17 Moscow Mule Variations for Every Taste

The Moscow mule is a classic cocktail. Visually, it stands out in an instant, and its spicy flavors offer a unique and singular taste. It's understandable that the original recipe has given the world a list of new and unique twists on the classic. Whether you've always enjoyed a Moscow mule or you want to immediately start by trying a few Moscow mule variations, there's some for all.

Mezcal Mule

The smokey cousin of the Moscow mule gets its flavor from the deep and smokey mezcal.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces mezcal
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a copper mug or highball glass, add ice, mezcal, and lime juice.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.

London Mule

Gin may not be the first spirit you think of when you think of mule riffs, but the juniper notes pair well with spicy ginger beer.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces London dry gin
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a highball glass, add ice, gin, and lime juice.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with mint sprig.

Kentucky Mule

This famous riff on the Moscow mule is popular among bourbon drinkers.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces bourbon
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Crushed ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add lime wedge, crushed ice, bourbon, and lime juice.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with additional lime wedge.

Gin Gin Mule

Incredibly similar to the London Mule, the gin gin mule adds simple syrup to the mix as well as some muddled mint.

Ingredients

• 1-2 fresh mint sprigs
• 2 ounces gin
• ¾ ounce simple syrup
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint sprigs and simple syrup.
2. Add ice, gin, and lime juice.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Top off with ginger beer.
6. Garnish with mint sprig.

Strawberry Mule

Add a touch of sweet and refreshing strawberry to your mule for a fun twist.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces strawberry vodka
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Strawberry slices for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add ice, strawberry vodka, orange liqueur, and lime juice.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with strawberry slices.

Mexican Mule

If you like tequila and you like the spice of ginger beer, then the Mexican mule is the answer you never knew existed.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces tequila
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a rocks glass, add ice, tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.

Garden Mule

If you enjoy refreshing muddled drinks and love a cocktail with a twist, this mule packs cucumber and herbaceous flavors.

Ingredients

• 2-3 cucumber slices
• 1-2 sprigs of basil
• 2 ounces cucumber vodka
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber and basil with lemon juice.
2. Add ice, cucumber vodka, and lime juice.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
5. Garnish with lime wedge and mint sprig.

Lemon Mule

Shake out the lime out and use fresh lemon for a bright citrus upgrade.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Ginger slice, lemon wedge, and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a highball glass, add vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Stir gently to mix.
4. Garnish with ginger slice, lemon wedge, and mint sprig.

Martini Mule

The flavors of a Moscow mule but captured into a martini glass. If you really to elevate the profile, use sparkling wine in place of the ginger beer.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces vodka
• ¾ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce ginger brandy
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Lime twist for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, lime juice, and ginger brandy.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into chilled glass.
5. Top off with ginger beer.
6. Garnish with lime twist.

Highball Mule

The classic mule meets classic highball.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 ounces lime club soda
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a highball, add ice, vodka, lime juice, and lime club soda.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with mint sprig.

Cider Mule

Enjoy the cider flavors in your mule, with apple and cinnamon partnering with the spiced ginger beer.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces vodka
• 2 ounce apple cider
• ¾ ounce allspice dram
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, apple cider, allspice dram, and lime juice.
2. Shake to chill.
3. Strain into copper mug over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.

Citrus Mule

The citrus mule adds bunches of citrus flavors to completely turn this cocktail upside down.

Ingredients

• 2 orange wedges
• 2 lemon wedges
• 2 lime wedges
• 2 ounces citron vodka
• ¾ ounce orange liqueur
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ¼ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Mint sprig and lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle citrus wedges with a splash of simple syrup.
2. Add ice, citron vodka, orange liqueur, lime juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake to chill.
4. Strain into copper mug over fresh ice.
5. Top off with ginger beer.
6. Garnish with mint sprig and lime wheel.

Mule Old Fashioned

Just because this drink skips the fizzy ginger beer doesn't mean it isn't the full spirit of the Moscow mule. If you're really missing the bubbles, you can add a splash of ginger beer just before the garnish.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces vodka
• ¾ ounce ginger liqueur
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 dashes mint bitters
• Ice
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a mixing glass, add ice, vodka, ginger liqueur, lime juice, and mint bitters.
2. Stir rapidly to chill.
3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
4. Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.

Moscow Mule Spritz

If you're trying to keep things a little lighter, enjoy a mule spritz to cut the calories but not the flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces lemon vodka
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• Ice
• 1½ ounces ginger beer
• Club soda to top off
• Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

1. In a wine glass, add ice, lemon vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer.
2. Top off with club soda.
3. Garnish with lime wheel.

Summer Mule

Wrap up the flavors of summer in a copper mug and floral garnish.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces blueberry vodka
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce orange liqueur
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Mint sprig and floral garnish

Instructions

1. In a copper mug, add blueberry vodka, lime juice, lemon juice, orange liqueur, and simple syrup.
2. Stir to mix.
3. Top off with ginger beer.
4. Garnish with mint sprig and floral garnish.

Pear Mule

Pear is an underrated cocktail flavor that delivers in a big way.

Ingredients

• 2 ounces pear vodka
• ¾ ounces freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Ginger beer to top off
• Pear slice and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a copper mug, add pear vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup.
2. Stir to mix.
3. Top off with ginger beer.
4. Garnish with pear slice and mint sprig.

Italian Mule

Fernet is certainly not a spirit people think of when they want to make a mule, but it makes for the boldest mule of all.

Ingredients

• 1½ ounces Fernet
• ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
• ½ ounce simple syrup
• Ice
• Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

1. In a copper mug, add ice, Fernet, lime juice, and simple syrup.
2. Top off with ginger beer.
3. Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.

A Spiced Delight

There are plenty of flavors that make for an incredible mule, some expected and others a pleasant surprise. You can play it safe or go for bold flavors, whatever your path there's a mule flavor for you.