What are the best ingredients for a Moscow Mule?

Even though the great classic Moscow Mule is a wonderful cocktail, there are so many potential variations of the Moscow Mule to experiment with– it’s essentially a delicious blank canvas! But if we’re talking a truly authentic Moscow Mule, there’s definitely a correct method and a proper list of ingredients to use–

Ingredient #1– 100% copper mug

An authentic Moscow Mule is served in a 100% copper mug and definitely not in a cheap knock-off that uses plated copper or a stainless steel inner lining. Not only can these knock-off mugs be a health risk by leaching dangerous heavy metals into your drink, but they won’t provide the same great consistent condensation on the outside of the mug. Some say you can even taste the difference when drinking out of a pure copper mug, but we’ll leave that up to you to determine. Here are our staff’s favorite copper mugs.

Ingredient #2– The ice

This is the only part of the recipe that allows for creativity while still preserving the authenticity of the final product. Some people prefer filling the copper mug with crushed ice, some prefer filling it with whole ice cubes, and some prefer only 2-3 ice cubs, which is the way we prefer. Either way, it’s all up to preference for taste, temperature and mug condensation.

Ingredient #3– Smirnoff Vodka

Next is the vodka. Obviously the higher quality the vodka, the smoother the drink and the more pleasant experience. But to stay true to the Moscow Mule heritage, Smirnoff is the vodka of choice, thanks to John G. Martin of G.F. Heublein back in the early 1940s. The recipe calls for 3 parts vodka to 1 part lime juice, so stick to 1.5 to 2oz of vodka by using a stainless steel double jigger to properly measure our your pours.

Ingredient #4– Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

If you want authentic, you have to put a little elbow grease into it, which means there’s certainly no room for prepared lime juice, lime juice concentrate, lime juice sweetener, or anything else other than pure, freshly squeezed lime juice. The best way to get the most juice out of a lime without making a mess all over your kitchen bar is to invest in a well-built, dishwasher-safe citrus juicer.

Ingredient #5– Cock ‘n’ Bull Ginger Beer

The final ingredient, and the second of the flagship ingredients, is ginger beer. But for a truly authentic Moscow Mule, we must pay homage to the other co-creator of the Moscow Mule, Jack Morgan of Cock ‘n’ Bull Pub, by using Cock ‘n’ Bull Ginger Beer.

There you have it, all the ingredients necessary to make a proper, authentic Moscow Mule.