Trends Tipps & Tricks Mixing

Mule cocktails and their history

The Mule is one of the simple drinks that have become part of the standard repertoire of any well-stocked cocktail bar. Visually, the cocktail stands out from the crowd because, unlike most drinks, it’s not consumed from a glass, but from a copper mug. But Mule cocktails, the most famous of which is undoubtedly the Moscow Mule, also have a lot to offer in terms of taste. A Mule tastes lively, refreshing and rather spicy – a very refreshing combination.

Where’s the Mule consumed?

The most famous of all Mule cocktails and also the first drink to bear the name Mule is the Moscow Mule. Contrary to what the name suggests, however, it doesn’t originate in Russia, but in the Cock ’n Bull bar in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA. It’s said to have been invented in this American bar at the beginning of the 1940s. But there’s disagreement over who exactly was responsible: the bar owner John A. Morgan or his former bartender Wes Price.

The combination of vodka and ginger beer came about because John Morgan was trying (in vain) to produce his own ginger lemonade for the bar. But because the drink didn’t sell well, his warehouse was full of it. So he started experimenting with it and mixing different simple drinks. The result of these efforts was the Moscow Mule, which is now known all over the world.

During the Cold War, the drink lost something of its popularity because no one in America wanted to order a cocktail that bore the city of Moscow in its name. In the 1990s, however, the success story picked up speed again. And the drink has also become increasingly popular in Europe in recent decades. One reason for this is undoubtedly the increased availability of one of the most important ingredients for the Mule: ginger beer.

Why is the Moscow Mule drunk from the copper cup?

What there is historical agreement about is that a third person was involved in the development of the Moscow Mule: Morgan’s partner Oseline Schmidt. At the time, Oseline was the owner of a copper factory that had a large surplus of copper mugs. Three products that no one had ever been interested in before – after all, vodka was not particularly popular in the US at the time – and a small dash of lime juice resulted in one of the most successful cocktails in the world. And that also solves the mystery of why the Moscow Mule is drunk from a copper mug of all things.

What does the Moscow Mule taste like?

The Moscow Mule is classed as an easy-to-mix drink, yet it offers an exciting taste experience with many nuances. Since the copper cup is pre-cooled with ice before filling the drink, it’s so cold that it’s best held by the handle. It feels so frosty on your lips that you think it might stick to you. But shortly afterwards, the fresh scent of ginger and mint pops into your nose. After the first sip, a slight acidity spreads and the drink starts to tickle your palate. The ginger in the ginger beer leaves a sparkling spiciness on your lips and provides plenty of refreshment – just the thing for a hot summer’s day.

The right way to prepare a Moscow Mule

The beauty of the Moscow Mule is that the recipe’s one of the easy drinks that you can easily mix yourself at home. You might already have the classic ingredients (vodka, ginger beer and lime juice) in your mini house bar anyway.

  • Trojka Mule

    The popular drink with vodka: the Trojka Mule is a blend of Trojka Vodka and ginger beer that delights the palate.

    Ingredients
    • LOTS OF ICE
    • 4 CL TROJKA VODKA PURE GRAIN
    • 1-2 CL LIME JUICE
    • 8 CL GINGER BEER
    • 1 LIME
    • 1 SPRIG PEPPERMINT
    Steps
    • 1
      Place a lot of ice into a copper mug.
    • 2
      Add the Trojka Vodka pure grain and fresh lime juice.
    • 3
      Top up with ginger beer.
    • 4
      Garnish with slices of lime and peppermint leaves.

What other types of Mule are there?

Thanks to the simple recipe and easy preparation, many variants of this easy drink have been created over the years, including the London Mule, the Mexican Mule and many others. Name variations have also evolved over time – especially in light of recent political events. This was the case during the Cold War, and history’s now repeating itself. But what’s the name of the Moscow Mule now? If you use a Trojka Vodka Pure Grain to mix, simply call the drink Trojka Mule.

In addition to the classic Moscow Mule, the Berry Mule and London Mule with gin variants are also very popular. These are also very simple drinks that you can easily mix yourself at home. They’re also great for offering to guests at a party, because you don’t need much preparation or out-of-the-ordinary utensils.

More Mule cocktail recipes

In addition to the Trojka Mule, there are other easy drinks that you can offer as a tangy Mule cocktail at your next party and that are bound to go down just as well with your guests. Our favorite is the fruity Berry Mule. 

  • Berry Mule

    The Berry Mule finds Trojka Pink meeting ginger beer – a tangy berry combination to refresh the palate.

    Ingredients
    • CRUSHED ICE
    • 1 CL TROJKA PINK
    • 4 CL TROJKA VODKA PURE GRAIN
    • GINGER BEER
    • 1 HANDFUL BLUEBERRIES & RASPBERRIES
    • 1 SPRIG PEPPERMINT
    Steps
    • 1
      Place crushed ice in a glass, add the Trojka Vodka Pure Grain and Trojka Pink.
    • 2
      Then add the berries and top up with ginger beer.
    • 3
      Garnish with peppermint leaves and berries of your choice.
Do you like this article?
Share

Comments

Related Posts

Back