The Moscow Mule is one of the few cocktails that has stood the test of time. Up there in the old-school hall of fame alongside the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Tom Collins, this is certainly one to add to your mixology repertoire. With a colourful history and refreshing taste, you can never go wrong with a Moscow Mule.

What is a Moscow Mule?

The traditional Moscow Mule is a simple cocktail of vodka and ginger beer. But don’t let the few ingredients fool you! It’s a cocktail that’s full of flavour and certainly packs a punch. More contemporary bartenders enjoy playing around with Moscow Mules, adding bitters, garnishes, and splashes of syrup to change the flavour. 

The History of a Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule is widely believed to have originated in World War Two. But it actually had its beginnings earlier in the century, when Sophie Berezinski, a Russian girl, began making copper mugs at her father’s factory. When Russia was hit with hard times in the 20s, Sophie upped and left, eventually landing in Hollywood in 1939 with around 2,000 of her beautiful mugs.

Along with two pals, Jack and John, Sophie looked to sell her mugs to the local bars. So began their marketing journey and the invention of the now world-famous Moscow Mule. Legend has it that the group invented the drink and then went from bar to bar, creating it in their mugs for the bartenders to watch and learn. They’d then take two polaroids, one for the bartender to keep and one to take to the next bar as a way of pushing them into making the drink, too. If the next bar over is selling these new-fangled cocktails, surely they should too!

Before long, the Moscow Mule was the “It” drink in Hollywood. Stars of the silver screen were all drinking them, and Sophie’s beloved copper mugs had cemented their place in mixology history.

How to Make a Moscow Mule

If you’re enticed by Sophie’s tale and want to carry on her legacy, here’s the perfect Moscow Mule recipe:

• Vodka 
• Lime 
• Ginger beer

Begin by filling your cocktail shaker with ice, stopping around ¾ of the way up. Add vodka and lime juice, and shake thoroughly until chilled. Strain over crushed ice in your own copper mug, top with ginger beer and garnish with a slice of lime.

Choose the Perfect Moscow Mule Vodka

At UrbanBar, we stock a wide range of spirits that are perfect to create the base of your cocktails. If you’re making a Moscow Mule, we recommend the smooth, simple, and elegant Koskenkorva Vodka for an easy drink. If you have any questions about mixology, our spirits, or any of our barware collections, feel free to get in touch with our team today and we’ll be more than happy to help!

Image: Foodio / Shutterstock.com