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Friday Cocktail Hour: Moscow Mule

Published: May 25, 2012 · Modified: May 25, 2012 by Michael Ruhlman · 40 Comments

The Moscow Mule/Photo by Donna Turner Ruhlman

By request and for my own curiosity, for my fascination with ginger beer, and most, my compulsion to SCREAM ... indoor voice, Michael ... deep breath ... if you're going to drink vodka, either admit you simply want to mainline alcohol (not a judgment! I'm there frequently myself!), or drink vodka that actually has flavor, such Ohio's own OYO made from soft red winter wheat grown near its Columbus distillery.

The Standard Bartender's Guide, revised and enlarged by James A. Beard (originally published in 1940, before the Moscow Mule existed), instructs simply this:

"Squeeze into a 12-ounce glass ½ Lime and drop in the Rind. Add ice cubes and 1-½ jiggers Vodka and fill with Ginger Beer. Stir and serve."

How easy is that?! (Verdict: cool, light, and very refreshing!)

From the VTR menu:

"Born of a legendary 1941 brainstorming meeting between Smirnoff’s American distributor and Jack Morgan of the infamous Cock ’n’ Bull Tavern, this is the cocktail that ignited the American craze for vodka. Vodka, extra spicy ginger beer and lime juice, served on the rocks in a copper cup to stay extra cold."

We celebrate Memorial Day to recognize the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country. Bless their souls, as my Grandma Rose would say. She lost her oldest, Robert, during World War II; he was killed on ski patrol on a mountain in Italy. I regret never meeting my Uncle Bob. At 17, he was already a gifted artist, recruited into propaganda, but he wanted to fight and lied to enlist early.

But enough (go read or reread Tim O'Brien's masterpiece on war and story and the evil obscenity that is war, The Things They Carried).

This Memorial Day I will celebrate the end of my bachelordom, married to Donna 22 years on Saturday! Thanks for the pix and so, so much else, my love.

Happy Friday, all! And cheers and best wishes for a relaxing and commemorative Memorial Day weekend.

Moscow Mule

  • Fat wedge of lime
  • 2 ounces vodka
  • Ginger beer as needed (4 ounces or so)
  1. Squeeze the lime into a highball glass and plop the squeezed lime into the juice.
  2. Pour in the vodka.
  3. Fill the glass with ice and top it off with ginger beer.

Previous cocktail posts for your reference: the mighty Martini, probably the greatest cocktail ever, and one of the oldest and best for its simplicity, the Old-Fashioned.

If you liked this post on the Moscow Mule, check out these other links:

  • My recent post on making the Staple Meal: Stir-Fry.
  • The Vodka Museum in Moscow, Russia.
  • Learn how to make your own infused spirits.
  • A popular spirit company in Chicago is Death's Door, which is made in Wisconsin.

© 2012 Michael Ruhlman. Photo © 2012 Donna Turner Ruhlman. All rights reserved.

Report to Google any copyright infringement.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. the barking dog

    May 25, 2012 at 8:31 am

    "Clear alcohol is for rich women on diets" - Ron Swanson

    Though personally, I do love a good G&T.

    Reply
  2. Jason W. Hamner

    May 25, 2012 at 8:31 am

    Ginger beer is awesome... though I think I prefer rum or whiskey as my alcohol with it. Last night at Highland Kitchen in Somerville MA I had a "Mark and Stormy" which is Marker's Mark (natch) and a really cool chili infused ginger beer (which I think I need to learn how to make).

    Reply
    • Michael Ruhlman

      May 25, 2012 at 11:02 am

      i'll have to try this one!

      Reply
    • Adrienne

      May 25, 2012 at 12:49 pm

      Good grief, the Mark and Stormy has knocked me on my ass more than once! Such a great cocktail.

      Reply
  3. Jason DiLoreti

    May 25, 2012 at 8:56 am

    Happy Anniversary! Congratulations on 22 years!

    Reply
  4. allen

    May 25, 2012 at 9:46 am

    Happy aniversary, I hope you pair the beverage with the fantastic tomatoe garlic pasta.
    I've had the dark & stormy with ginger beer, my warm weather beverage was gin & tonic.
    Can we get a double dose of cocktail post for the long weekend? Thanks for the book reference, Ill put it in my que. Cheers/ peace, happy long relaxing weekend to all!

    Reply
  5. Carole

    May 25, 2012 at 9:48 am

    Silly question. Is ginger beer real beer? Or is it like root beer?

    Reply
    • Michael Ruhlman

      May 25, 2012 at 11:02 am

      not alcoholic, just super spicy

      Reply
  6. Marty

    May 25, 2012 at 9:56 am

    I love your Friday cocktail series. I've made almost each one to kick off the weekend with my husband. Thank you for doing all the work for me, and happy anniversary!

    Reply
  7. Kristen England

    May 25, 2012 at 10:06 am

    Ginger beer is like root beer. The wife and I got married in Jamaica 6 years ago and go hooked. I make my own as its hard to find really good and spicy ginger beer...plus its very easy and cheap and you can make it sugar free if you want. I can provide a recipe and technique if anyone cares.

    Anyway, I want my ginger beer to taste like it, not other things and maybe some ginger...The easy ones to find, for me anyway are listed below with some notes.
    - Barrits Ginger - almost as good as the D&G.
    - D&G Old Jamaican Ginger Beer - the spiciest and best original. usually find in Asian or African markets.
    - Fentimans - Its ok. Lacks pop and is expensive.
    - Fever-tree - pretty good, bloody expensive.
    - Fresh Ginger by Bruce Cost - pretty damn good. Not to spendy
    - Goslings - meh.
    - Reed's - they have 3 or 4. The Extra is 'ok'. Stay away from the Premium.
    - Vernors - Reminds me of throwing up as a kid...pretty much tastes like it.

    Again, you should be making your own though...

    Reply
    • Alex

      May 25, 2012 at 10:39 am

      You can't tease us like that and not give the recipe! I'm interested in the ginger beer recipe. Please post it (or a link to it) if you can.

      Thanks!

      Reply
    • Michael Ruhlman

      May 25, 2012 at 11:03 am

      yes, maybe a guest post on making your own?!

      Reply
      • Kristen England

        May 25, 2012 at 11:44 am

        Sure, I can do that absolutely. I need to do some more anyway!! Shoot me an email at [email protected] and we’ll work it all out!

        Reply
    • Allen

      May 26, 2012 at 10:18 am

      This is very hard to find on the W. coast, other than Reeds. I've taken to making my own too, much easier than root beer which requires a large amount of hard to find roots. the recipes I've found in Grit magazine, Mother Earth News and chow.com. Thank you. Please post you recipes soon,looking forward to it.

      Reply
  8. Ryan

    May 25, 2012 at 10:56 am

    Kristen England aka mashweasel? All my hobbies end up full circle, I've had good luck with Jeffrey Morgenthaler's recipes and Alton Brown's personally. Though there are more "interesting" recipes using a ginger beer plant.
    http://www.jeffreymorgenthaler.com/2008/how-to-make-your-own-ginger-beer/
    http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/ginger-ale-recipe/index.html

    Reply
  9. Doug

    May 25, 2012 at 11:09 am

    Another good ginger beer is Bundaberg. Cost Plus World Market carries them.

    Reply
    • joellaco

      May 25, 2012 at 5:50 pm

      Thanks for that tip, Bundaberg is what made me fall in love with ginger beer. I was reading this thinking I have good vodka in the freezer, now where could I possibly get as good a ginger beer? Now I now. Gotta go to the market now.

      If you want to have a go at making ginger beer this Mother Earth News article might be helpful:
      http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/1981-03-01/Ginger-Beer.aspx

      Reply
      • Allen

        May 26, 2012 at 9:58 am

        I've made this recipe, Grit magazine and Chow.com have recipes too, much easier than root beer. Just be very respectful of the natural carbonation. I gave a large 2 liter bale top bottle of root beer to my neighbor. He loved it and was going to share it with company for dinner. He opened the bottle, boom!, All but 1/4 cup remained in the bottle, the rest went all over the kitchen ceiling, walls and company. Cursed to this day for that attempt at being generous.

        Reply
  10. Kristen England

    May 25, 2012 at 11:11 am

    Sure, I can do that absolutely. I need to do some more anyway!! Shoot me an email at [email protected] and we'll work it all out!

    Reply
  11. joelfinkle

    May 25, 2012 at 11:29 am

    I'm a bit of a ginger beer fanatic, and prefer Rum / Dark and Stormy to Vodka (although with a tasty Vodka that might change, I just haven't found one yet). I disagree with the poster above that Gosling's is "meh" -- it's got a strong cane sugar flavor, although its gingeriness is not as strong as others such as Barritts (which has a tonic-water bitterness). I am not fond of "spicy" ginger beers enhanced with chiles (e.g. Goya's) -- this should be a refreshing drink, not a warming one. If it's spicy, it should just be the intensity of the ginger.

    Reply
    • Kristen England

      May 25, 2012 at 11:44 am

      Joel,

      I didn't mean Goslings was bad as a beverage. Its just really sugary sweet without much ginger character. I'm also not a fan of people putting things in my ginger beer that make them spicy or weird. IMO, ginger should be the star of the show.

      Reply
  12. Jeremy Hulley

    May 25, 2012 at 11:30 am

    I've been making my own ginger beer since last summer. Its awesome and easy even with bread yeast.

    Reply
  13. Carly

    May 25, 2012 at 11:32 am

    "Moscow Mule" is one of those things I've always heard of and never knew or really questioned what it was, and I have to say I don't think I ever would've guessed it involved ginger beer.

    Appreciate the O'Brien rec as well; that story just wrecks me.

    Reply
  14. Richard Scholtz

    May 25, 2012 at 11:52 am

    Michael, thanks for taking my suggestion!!
    One of the important factors is to use a good ginger beer. Maine Root is pretty good, and makes a tasty drink. Do not, for love of all that is holy, use Canada Dry Ginger Ale. It will taste flat, and you will be sorely disappointed.

    Reply
  15. Natalie Luffer Sztern

    May 25, 2012 at 12:43 pm

    L'Chaim and a toast to 22 years. Blink and it becomes 35 like me on June 26.

    Reply
  16. Natalie Luffer Sztern

    May 25, 2012 at 12:53 pm

    forgetting the topic True Ginger Beer, in Montreal can be found at a new family Organic Market exit 31 off the 15 Mirabel. This market is an absolute pleasure to walk around in and you can find all meats from Bison to Rabbit to Horse Meat. (having owned a race horse I cannot get my head around the Quebecois desire for this) I saw the Ginger Beer but until now didn't know what to do with it. So since I am there again on Saturday, I will buy it and get sloshed Saturday nite and it will be in your honour of the Ruhlman's anniversary

    Reply
    • Allen

      May 26, 2012 at 9:46 am

      Natalie, thank you for the referral, I've been looking all over Vancouver B C for horse meat with no luck. While I respect your aversion to trying it, I've heard it makes great bresaola, very llean and has good flavor.
      A lot of people have pigs for pets too, but please allow the meat to be put to good use, it's a lot of waste and actually honors the animal. I'll bet they have good curds for poutine at that market too! Thank you.

      Reply
  17. Hisham Soliman

    May 25, 2012 at 5:18 pm

    moscow mules are the best. for me personally I prefer maybe the juice of 3 limes.

    Reply
  18. Kyle

    May 25, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    I LOVE Moscow Mules. Especially when bars serve them in copper mugs. I had a bartender friend get me a pair. Think it gives the drink a unique presentation.

    My favorite addition to the traditional recipe: muddled mint! So delicious.

    Reply
  19. Beth

    May 25, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    Oh, my. Echoing upthread, I love a good Dark & Stormy, but I'm also, very recently, very into artisanal vodkas - evidently, it's become quite the thing in Colorado in the last few years. I will definitely have to try this. Soon.

    Reply
  20. Carolyn J. Phillips

    May 26, 2012 at 1:09 am

    I never get over how good the photography is here. Donna Turner Ruhlman always manages to capture the essence of the article with lovely prisms of light sparking everywhere, the colors muted yet brilliant. Yes, I come for the terrific recipes (and this topic has me reminiscing of the time I made a huge batch of Diana Kennedy's version of ginger beer), but I inevitably end up lingering over the gorgeous photographs and wondering how she achieved such magic.

    Reply
  21. David Oweb

    May 27, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    I have been making a ginger beer type drink of some merit using juiced ginger and ginger ale.
    Using a plunger-type juicer - the machine doesn't like it but if you cut the ginger root into 1/2" chinks and do them one at a time, it will do it with some grumbling - and you have ginger juice, quite a bit, surprisingly - (initially some white starch settles out).
    The ginger juice is parful' stuff with many uses in sauces and dressings and other cookery, but a teaspoon or two in a glass of ginger ale produces a honkin' result - you know something has happened when you drink it.

    Reply
  22. คาสิโนออนไลน์

    May 28, 2012 at 6:27 am

    thx

    Reply
  23. Tags

    May 28, 2012 at 11:09 am

    Congratulations on your 22nd. Ours is on September 1st, which is Labor Day weekend just like in 1990.

    Reply
  24. Ed

    May 28, 2012 at 2:59 pm

    Been loving these cocktail posts! I just made last week some ginger beer that I am going to have to turn into a moscow mule. (Oh and if anyone is wondering making your own is really really easy).

    Reply
  25. Ed

    May 28, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Oh and thrilled to see you are using OYO - I am not a vodka drinker, but it is surprising how good that stuff is and made right here in Ohio!

    Reply
  26. Laura

    May 28, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    Blenheim ginger ale...so freakin spicy. Made in South Carolina and comes in medium or hot!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Memohotel Blog » Blog Archive » Friday Cocktail Hour: Moscow Mule says:
    May 25, 2012 at 8:12 am

    [...] Read more from the original source: Friday Cocktail Hour: Moscow Mule [...]

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  2. versicherungsvergleiche says:
    May 25, 2012 at 11:29 am

    versicherungsvergleiche...

    [...]Friday Cocktail Hour: Moscow Mule | Michael Ruhlman[...]...

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  3. Friday Cocktail Hour: Dark and Stormy | Michael Ruhlman says:
    June 1, 2012 at 8:31 am

    [...] week’s cocktail post, The Moscow Mule, allowed me to show off the awesome Columbus, Ohio, vodka, OYO, by Middle West Spirits, but it also [...]

    Reply

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