maple Ginger Mule mixer that adds even more flavor to this recipe. Worth trying – highly addictive!
Excellent Moscow mule!
Great to hear you enjoyed it!
Kate thank you for sharing your recipe
I just made my first ones for my girlfriend and I we absolutely loved them thanks again for sharing
You’re welcome, Jonathan!
Just made this recipe using the Fever Tree ginger beer. I found it a little strong but I still liked it. My husband liked it very much
I am using diet ginger beer (Goslings). Hope I don’t hate it!!
Love moscow mules! Have you tried Cock n Bull ginger beer? It’s my favorite for mules!
Is it true that using a copper mug actually enhances the taste of a Moscow Mule, or is it just a marketing gimmick? Have there been any studies or research done on this topic?”,
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I make my Moscow Mules with Effen Cucumber Vodka and muddle some cucumber. Extra Refreshing!
I’ve always loved Moscow Mules. And I love that you recommend Fever Tree Ginger Beer. I happened on it by accident and found it the best I’ve ever had. I used my go-to whiskey, Jameson’s, and it turned out to be quite a pleasant drink.
You’ve left out my two favorite mules, both of which I invented as far as I know. I say that because when I’ve tried to order one of those in a bar, even one that offers a Moscow Mule on their cocktail menu, most bartenders look at me like I’m from Mars!
My absolute favorite is a Mezcal Mule, and another I like is an Irish Mule. I don’t typically keep mezcal on hand, but I came up with that version after my younger brother sent me a fifth of La Penca mezcal after he traveled by bus from his home in Dallas to a place called San Luis Potosi in East Central Mexico to attend the wedding of a longtime friend who married a lovely young woman he met in Dallas, but whose hometown was in that part of Mexico. My brother didn’t tell me that he was sending me some souvenirs from his trip, and when I opened the mezcal, I found myself wondering what in the world I was going to do with it. And by the way, the label said the liquor was “con gusaro,” meaning that it had the legendary worm in the bottle. I looked it up and learned that the worm is actually a moth larva found in agave roots. It’s considered a delicacy in Oaxacan cuisine, as I learned from this article: https://drinkingfolk.com/gusano-de-maguey/ When I can see a bottle of mezcal on the shelves behind a bar, I often order myself a Mezcal Mule and in most cases have to explain what I mean. Sometimes I have to ask whether they have mezcal. Some do, while most don’t. But I love its smoky flavor!
I typically make an Irish Mule with Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey as that’s what I keep on hand for at-home symbolic Irish wakes, in which a group of us separately take a shot as a toast to someone who has left us. It doesn’t have to be someone we knew personally; sometimes it’s someone we admired, like President Jimmy Carter most recently.
I’ve also made mules which I haven’t yet assigned a name featuring a wonderful liqueur, called “Liqueur of Life,” from a place called Longleaf Distilling in Macon, Georgia. https://www.longleafdistillingco.com/liqueur-of-life. I stumbled upon this place on a walk to a pharmacy to buy some eye drops while staying in Macon for a few days last year. I stopped at the distillery on my way back from the pharmacy and had a wonderful experience. They had a bar where they were letting us taste everything they made, as well as cocktails created from their products, and I had to stop because I would have had to stumble back to where I was staying! But I purchased a fifth of their terrific botanical gin for a friend, and a fifth of “Liqueur of Life” for myself. It was hard to choose because all the liqueurs I tasted were wonderful and unusual. This one and others were Italian aperitivos of the sort known as amari, a little sweet but well balanced. I can sip this straight but I’ve made mules featuring it a few times and loved them! I will definitely have to order another bottle of this or get adventurous and try one of the others which I tasted last year. I’m sorry to be doing marketing here, but I fell in love with this local distillery.
My point is that I suspect you can make a mule with any sort of liquor or liqueur. It’s all about the ginger beer, which seems to go well with everything!
Great recipe, just tried this out, I adjusted to fill up the Bronze cup and double the portions. Used Absolute and Freddie’s Ginger Beer, great combination.
This doesn’t taste right. Then I realise that whenever I have it out it always has mint in it. So as far as I’m concerned this is a bad recipe. Having googled many more recipes they all seem to have mint in them. And when you add mont in it taste authentic!.
I find the addition of a crushed fresh mint leaf makes this drink a home run. I tasted without the mint, then with. SO much better with it! Gotta crush that leaf, though, stir it in, to max the flavor. Don’t just plop it on top.
You should test with Thomas Henry Spicy Ginger Beer.
The best one for this Mule
Thank you for the suggestion.
I like Fever Tree if that’s all I can get but Bundaberg is my favorite hands down.
THank you for sharing! I haven’t tried that kind.
If you use Tito’s, wouldn’t that be a Texas Mule?
Hi Kate,
You should try the Mosco Mule using Bundaberg Ginger Beer (it’s an Aussie Ginger Beer but you can purchase it in the USA). It is absolutely divine in the Moscow Mule or just on its own!
This Moscow mule turned out great, just like the bar but better price