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This apple cider mule is festive and easy fall cocktail! This seasonal spin on the Moscow mule features cider and ginger beer.
Here’s a festive cocktail that’s perfect for cool weather: the apple cider mule! Everyone loves a classic Moscow Mule, and this seasonal spin is even more fun. It pairs apple and ginger in a bubbly, effervescent mix that’s perfectly cozy nestled in a copper mug.
Alex and I love mules because you can build them right in the glass, no cocktail shaker required. So why stop drinking the mule when fall hits? This autumnal variation is ideal for when the temps start to drop: it even works as a winter cocktail for holiday gatherings, too.
Ingredients in an apple cider mule
The Moscow mule is a classic cocktail invented in the 1940’s. The mule is part of a family of cocktails called bucks: drinks made with ginger beer or ale, citrus juice, and liquor. So a Moscow mule is a vodka buck: and this apple cider mule could technically be called a cider buck.
The apple cider mule is a fall themed Moscow mule: or, a mule with apple cider. It’s got just enough cider so you can taste its sweet flavor, but not so much that it waters down the ginger beer and vodka. We tinkered with the ratios to make this apple cider mule the perfect balance of the Moscow mule elements:
- Vodka
- Lime
- Apple cider
- Ginger beer
How to make an apple cider mule: basic steps
The mule is one of our top easy mixed drinks because here’s the thing: you can mix it all in a glass. No cocktail shakers required! The only thing you have to actually do is juice a lime. Pour it into the glass, and you’re good to go!
- Pour ¼ cup vodka, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and ¼ cup apple cider into a copper mug or serving glass of your choice. Add ⅓ cup ginger beer.
- Add ice and garnish with lime.
Tips for making it for a crowd
Are you entertaining and don’t want to worry about measuring out each drink? Here’s what we would do:
- Mix up 8 servings without ginger beer. That would be 2 cups vodka, 2 cups apple cider, and ½ cup lime juice.
- In each copper mug, pour about ½ cup mixer and ⅓ cup ginger beer. The exact measurements are 4 ½ ounces (9 tablespoons) mixer plus 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) ginger beer.
On the traditional copper mugs
A traditional Moscow mule is served in a copper mug. Of course, you can serve this apple cider mule however you like! It looks great in a copper mug, but it also works in a low ball glass (try it with clear ice).
- Drinking out of ice cold copper brings another sensory element. The copper turns ice cold with the drink, giving another element to a sip. You can really taste the difference!
- Copper mugs are used for tradition. Back in the 1940’s, the drink was originally served in copper. Photos of Hollywood celebs drinking mules in copper mugs were all over the place. It caught on, and it’s still the traditional way to drink this cocktail!
- Where to buy copper mugs for mules? You can use copper mugs for any type of drink, and they make great gifts, too. Here’s a link to some solid copper mugs on Amazon.
Apple Cider Mule
This apple cider mule is festive and easy fall cocktail! This seasonal spin on the Moscow mule features cider and ginger beer.
- Prep Time: 3 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 3 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Poured
- Cuisine: Cocktails
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) vodka
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) apple cider
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice
- 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) ginger beer
- For the garnish: lime wedge, thyme sprig or apple slice, sprinkle of cinnamon
Instructions
- In a copper mug or glass, pour in the vodka, apple cider, and lime juice. Add the ginger beer.
- Add ice and garnish with a lime wedge and a thyme sprig or apple slice. If desired, sprinkle with a tiny hint of cinnamon. Serve immediately.
More apple cider drinks
Apple cider is great for fall themed drinks! Here are some of our favorite ways to make boozy apple cider drinks:
- Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail Pairs sweet cider with bourbon and lemon: the ideal fall or winter drink.
- Apple Cider Mimosa The perfect winter or fall brunch cocktail! Combine cider with champagne for a festive treat.
- Apple Cider Sangria This cozy drink lets you drink sangria all season! It pairs apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon.
- Apple Cider Slushie Easy to make and looks stunning: a frosty version of the tasty fall elixir.
- Mulled Cider or Hot Apple Cider Perfect for entertaining! Infused with spices, you can make it in a slow cooker or on the stove. Or go for a hot cocktail by making Spiked Cider.
This is a great cocktail! I made it tonight and it was so easy and delicious!