Moscow Mule
Vodka, spicy ginger beer, and fresh lime poured over ice in a copper mug for a cold three-ingredient cocktail.
Updated: Nov 9, 2026
Why you'll like it
- Ready in about 5 min.
- Serves 2 — easy to halve or double.
- Easy level — everyday equipment only.
- Storage, freezing and reheating covered below.
This Moscow Mule recipe takes 5 min and makes 2 servings. The drink is vodka, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer over ice, and its character comes almost entirely from a ginger beer with real heat rather than a sweet soft drink.
Helpful guides
Instructions
Chill two copper mugs or heavy glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes, and keep the vodka and ginger beer in the refrigerator until you pour. A warm mug melts the ice within a minute and the drink goes flat and watery before the first refill.
Roll the limes on the counter to soften them, then squeeze and strain out the pulp and seeds to measure 1 oz of juice. Rolling breaks the inner membranes and gets more juice from each fruit than pressing a cold lime straight from the drawer.
Fill each mug to the top with large ice cubes. Big cubes melt slowly and keep the drink cold without diluting it, while crushed ice gives a colder first sip that fades within minutes.
Pour 2 oz of vodka and 1/2 oz of lime juice into each mug and stir once so the two mix and chill against the ice. Adding the lime before the ginger beer spreads the acid evenly rather than leaving it at the top of the glass.
Top each mug with about 6 oz of chilled ginger beer, pouring down the side, then stir once more gently from the bottom up. Ginger beer foams hard on contact, and stopping as soon as the color is even keeps the carbonation in the drink.
Garnish with a lime wheel, a slice of fresh ginger, or a mint sprig and serve right away. For a party, measure the vodka and lime juice into a pitcher ahead, keep the ginger beer and mugs on ice, and build each mug to order so every glass keeps its fizz.
Troubleshooting — fixes, not repeats
- If the mule tastes flat, the ginger beer was warm or the mug was not chilled. Cold liquid holds carbonation far better than warm, so refrigerate the bottles overnight and keep the mugs in the freezer.
- If it tastes too sweet or too mild, switch to a spicier ginger beer rather than adding more lime. A fiery ginger beer carries enough heat to balance the vodka, while extra lime only makes the drink sour.
- If the copper taste bothers you, check whether the mug is lined. Most modern mugs have a nickel or stainless steel lining and taste neutral, while unlined copper can lend a faint metallic note to an acidic drink. A heavy glass tumbler chills nearly as well.
- If you are batching for a crowd, mix the vodka and lime juice ahead and pour the ginger beer at the last moment. A pre-mixed mule goes flat within 30 minutes, and the whole point of the drink is the fizz.
Make it your way
- Old Dhaka style: Keep the cold mug and the late ginger beer pour in every variation.
- For a Kentucky mule, swap the vodka for bourbon and add a mint sprig.
- A Mexican mule uses tequila in place of vodka with a grapefruit twist, while a gin-gin mule uses gin and a dash of Angostura bitters.
- For a nonalcoholic mule, pour 6 oz of ginger beer over ice with 1 oz of lime juice and 1 oz of apple juice so the drink has body and does not taste thin.
Storage & reheating
Cool leftovers within 2 hours, then refrigerate in a covered container and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat only the portion you will eat until steaming hot throughout — poultry and reheated rice should reach 165°F (74°C).
FAQ
Can I make this without a copper mug?
Yes. A heavy glass tumbler, a highball, or a mason jar all work, and they chill about as well when the ice is cold and plentiful. The mug is traditional and keeps a drink colder slightly longer, but it does not change the flavor of a fresh pour. Chill whatever glass you use in the freezer for 10 minutes first.
Which ginger beer should I buy?
Look for one described as spicy, extra ginger, or brewed rather than a soft drink, and check whether ginger is high on the ingredient list. Tasting it on its own is the fastest test: if it feels sweet with little heat, the mule will taste like sweet soda. Keep both brands refrigerated if you buy two to compare.
Can I make a mocktail version?
Yes, and it works well. Use 6 oz of ginger beer, 1 oz of fresh lime juice, and 1 oz of apple juice or 1/2 oz of simple syrup over ice. The apple juice adds the body that vodka would have provided, and the lime keeps it from tasting like a sweet soda. Serve it in the same cold mug with a lime wheel.