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    Home » Holidays

    Kentucky Bourbon Mule

    Published: Nov 2, 2022 by Melissa · This post contains links that pay me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest image with the text overlay "bourbon mule cocktail super easy!" The background is one copper mug of a bourbon mule garnished with a lime and cinnamon stick. Extra lime is next to the mug.
    Pinterest image with the words "bourbon moscow mule".
    Pinterest image that says "Kentucky bourbon mule".
    Pinterest image that says "bourbon mule cocktail".

    If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to finish off the week, look no further than this Kentucky Bourbon Mule. Just like its cousin the Moscow Mule, a classic cocktail made with vodka, this recipe uses ginger beer and limes but the Kentucky Bourbon Mule obviously uses bourbon whiskey. It only takes a few ingredients and 5 minutes to make this simple recipe.

    Two bourbon mules in copper mugs with a bowl of limes.

    Sometimes the Kentucky Bourbon Mule is just called just a Bourbon Mule or Bourbon Moscow Mule. I’ve also heard it called a Whiskey Mule. Whatever you like to call it, it’s definitely a super flavorful cocktail made with smoky bourbon, sweet and spicy ginger beer, and sour lime juice.

    If you’re a huge bourbon fan like me, you’ll also want to check out some of my other bourbon cocktails, like Apple Cider Hot Toddies, Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned, and Pomegranate Bourbon Sour. They are all easy cocktails that you’ll definitely love.

    Jump to:
    • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Favorite Ginger Beer Brands
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • FAQ
    • Related Recipes
    • Bourbon Mule

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • If you’re a bourbon lover, this is Bourbon Mule recipe for you! It’ll be your new favorite way to enjoy bourbon.
    • It’s one of the easiest cocktails with only 3 ingredients and only takes 5 minutes!
    • All of the ingredients compliment each other so well – and they are served in beautiful copper mule mug making it perfect for the holiday season.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients list me including bourbon, lime juice, ginger beer, and garnishes.
    • Bourbon: All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. For a whiskey to be considered bourbon, it must be made in the United States and be at least 51 percent corn.
    • Lime juice: As with pretty much all citrus juice in cocktails – fresh lime juice is always going to taste best. Bottled is fine in a pinch.
    • Ginger beer: Don’t use the garden-variety ginger ale that you find in massive quantities at any grocery store. Quality ginger beer will actually give you a strong ginger taste, which is essential in the spicy kick of the “Mule” cocktail. Ginger beer is generally non-alcoholic and a good mixer, but if a brand does include alcohol that will be noted on the package.

    Favorite Ginger Beer Brands

    Image of Q Mixers Ginger Beer

    Q Mixers Ginger Beer

    Buy Now →
    Image of Fever Tree Ginger Beer

    Fever Tree Ginger Beer

    Buy Now →

    Step by Step Instructions

    Steps 1-4 showing adding bourbon, lime juice, and ginger beer to copper mug and then stirring.

    Steps 1-2: Combine bourbon and lime juice to the cocktail glass or mug.

    Step 3: Top off with ginger beer.

    Step 4: Stir very well, bring the spoon up and down as you stir to properly mix ingredients.

    Step 5 of process showing garnishing with a lime wheel.

    Step 5: Add garnishes like a lime wheel and a cinnamon stick (optional) and enjoy your Kentucky Bourbon Mule!

    Tip:
    Don’t skimp on the bourbon in a Kentucky Mule recipe. Cheap bourbon is not good, and I would imagine the source of a pretty nasty hangover. Often the best bourbon comes from the bourbon capital of the world, Kentucky. You can also use a local-to-you high quality bourbon. There are several great bourbons local to Charleston from Cannon Distillery and High Wire Distillery.

    FAQ

    Why do Moscow Mule recipes (or Kentucky Bourbon Mule recipes) have to be in a copper cup?

    Technically they don’t have to, but copper does a great job of insulating the mule cocktail to keep it extra cold and frosty. Plus, they are very aesthetically pleasing.

    There are a few stories as to how copper mugs became associated with mule cocktails, including that the copper enhances the flavors. And, another story is that a copper-making company needed to unload a ton of copper mugs and came up with this gimmick.

    If you don’t have a copper mug, you can use a double old fashioned glass.

    What’s the difference between a Kentucky Mule and a Moscow Mule?

    The major difference between a Kentucky Mule and a traditional Moscow Mule is that a Kentucky Mule uses bourbon and a Moscow Mule uses vodka as the base liquor. Here are a couple of other variations of Moscow Mules:

    Dark ‘n Stormy: this cocktail uses the same ingredients as a Moscow Mule, but swaps out the vodka for dark rum. If you’re looking for Dark ‘n Stormy recipe, check out my Pumpkin Spice Dark ‘n Stormy.

    Gin Buck: this variation uses gin in place of the vodka in Moscow Mules. It can be made with lime juice but is often made with lemon juice.

    Why do they call the drink a mule?

    The mule part of the name comes from the extra kick of flavor that the ginger beer gives the cocktail.

    Copper mug garnished with lime and cinnamon stick on a white counter.

    Related Recipes

    If you liked this recipe, you might want to also try:

    • Easy Apple Cider Hot Toddy with Tea (for One or a Crowd)
    • Smoked Rosemary Old Fashioned (without a Smoking Gun)
    • Fluffernutter Peanut Butter Whiskey Cocktail
    • Smoked Manhattan with Cinnamon Cocktail

    Did you love this cocktail?
    Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section below.

    Two bourbon mules in copper mugs with a bowl of limes.

    Bourbon Mule

    Melissa
    This spicy and sweet Bourbon Mule is as easy as it is delicious. It is perfect for the holidays or any day of the week!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Total Time 5 mins
    Course Drinks and Cocktails
    Cuisine Cocktails
    Servings 1 cocktail

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ ounces bourbon
    • 1 ounce lime juice juice of about 1 lime
    • 4 ounces ginger beer
    • Garnishes lime wheel or wedge and/or cinnamon stick

    Instructions
     

    • Add the bourbon and lime juice to a copper mug or glass filled with ice.
    • Top off with ginger beer.
    • Stir well and serve with extra limes and cinnamon stick, if using.

    Notes

    Tip: 
    Being such a simple drink with only 3 ingredients, it’s important to choose quality bourbon and ginger beer. 
    CLICK TO DISPLAY NUTRITION INFO

    Nutrition

    Calories: 144kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.02gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 14IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Photo of Melissa sitting on porch with coffee cup leaning forward with pumpkins and plants on the porch.

    Hi, and welcome! 👋🏻 I’m Melissa, a RD with a Food Science degree living in Charleston, SC. I love sharing all my favorite food and cocktail recipes right here.

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