Bourbon Mule

If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to finish off the week, look no further than this Bourbon Mule. Just like its vodka cousin the Moscow Mule, the recipe uses ginger beer and limes but the Bourbon Mule obviously uses, well, bourbon. Sometimes the Bourbon Mule is referred to as the Kentucky Mule thanks to Kentucky being the bourbon capital of the world.

Of course, the key to any great recipe is starting with some good-quality ingredients. Bourbon is definitely something that you don’t want to skimp on for sure. Cheap bourbon is not good, and I would imagine the source of a pretty nasty hangover. Personally, I like using local bourbons. (I live in South Carolina, not Kentucky – but we make pretty good bourbon too!) This isn’t an ad but my two favorite Charleston bourbons are Cannon Distillery and High Wire’s bourbon. In this Bourbon Mule, I used Cannon Distillery’s Double Barrel Bourbon. 

Bourbon Mule Ingredients

Bourbon: I mentioned my favorites above, but use your favorite. Like I said though, bourbon isn’t where you want to save money. Do yourself a favor and go for the good stuff.

Lime juice: As with pretty much all fruit in cocktails – fresh is always going to taste best. You’ll need the juice of about 1 lime, so luckily you won’t have the awkward other half of a lime that you just end up throwing in the drink anyway.

Ginger beer: Don’t use your garden variety ginger ale that you find in massive quantities at any grocery store. This is also where you want to go for the good stuff. Instead, go with a ginger beer that actually tastes like ginger. Quality ginger beer will actually give you a strong ginger taste, which is essential in a 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. My favorite ginger beer brands are Q Ginger Beer and Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer.

Garnishes: I like to garnish with extra lime wheels or wedges and a cinnamon stick. The cinnamon stick pairs so well with the bourbon.

How to Make a Bourbon Mule

Bourbon Mules are stirred, not shaken. Essentially, you just have to add the lime juice to a glass (or preferably a copper mug, more on that in a bit) filled with ice. Add in the bourbon and top off with ginger beer. Give it a quick stir, add your garnishes, and you’re good to go.

So why are mules served in copper mugs?

Well, I’ve heard a lot of different reasons. I’ve heard everything from the copper enhances the flavors to someone needing to unload a ton of copper mugs and came up with this gimmick.

Honestly, though, I don’t really care too much about why – I just know cocktails look really nice in copper mugs. So, this cocktail looks just as good as it tastes.

Bourbon Mules are one of the best cocktails you can make. These drinks take only a few minutes to put together and taste delicious. For that reason, they’re perfect for any occasion or party you may be hosting this holiday season! If you want the best-tasting Bourbon Mule, consider buying high-quality ingredients like quality ginger beer and great-tasting bourbon so you can enjoy an unforgettable drink with minimal effort on your part.

Print