Apple Cider Mule
An Apple Cider Mule is the perfect fall twist to the classic moscow mule. Made with fresh apple cider, spicy non-alcoholic ginger beer, and your favorite spirit in a frosty copper mug, it's the perfect fall cocktail to bring in this time of year.
Welcome to another installment of Thirsty Thursday, a series on Sweet Tea and Thyme where cocktails are the focus every Thursday.
Last year, I brought you my favorite summer blueberry mule, this year, it's time for a fall moscow mule.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill apple cider cocktail for the basic crowd (even though I will admit that I, too, am part of the basic crowd every autumn). This apple cider moscow mule recipe is the perfect festive cocktail: easy to make with simple ingredients and not only that, you can basically use whatever liquor you want to pull an Emeril and kick it up a notch.
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Origins of the Moscow Mule
A standard moscow mule is a cocktail made of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, usually garnished with a wedge of lime. It's served cold with ice and while it's perfect for hot weather, the strong, spicy ginger flavor makes it popular during the holidays, too.
It's traditionally served in a copper mug, which helps keep the drink cold. People got worried about chemical leakage from the copper mug, so now modern ones usually are just plated on the outside of the mug with copper while the inside is stainless steel.
Like many recipes, the real origin is lost to history but legend has it that two American entrepreneurs got together with an actor to try to make the moscow mule famous. I guess it worked since we now consider the traditional moscow mule to be a classic cocktail!
Why Moscow Mules are Served in Copper Mugs
Copper mugs have been used for centuries for drinks, because of the way copper keeps the heat of your hand from warming up your ice cold drink and keeping your carbonated drink fizzy longer.
Pure copper was used for a long time, but because of the price of copper and modern health concerns, most copper mugs now have a stainless steel lining. So your drink will still stay nice and cold.
How to Make an Apple Moscow Mule
In order to make a delicious apple cider moscow mule, you need to simply stir together all the ingredients in a chilled copper mug or a regular glass, and garnish with your favorite fall thing. A dash of cinnamon...a flaming rosemary sprig, whatever floats your fall season apple mule boat.
Ingredients
Apple Cider. You could use apple juice, but it's just not the same. There's something about apple cider that just has all the flavors of fall in it already and it's the perfect excuse to head to your local orchard to get some fresh cider. Bonus points if you use hard apple cider!
Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer. Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic mixer that is really spicy, guys. Take that into consideration if you're going to veer off the course of vodka. If you can't find it in the soda aisle at your grocery store,
Vodka. The thing I really love about this apple cider version of the moscow mule variations is that you can make it more festive for holiday parties by swapping the vodka for fireball cinnamon whisky, caramel vodka, apple vodka, or your favorite bourbon for a Kentucky mule with a delicious autumn twist.
Lime Juice. Get that fresh lime juice in and then make a little garnish with a lime wheel.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick, a thin apple slice from some honeycrisp apples, a lime slice, or go crazy like I did and set a sprig of rosemary on fire for a really festive drink this holiday season. It makes for a great show!
Make for a Crowd
Holiday cocktails have to be versatile, y'all! So of course you can make this for the crowd!
Mix three cups vodka, three cups of apple cider and ¾ cup of lime juice for 12 servings. When serving each cup, mix 4 ½ ounces of the apple cider/vodka mixture and 3 ounces of ginger beer. Keep the ginger beer separate so it stays fresh and fizzy.
More Fall Drinks:
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📖 Recipe
Apple Cider Mules
Ingredients
- ¼ cup vodka
- ¼ cup apple cider
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ cup strong ginger beer
- Lime wedge apple slice, sprig of rosemary, or cinnamon stick, for garnish
Instructions
- In a chilled copper mug or lowball glass, pour in the vodka, apple cider, and lime juice. Add ice, then add the ginger beer.
- Garnish with the fall-inspired accent of your choosing. Serve immediately.
