Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces apple cider or hard apple cider
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
- Ice
- Ginger beer to top off
- Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- In a copper mug or highball, add ice, vodka, apple cider, and lime juice.
- Top off with ginger beer.
- Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.
Variations or Substitutions
If you're short an ingredient or don't have one readily on hand, there are other options. Consider a few of the following if you wanted to experiment.
- Consider using equal parts vodka and spiced rum.
- Use a splash of ginger brandy or liqueur for a stronger ginger flavor.
- Instead of apple cider, use sparkling apple cider for an extra bubbly mule.
- Make it spicier by replacing the vodka with ginger-infused vodka.
Garnishes
This recipe calls for the traditional lime wheel and mint sprig, but you can branch out and try the expected and unusual.
- Consider apple slices and cinnamon stick.
- Add a traditional lime wedge garnish, but use an apple with the lime.
- Pierce an apple slice with a couple of whole cloves/
- Use a sprig of thyme for an earthy look, especially with a slice of apple.
- Skewer an apple slice and a sprig of candied ginger.
About Apple Cider Moscow Mules
Like a lot of cocktail lore, the exact origin of the Moscow mule is unknown; however, two competing theories continue to live on. One tall tale tells us that back in the 1940s, three friends were sitting around a bar and wondered what would happen if they combined vodka, ginger beer, and a squeeze of lemon. Naturally, one of the friends owned a company that produced ginger beer. The other owned a small vodka company that you may have heard of called Smirnoff.
In the other tale, a bartender is credited with mixing up the first mule. When faced with an overabundance of dead (unused) stock, he started to play with the ingredients to clear out some space. In either story, the cocktail was a result not of a riff but rather playing chemist with different ingredients.
As time went on, variations on the mule began to appear, including the apple cider mule.
A Mule Cart of Apples
Moscow mules are a great cocktail for any time of the year. With the malleable flavors that allow for different ingredients to be added or slightly changed, it goes without saying that an apple cider Moscow mule would one day be inevitable. This spicy yet refreshingly spiced cocktail makes the perfect fall tipple.
Of course, fall has warm days too. So if you're longing for fall flavor but it's hot as blazes, cool down with a boozy apple cider slushy instead.
