This weekend, my husband and I decided to spice up our usual Moscow Mule recipe. We have come to love this cold, refreshing, copper-mugged drink, and although we were hesitant to tamper with perfection–we decided to branch out of our comfort zone! Using ingredients from our garden we came up with this Mule drink variation.
Cucumbers and Mint Leaves
Our garden is producing a bounty of both cucumbers and mint–both of which I find very refreshing in other summer recipes, so I was excited for the possibilities! Cucumber and mint might not be the normal Moscow mule ingredients but make a great Moscow Mule variation. My husband didn’t think that he would like a vegetable in his cocktail, but being the good sport that he is, he was willing to give it a try!
Cucumber and Mint Mule Drink
A great addition to summer cocktails and a refreshing twist on the traditional Moscow Mule recipe!
- 2 ounces Vodka
- 4 ounces of Ginger Beer
- Cucumber
- Fresh Mint
- Lime Juice
- Slice up a cucumber and toss about 4 slices into the bottom of a copper mug. Add the juice of half a fresh lime. Add a sprig of fresh mint. You can use a wooden spoon to mash up the cucumber and mint into the lime juice (I think the bartenders call this “muddled”) It doesn’t have to be puréed–just gently mashed. Fill the cup with ice. Add a generous shot of vodka–I think the good stuff is worth it, like Tito’s, Grey Goose, or Skyy Vodka. Top the mug off with ginger beer. Give it a little stir, and toss another cucumber and sprig of mint for garnish. Serve it up ice cold on a hot summer evening
Ginger Beer is what give the Moscow Mule it’s signature flavor. What is the best ginger beer to use in a Moscow Mule? Here is a round up of some of the most popular ginger beers on the market. You might ask, “Is ginger beer alcoholic?” Most ginger beers are categorized as non-alcoholic drinks because their alcohol content is less than 0.5 percent. Fresh ginger root, sugar, yeast and water become naturally fizzy long before the juice turns alcoholic.
Ginger Beer Brands
- Cock & Bull One of our favorites. It is easy to find and seems to have the right amount of ginger to bring a little heat, but not be too sweet. It has just the right amount of spice!
- Cock & Bull Lite If you are watching your calorie intake, this is a great one as I don’t think that a whole lot of flavor is sacrificed, but there is a slight difference in taste.
- Goslings This ginger beer is generally very easy to find, reasonably priced and has a great flavor. I do find it to a little more on the sweet side.
- Reed’s Extra Ginger Beer This also has a spicy ginger flavor to it. It is easy to find and makes an excellent mule.
- Regatta Enjoy a unique and zesty ‘ginger kick’ to your Mule and other cocktails. This ginger beer has secondary notes of citrus, apple, and banana.
- Crabbies Crafted from a recipe using ginger which is cold steeped for up to six weeks and then combined with four secret ingredients to produce its deep, deliciously spicy flavor. This ginger beer has flavors like Spiced Orange and Scottish Raspberry that will make a delicious mule.
- Brickway This ginger beer is actually my favorite, but I was hesitant to add it to the list. It is a bit more pricey, and because it is made from a brewery in Omaha, Nebraska, it is very hard to find outside of Omaha! It does make me think that there must be other local breweries that are making their own ginger beer. As I start seeking them out, I would love to hear your local favorites in the comments below!
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