No lattes 'til you finish your drink
Ginger beer is one of my favorite summer things. Throw in some mint and lime juice and I can’t think of a drink I’d rather lounge with as the humidity rises. I stumbled upon the Moscow Mule as I looked for drinks that utilized ginger beer and/or the big mint plant that’s dominating my porch. Emerging in Los Angeles in the 1940’s, the Moscow Mule was instrumental in popularizing vodka in an otherwise gin-crazy America. Leave it to LA to blend East (vodka) and West (ginger beer) in a beverage made for summer.
Moscow Mule
Ingredient rundown:
- 1.5 oz vodka
- ~6 oz ginger beer (I like Barritt’s for cocktails, but was trying out Target’s Archer Farm’s brand this time. Verdict: not bad, a little sweet and could use a little more spicy kick)
- fresh lime juice (I used 2 small key limes per drink)
- 4-6 mint leaves, bruised + a sprig for garnish
- ice
How I do it
- Tradition calls for serving the mule in a copper mug. Well I don’t have one of those. What I do have is a stainless steel milk pitcher, cuz I’m a barista and all. Seemed like an appropriate substitution. Fill that guy with ice, the vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.
- Bruise the mint leaves and toss those in along with the spent lime wedges. Stir.
- Sit back and sip one of the more refreshing beverages I can think of on a hot summer day/eve.
- Try it with rum instead of vodka for a more Dark and Stormy-like beverage with a little more depth of flavor.
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