Moscow Mule
The Moscow Mule is a member of the Buck family of cocktails. A Buck cocktail is defined as a cocktail that comprises a base spirit + citrus juice + a carbonated mixer of either ginger beer or ginger ale.
It is believed that the term “Buck” came about when whiskey was added to a non-alcoholic beverage called a Horse’s Neck (ginger ale and lemon juice). The addition of whiskey gave the horse a kick, and the name evolved to “Bucking Horse,” which was later shortened to simply “Buck.”
These days, it appears that the popularity of the Moscow Mule has all but made it the king of all Buck cocktails, which is why sometimes you won’t even see the term “Buck” associated with these cocktails. Instead, they take on the “Mule” moniker.
There are many members of the Buck family of cocktails, and they can be found all over the world. The base spirit will be different, but the premise is the same. Travel through your cocktail book, and you could come across a Jamaican Buck, a Kentucky Buck, an Australian Buck, an Irish Buck, a Glasgow Buck, or a London Buck, to name just a few. As you have probably guessed, these cocktails will be very similar but have a different base spirit.
The true origins of the Moscow Mule cocktail are less than clear, and certainly not a tale I am going to share here, as there are too many conflicting accounts. The long and short of it is that, one day in the 1930s, a chap had a bunch of vodka, another chap had a bunch of ginger beer, and someone else had a bunch of copper mugs…
Anyway, they came up with the Moscow Mule, which, 90 years on, is one of the planet’s most enjoyed cocktails and the very cocktail that put vodka on the map in America. Vodka enjoyed huge popularity in the USA almost immediately, and today is purchased more than any other spirit in the country. However, before the invention of the Moscow Mule, nobody in America had heard of it, much less tasted it.
While the origins of the Moscow Mule remain highly contested, what is clear is that this cocktail is very tasty and goes down a treat. The ginger beer is what adds the flavor, so choose your ginger beer carefully. I personally like a strong ginger beer, especially in this drink, as it adds so much character. A copper mug is best for this cocktail, but a Collins glass will do just as well.
Moscow Mule Ingredients:
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60 ml Vodka
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15 ml Fresh Lime Juice
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10 ml Sugar Syrup
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90 ml Ginger Beer
Instructions:
Pour the first three ingredients into your glass, stir, and fill the glass 2/3 with crushed ice. Pour in the ginger beer and top off with more crushed ice. Serve with a straw and garnish with a lime wedge and mint leaves.
