The History of the Moscow Mule + a recipe
The Moscow Mule. Holy moly what have I been missing? Ginger beer, vodka, and lime on ice: Simple, fresh, and oh so easy to drink. The history of the moscow mule was as equally surprising to me! Traditionally, this libation is served in a copper cup. In fact, the drink’s inception in the early 1940s actually derives from a marketing ploy by Cock n’ Bull ginger beer, who distributed copper cups (which at the time, was an over produced house-ware) with their namesake on them in cahoots with Smirnoff Vodka to promote their under-performing beverages. I guess it worked! There are tons of recipes for this classic cocktail online, and I have looked through dozens, finding that some recipes for the Moscow Mule not only suggest a copper cup, but require it.
Do you know how hard it is to find a copper drinking cup in Halifax?
After days of hunting through the city and countless bewildered looking sales associates, I have resigned to the fact that I have to purchase copper cups online (thank goodness for Etsy). For the record there are lots of recipes that suggest a simple collins glass to hold this beloved cocktail, but while I wait patiently for my copper cups, I am still downing those Moscow Mules on my patio (in a sweater and slippers, but I am out there).
In the meantime, here’s my recipe for the Moscow Mule.

Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- Collins glass or any larger cocktail glass filled with ice
- 1 oz Vodka
- Juice of 1 Lime about 1 oz and wedge to garnish
- Ginger Beer Propeller Ginger Beer is the best around
- 1 teaspoon of Simple Syrup
Instructions
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Pour 1 oz vodka over glass of ice
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Add lime juice
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Top off glass with ginger beer
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Finish with 1tsp of simple syrup
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Stir, garnish, and enjoy!
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