The Ultimate Moscow Mule Recipe: A Quick & Easy Guide

Looking for the perfect Moscow Mule recipe? Don’t worry, I’ve got ya covered!

In this article I’m going to go deep on the Moscow Mule.

You’re gonna learn:

• How to make a great Moscow Mule.
• Where the cocktail came from (allegedly).
• The cocktails calorie count.
• And a whole lot more.

Let’s dive right in.

Moscow Mule History

Before I get into the Moscow Mule recipe, I wanna talk a little bit about the history of the Moscow Mule. Why? Because it’s really quite interesting.

The Moscow Mule Cocktail is thought to have been invented at some point in 1941, nowhere near Moscow…

…or anywhere Russia for that matter. 

It was actually invented in a British bar in Hollywood, California. 

Like a lot of great inventions, this fantastic concoction was created by chance and an abundance of readily available (and poor-selling) ingredients.

…Wait.

Vodka? Poor-selling?

…At the time, it was.

The Key Players

Let me first give you a taste of the main players, as this tale is about to get as murky as heavily polluted Canal water:

• John G. Martin. He was an executive at G.F. Heublein Brothers – a company that specialised in distributing spirits and food to the East Coast. His company had bought the rights to Smirnoff Vodka back in 1938.
• Rudolph Kunett. President of Pierre Smirnoff, the Vodka division at G.F. Heublein Brothers.
• Jack Morgan. He was the owner of British bar based in Hollywood, the Cock ‘n’ Bull. He was also trying to push his own brand of Ginger Beer and had gallons of the stuff ready to go.
• Sophie Berezinski. A Russian Immigrant who came to the shores of the US with 2000 copper mugs. Her father owned a copper company and couldn’t sell the copper mugs back home so she wanted to try her luck in the USA.
• Osalene Schmitt. Morgan’s girlfriend and Copper manufacturer.
• Wes Price. The head Bartender at the Cock ‘n’ Bull at the time of the invention.

The Story – Version 1

One version of the story suggests that John G. Martin, Rudolph Kunett and Jack Morgan were drinking together one day (no information on how they met, though I think we can assume through business dealings) trying to figure out how to sell Vodka to American’s.

Vodka just wasn’t as popular as beer, whiskey and other cocktails overshadowed the Russian Spirit and Kunnet was in a bind.

So they got together to hash it out and the idea to combine the Vodka and the Ginger Beer naturally came together.

The Story – Version 2

Another version is very similar, the only difference in this story is that Sophie Berezinski also enters the bar during the brainstorming session, looking to sell her copper mugs during their drinking session. Apparently, she joined their conversation (and boozing) and 3 hours later the stars aligned and the Moscow Mule was truly born.

Sounds a little too good to be true to me, but it is also backed up by the Moscow Copper company that Sophie Berezinski’s father founded.

In Ted Haigh’s Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails Book, the story suggests that the copper mugs actually came from a girlfriend of Morgan who manufactured them and that’s how they became heavily associated with the cocktail.

A more accepted story came to light in 2007, when Eric Felton from the Wall Street Journal wrote a piece suggesting that the Moscow Mule was actually created by Wes Price, the head bartender at the Cock ‘n’ Bull restaurant.  

According to Price, “I just wanted to clean out the basement. I was trying to get rid of a lot of dead stock. The first one I mixed was served to actor Broderick Crawford and it then caught on like wildfire.”

See, I told you it was interesting. 

Moscow Mule in a Copper Cup

Based on the origins of the Moscow Mule (as explained above), a copper cup has always been associated with the Cocktail through circumstance. 

Either Sophie Berezinski wandered into the bar and helped craft the cocktail or Morgan’s girlfriend was able to get a hold of a lot of Copper cups cheaply.

Whatever happened, the copper cup seems to have been heavily involved in the creation of the vodka cocktail and has been associated with it ever since.

Why a Copper Cup?

Other than a copper cup manufacturer being in the right place at the right time when the Moscow Mule Cocktail was created, does the copper cup actually do anything?

The company founded by the Berezinski family suggest that the copper cup actually has three main benefits:

1. It helps keep the cocktail cold.
2. The cup enhances the taste of the vodka cocktail.
3. It improves the aroma of the vodka cocktail.

But I think that Copper Cups are still used for the cocktail because it has become iconic and associated with the Moscow Mule Cocktail since its creation.

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Now let’s take a look at the Moscow Mule recipe.

How to Make a Moscow Mule

First, let’s take a look at the ingredients we’ll need to make the Moscow Mule.

Moscow Mule Ingredients

The ingredients to make a Moscow Mule cocktail consist of:

• 50ml / 1.7oz of Vodka.
• 10ml / .3oz squeezed Lime Juice.
• 120ml / 4oz Ginger Beer (the fierier, the better – we recommend Old Jamaican).
• 1 slice of Lime.

If you’re unsure about which vodka to use for your Moscow Mule, check out our best Vodka for Cocktails guide.

Here, we compared different vodkas based on value for money, vodka bestsellers, ratings, and brand reputation to produce a pretty definitive recommendation.

You should definitely check it out here.

…Now, let’s get back to the Moscow Mule recipe.

Moscow Mule Recipe

The Moscow Mule is quick and easy to make. But the cocktail packs tonnes of flavour and one helluva punch. That’s why I love it so much.

This is our Moscow Mule recipe:

1. Get your Copper Cup.
2. Fill your cup a quarter full with ice (crushed is traditional if you’ve got it).
3. Pour your Vodka.
4. Add your Lime Juice.
5. Pour your Ginger Beer.
6. Add a slice of lime for garnish.

Moscow Mule Nutrition

Let’s take a look at all the nutritional information for the cocktail.

Vodka

Per 50ml.

• Calories: 116.
• Fat: 0.
• Sodium: 1mg.
• Potassium: 1mg.
• Carbohydrates: 0.
• Protein: 0.

Lime Juice

Per 10ml.

• Calories: 3.
• Fat: 0.02g.
• Sodium: 0.2g.
• Potassium: 10.2g.
• Carbohydrate: 1.1g.
• Protein: 0.07g.

Fentmans Ginger Beer

Obviously, other Ginger Beers you may want to use in the Moscow Mule cocktail may be different, but we’ll give the nutritional information for Fentman’s as an example since we recommended it.

Per 150ml.

• Calories: 59 calories.
• Fat: 0.
• Carbohydrates: 9g (7.8g sugars).
• Protein: 0.

Total Moscow Mule Nutrition

So what’s the total nutritional value for the entire cocktail based on the measurements of this recipe?

Per cocktail.

• Calories: 178.
• Fat: 0.02g.
• Carbohydrates: 10.1g.
• Protein: 0.07g.

Not a bad calorie count, right?

Moscow Mule Variations

For me, the Moscow Mule cocktail is absolutely perfect. I love the taste of the fiery ginger beer, the hint of lime and the kick of Vodka. Not too sweet, just right and absolutely drinkable. 

Heaven. 

But people have been trying to accomplish the impossible task of trying to improve the cocktail. Whaaaaaaattttt? Is that even possible? I think I’m a little bias here, can you tell? 

Anyway, let’s take a look at some of these Moscow Mule variations:

Mermaid Mule

Now, this is quite a good variation.

We’re keeping with the core ingredients of Vodka, Lime and Ginger Beer and adding a little color. 

How? Blue Curacao of course!

The ingredients for the Mermaid Mule are:

• 40ml Smirnoff Vodka.
• 10ml Blue Curacao.
• 5ml Lime Juice.
• 120ml Ginger Beer.

BONUS: What is Blue Curacao? Find out more about Blue Curacao in our ultimate guide.

Limoncello Mule

With this version of the Moscow Mule, it’s adding a little more flavour and a touch more alcohol too with the addition Limoncello – a rather tasty Lemon Liqueur.

The ingredients for the Limoncello Mule are:

• 40ml Smirnoff Vodka.
• 10ml Limoncello.
• 5ml Lime Juice.
• 120ml Ginger Beer.

Jamaican Mule

This is a variation I love because it brings the fire of Spiced Rum to the fire of the Ginger Beer and creates a taste sensation.

Let me tell you from experience, it’s a taste sensation and it goes well with Jamaican food too. 

The ingredients for the Jamaican Mule are:

• 50ml Spiced Rum (we recommend Red Leg Spiced Rum).
• 5ml Lime Juice.
• 150ml Ginger Beer.

You can read more about the Jamaican Mule here.

Jamaican White Mule

I’ve already talked about the Jamaican White Mule in my 31 Quick & Easy Cocktails with White Rum article and it’s a great cocktail to have if you’re out of Vodka and have White Rum handy.

Obviously, Vodka is the preferred base for the Moscow Mule, but White Rum is a great substitute.

The ingredients for the Jamaican White Mule are:

• 50ml White Rum.
• 5ml Lime Juice.
• 150ml Ginger Beer.

Moscow Mule FAQs

There are a number of Frequently Asked Questions out there about the Moscow Mule cocktail that people are asking and I thought I’d try to clear them up for everyone.

How was the Moscow Mule Invented?

As mentioned earlier in the article, stories about the origin of the Moscow Mule vary, but it’s thought to have been invented in The Cock ‘N’ Bull bar in Hollywood in 1941.

The G.F. Heublein Brothers company had bought the rights to Smirnoff Vodka and were looking for a way to sell it. John G. Martin (a company executive) was drinking in the bar with the owner (Jack Morgan) trying to come up with ideas. 

The bar happened to have too much Ginger Beer in their cellar and the idea to combine it with the Vodka seemed like an obvious step.

The Moscow Mule was invented. 

When did the Moscow Mule become popular?

The Moscow Mule seemed to start getting popular in 1948 (7 years after creation), being referenced in the New York Herald Tribune, but the bartender who is thought to be the real creator of the cocktails (Wes Price) claims, “The first one I mixed was served to actor Broderick Crawford and it then caught on like wildfire.” 

Since the cocktail was thought to have been created in 1941, then this might suggest that it became popular in Hollywood as early as 1941 but took until 1948 to become popular in the East Coast.

Why does a Moscow Mule have to be in a copper cup?

Moscow Mule doesn’t have to be in a copper cup, but it’s traditional. 

As mentioned earlier in this article, various stories suggest that the Moscow Mule was first created and served in a copper cup.

The copper cup is thought to help keep the vodka cocktail cool, as well as enhancing its taste and aroma.

Why is it called a Moscow Mule?

The Moscow Mule got its name simply because, at the time of its creation, the word most associated with Vodka was Moscow. Obviously, because Vodka is Russian and Moscow is the capital city. 

The Mule part of the name comes from the kick of the fiery Ginger Beer.

Which ginger beer is best for Moscow Mules?

In my opinion, the fierier the Ginger beer the better. 

Old Jamaican is good and so is Bundaberg, but if fiery Ginger Beer isn’t your thing then maybe check out Fentimans Ginger beer. 

Can you substitute ginger ale for ginger beer in a Moscow Mule?

You can, but it’s a bad idea because the vodka cocktail will lose its kick.

Is ginger ale the same as ginger beer?

No, it’s not.

The difference is Ginger Beer is brewed and fermented, whilst Ginger Ale is actually flavoured carbonated water. This makes Ginger Beer stronger and contains a slightly spicy finish,

How much alcohol is in a Moscow Mule?

Vodka is the only alcohol in a Moscow Mule cocktail and the amount varies depending on recipes and measurements.

We recommend 50ml / 1.75oz in our Moscow Mule recipe. 

Is a Moscow Mule a strong drink?

For our Moscow Mule recipe there’s only 50ml / 1.75oz of alcohol, so not that much. However, the fiery Ginger Beer packs quite a kick.

Do you shake Moscow Mules?

You can shake Moscow Mules if you prefer, but it isn’t a necessity. For our Moscow Mule recipe, you just pour the ingredients into the copper cup and have at it!

Want to Know About More Cocktails?

If you’re looking for more cocktail inspiration, then don’t forget to check out the rest of our awesome cocktail recipes.

Further Reading

In researching the rich and interesting history of the Moscow Mule, I used the following sources for information:

• Jamaican Mule Recipe
• https://vinepair.com/articles/the-history-of-the-moscow-mule-and-its-iconic-copper-mug/
• https://proof.media/history-of-the-moscow-mule
• https://www.liquor.com/articles/behind-the-drink-the-moscow-mule/#gs.u5z1zz
• https://www.paykocimports.com/blog/whats-the-story-behind-the-moscow-mule-and-that-copper-mug/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow_mule
• https://moscowcopper.com/pages/our-story
• https://b105country.com/why-is-it-called-a-moscow-mule-and-served-in-a-copper-cup/
• https://www.tastingtable.com/drinks/national/difference-between-ginger-beer-and-ginger-ale