Mint Moscow Mule: A Way To Freshen Things Up

by Randy Woodward April 24, 2020

  • Recipe Variations

    1. Watermelon Mint Moscow Mule
    2. Blueberry Mint Moscow Mule
    3. Blackberry Mint Moscow Mule
    4. Mixed Berry Mint Moscow Mule
    5. Cucumber Mint Moscow Mule
    6. Peach Mint Moscow Mule
    7. Minty Moscow Mule Punch
    8. Basil Jalapeño Moscow Mule
    9. Peach Basil Moscow Mule


Mint - the one herb that makes food boost its aroma and flavor such as ice cream, cookies, salads, dips, sauces, pesto, pasta, tea, and meat dishes to name a few. Of course, the world of drinks and cocktails are also in need of the mighty mint to spice things up. One example would be the Moscow Mule.

Traditionally, a Moscow Mule is made with vodka, freshly squeezed lime juice and ginger beer. The story behind this drink is pretty famous and one of the most clear ones among the other drinks. The concoction was created by a bunch of guys who were in dire need to sell off their vodka, ginger beer and copper mugs and it became a success and the rest is history. As of today, there are already countless variations of this awesome cocktail because of its refreshing nature, its ease of preparation and its iconic look.

Go through our full list of 21 amazing Moscow Mule cocktail recipes.

When you watch videos on how to make Moscow mules, the cocktail would be presented with a sprig of mint leaves acting as a garnish only. Sure, it adds to the aesthetics but the problem is, mint is such a powerful ingredient and it should be in the cocktail, not just a mere decoration. And yes, the ginger beer may already be the “kick” factor in the drink but sometimes, you kind of get used to it and perhaps you want something a little extra, and that’s what the mint is for.

Nutritional Facts

Calories - 200

Calories from fat - 0

Sodium - 8 mg

Carbohydrates - 29 g

Fiber - 0 g

Sugar - 29 g

Tools Required

  • Copper mug - classic cup used to serve Moscow Mule cocktails
  • Citrus squeezer - a bar tool used to squeeze the lime directly into the glass
  • Muddler - a bar tool used to muddle (press & twist) the ingredients of a cocktail
  • Jigger - used to measure the liquid ingredients of a cocktail
  • Bar spoon - a long-stemmed spoon with a small head to reach even the slim glasses used to serve cocktails

Ingredients

Steps to make

  1. In a copper mug , put in the sugar cube, squeeze the lime with a citrus squeezer straight into the mug.
  2. Muddle the combined ingredients gently for about 5 seconds. Add the mint leaves and give it two twists on the muddler.
  3. Measure the vodka and ginger beer using a jigger and pour them into the copper mug.
  4. Stir gently the contents using a bar spoon . Then, add in the crushed ice all the way to the top of the mug.
  5. FInally, garnish it with a sprig of mint leaves.

How to Properly Muddle Mint Leaves

Mint leaves have a strong flavor and aroma profile and the purpose of muddling is to heighten the aroma by putting some pressure to it without really breaking the leaves. To properly muddle a mint sprig, lightly press and twist the muddler - do not pound. One or two twists should be enough to bring out the aroma but not enough to color the cocktail.

Use a muddler with a smooth head so it presses on the mint leaves with just the right pressure. Ridges on the muddler means more pressure and breaking of the leaves, releasing more essential oils than needed. This will result in bitter cocktails.

When using sugar cubes, do not muddle the mint leaves together with the sugar cubes. This puts unnecessary pressure on the mint leaves. Instead, muddle the sugar and the lime first then add the mint leaves and give it a few twists. The lime and the sugar granules acts very much like the ridges on a ridged muddler.

Recipe Variations

Mint is a very great pairing with fruits because it somehow elevates the flavors and brings them to a whole new level. And aside from mint, there are other minty herbs that can be incorporated into a Moscow mule such as its cousin, the basil. Here are the other minty Moscow mules that you can try:

Watermelon Mint Moscow Mule

Watermelon: a refreshing fruit; mint: gives a cool minty flavor; combine these in a classic Moscow mule:the perfect summer drink. Try this awesome twist on a classic!

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. In a shaker tin, place the watermelon cubes and mint leaves. Then, softly muddle the two with a muddler.
  2. Measure lime juice and vodka with a jigger and combine them into the shaker tin.
  3. Add ice cubes then shake for about 5 seconds.
  4. Fill a copper mug with ice half way through.
  5. Strain and pour the mixture into the copper mug. Top it off with ginger beer.
  6. Stick the watermelon cubes through a toothpick and garnish on top of the drink along with a sprig of mint leaves. Top it with a lime wedge as well.

Blueberry Mint Moscow Mule

Blueberries are great when paired with mint and are packed with a lot of nutrients. This recipe uses Reyka vodka which is an Icelandic vodka made with Arctic spring water filtered through lava rocks. It gives a terrific blend to the blueberry fruit and the overall drink.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Place the blueberries and mint leaves in a shaker tin. Then, using a muddler , gently muddle them until the juices come out.
  2. Measure the lime juice, vodka and simple syrup using a jigger and add them into the shaker tin.
  3. Add ice cubes into the shaker, cover and then shake well.
  4. Run the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into an ice-filled copper mug.
  5. Garnish with mint leaves and candied ginger in a toothpick.

Blackberry Mint Moscow Mule

Another berry in the list, the blackberries not only add a tangy factor to the drink but also offer a little bit of sweetness to balance the other flavors like its earthy undertones.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. In a copper mug , put in the blackberries, and mint leaves and then gently muddle them for about 5 seconds.
  2. Measure the simple syrup, vodka and lime juice with a jigger and pour them into the mug.
  3. Add in the ice cubes until it fills halfway. Top it off with ginger beer.
  4. Stir the drink with a bar spoon . Then, garnish with blackberries, lime wedge and mint leaves.

Mixed Berry Mint Moscow Mule

The ultimate berry party - upgrade your blueberry Moscow mule by adding some of its family members like the iconic raspberries and the gorgeous strawberries. It is not overwhelming at all, in fact, it is nice to have the burst of berry flavors blend in with the mint and make an awesome Moscow mule.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. In a shaker tin, add in the berres and mint leaves. Muddle them softly until the juices are extracted.
  2. Measure the lime juice and vodka with a jigger and pour them into the shaker tin. Add ice cubes and shake the mixture for about 5 seconds.
  3. Put ice cubes in a copper mug . Strain and pour the mixture into the mug.
  4. Top it off with ginger beer, then stir with a bar spoon .
  5. Garnish with berries and mint on top.

Cucumber Mint Moscow Mule

If you want something light but at the same time still refreshing to get you through summer, try this fantastic cucumber mint Moscow mule. It is easy to make and it is a good choice if you want to avoid the sweet ones.

Ingredients:

  • 3 - 4 cucumber slices
  • 5 mint leaves
  • 1 oz. Effen Cucumber Vodka
  • ½ oz. Lime juice
  • Cucumber slices (for garnish)
  • Mint leaves (for garnish)
  • Ice cubes

Steps to Make:

  1. In a shaker tin or glass, put in the cucumber slices and muddle them using a muddler until the juice is extracted.
  2. Grab a sprig of mint leaves and tap it onto the surface of the glass just to release the aroma. Then place 5 mint leaves into the glass.
  3. Measure the vodka and lime juice with a jigger and combine them into the glass.
  4. Add ice cubes, cover with the shaker tin and shake for about 10 seconds.
  5. Put ice cubes in a copper mug.
  6. Strain the mixture into the mug. Top with ginger beer.
  7. Stick some cucumber slices in a toothpick along with some mint leaves and put it on top of the drink as garnish.

Peach Mint Moscow Mule

Turn the lovely fruit peach into a lovely peach and minty drink. Peach is generally sweet and mint is known to counterbalance sweetness so this is considered a great mix especially for mule and peach lovers out there.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. Place the peach slices and mint leaves in a shaker tin and then gently muddle them using a muddler .
  2. Measure the limejuice, vodka and simple syrup using a jigger and combine them into the shaker tin.
  3. Add ice to the shaker and shake for about 10 seconds.
  4. Fill a copper mug with fresh ice. Strain and pour the mixture into the prepared copper mug.
  5. Garnish with a peach slice and mint leaves.

Minty Moscow Mule Punch


If you are hosting a party, impress your guests with a thirst-quenching drink that is the mint Moscow mule punch. This recipe uses a homemade ginger-mint simple syrup that is perfect for the drink and will surely make your friends delighted.

Ingredients:

For the ginger-mint simple syrup:

For the assembly:

  • 3 cups of Smirnoff Vodka
  • ¾ cup of freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 - 6 limes)
  • ¾ cup of the ginger-mint simple syrup
  • 4 cups of chilled Fever Tree Ginger Beer
  • Mint leaves (for garnish)
  • Ice cubes

Steps to Make:

  1. Measure all ingredients with measuring cups . In a medium saucepan, combine the ingredients needed for the simple syrup, namely, water, light brown sugar, mint leaves and chopped ginger. Put it on low medium heat and let it simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Run the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl and let it cool. Transfer it to a jar so you can store it.
  2. In a large glass pitcher , combine the vodka, lime juice and homemade ginger-mint simple syrup. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it chill for at least an hour or overnight.
  3. Once it is done chilling, take it out and add in the ginger beer.
  4. Serve the drink in ice-filled glass mugs or copper mugs and garnish with a little bit of mint leaves.

Basil Jalapeño Moscow Mule

If you don’t have mint laying around, use basil leaves instead. It has a peppery taste and has a sweet fragrance that is similar with mint and together with the jalapeños, it gives a spicy and cool Moscow mule.

Ingredients:

Steps to Make:

  1. In a rocks glass , place the lime wedges in, and add in the jalapeño slices and basil.
  2. Gently muddle the ingredients just to extract the juices out.
  3. Measure the vodka and ginger beer using a jigger and combine them into the glass. Add in ice cubes.
  4. Stir the mixture slowly with a bar spoon .
  5. Garnish with a basil leaf on top.

Peach Basil Moscow Mule

There’s already a peach Moscow mule in this list but this one is different in more ways than one. For instance, it uses basil instead of mint. Basil gives a similar effect as the mint so it’s not that far off but it also offers a different but amazing taste. Find out the other differences and give it a try!

Ingredients:

Steps to make:

  1. Take a shaker tin and put in the peach slices, basil leaves and agave syrup. Muddle them gently.
  2. Squeeze the lemon into the tin. Measure the vodka with a jigger and pour it into the tin as well. Add in some ice cubes, cover then shake for about 10 seconds.
  3. Fill a copper mug with fresh ice. Strain and pour the mixture into the mug. Top it off with ginger beer.
  4. Garnish with peach slices and basil leaves.

Foods to Pair with Mint Moscow Mule

MInt is definitely a versatile herb that goes very well with a lot of things. It mostly pairs with sweet foods like pastry and fruits. But, there is nothing that says that it can’t be good on savory foods either. So here are a few things to eat with a mug of a minty Moscow mule.

Brownies

Brownies are basically chocolate and chocolate is pretty much an ideal partner of mint. Chow down on this chocolatey and warm piece of brownie while sipping your minty and cool drink.

Cinnamon Roll

Cinnamon and mint are spices and herbs that go well together. And the perfect embodiment of cinnamon is the one and only cinnamon roll.

Berry Pie

You can never go wrong with berries and mint. There is just an explosion of tanginess that balances with the sweetness.

Teriyaki Chicken

Have a simple but delicious dinner with chicken teriyaki paired with a refreshing minty mule.

Bacon-wrapped Pineapple with Sriracha Honey Glaze

From the name alone, you know this is going to be epic and to pair it with an awesome drink: legendary.

Jalapeño Poppers

The spiciness from the jalapeños counterbalances the cool and refreshing taste of the mint mule that makes them a really good combo.

FAQs

Why does mint make your mouth cool?

Whether you put mint in drinks, food or nimble it raw, it doesn’t fail to make your mouth feel cool and refreshed. This is because of the compound it produces called menthol. Actually, menthol only tricks our bodies into feeling cold because it affects the system of sensory receptors that perceive touch, temperature and pain.

What can I substitute mint with?

If you don’t have mint leaves on hand, there are several replacements you can use that taste almost the same such as basil, thyme, lemon balm and cilantro. You can try to experiment with different herbs that are near the taste of mint which is refreshing and cool.

What are the benefits of mint leaves?

Mint has many uses and health benefits beyond food and drinks because it has been long viewed as an herbal remedy. Mint is rich in nutrients, easy to add in your diet, can ease an upset stomach, calms the digestive tract and alleviates indigestion, gas, and cramps.

Is the copper mug necessary for a Moscow mule?

It’s not really necessary but it is encouraged as it can add so much to the drink itself. Aside from it being a traditional vessel, it also provides aesthetics and can enhance the flavor. To find more about the reason, you can check out this page .

Is there alcohol in ginger beer?

Despite what the name says, ginger beer actually doesn’t have alcohol in it. Ginger beer is not fermented but rather carbonated, making it fall into the soft drink category.

Vodkas and Ginger Beer Options

Two of the components of a Moscow mule are vodka and ginger beer. There are many types of vodka but not all of them are the same. To make a great Moscow mule, you need a great quality vodka. You can check them out right here . Furthermore, ginger beer must not be overlooked. It is usually added last to give the final touches of fizz to the cocktail. Here are some cool options for you to try in your next Moscow mule .

Conclusion

When you have something good, there are tons of ways to make it better, just step it to a whole new level. This case is the same for good ‘ol Moscow mule. It’s also very versatile because mint goes well with a lot of fruits so you can really make up your own minty mule with your favorite fruits and perhaps you can develop the next best tropical cocktail. It’s also quite a delicate herb because it tends to become bitter when it is overdone whether in muddling or in cooking. But, this can be learned and in no time, you can always make your favorite drink or food with them.

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