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The Irish mule is a tasty spin on the classic Moscow mule: just swap out vodka for Irish whiskey! The spicy finish makes it irresistibly refreshing.
Hey, Irish whiskey fans: here’s a refreshing way to use your bottle—the Irish mule! This spin on the classic Moscow Mule is bubbly and light, with a spicy whiskey finish. It’s a good intro drink to whiskey and a way to make any party more fun!
Even better: it couldn’t be easier to make: simply pour 3 ingredients into a glass. Now that’s our kind of cocktail (though we like craft cocktails too, of course). Here’s all about how to make this fun drink!
Ingredients in an Irish mule
The Irish mule is a whiskey-based spin on the Moscow mule, a classic cocktail invented in the 1940’s. When it was first invented, this drink may have been a ploy to sell vodka, ginger beer and copper mugs (according to this mule origin story). The mule is part of a family of cocktails called bucks: drinks made with ginger beer or ale, citrus juice, and liquor. So technically, a Moscow mule is a vodka buck, and an Irish mule is a whiskey buck!
Swap in Irish whiskey for vodka in the classic Moscow mule and you’ve got the Irish version! The ingredients in an Irish mule are:
- Irish whiskey
- lime juice
- Ginger beer
How to make an Irish mule (basic steps)
Making an Irish mule is as simple as pouring three ingredients into a glass: there’s really no technique or skills required. All you have to do is juice a lime: then pour! Here’s what to do:
- Pour 2 oz Irish whiskey, ½ oz lime juice, and 4 oz ginger beer into a copper mug or serving glass of your choice.
- Add ice and garnish with lime.
Best Irish whiskey & ginger beer for a mule
You can use any brand of Irish whiskey for an Irish mule. The nice thing about a mule is that there’s no requirement for top-notch liquor because the ginger beer and lime are pretty strong flavor-wise.
We used Jameson Irish whiskey, one of the most recognizable brands, but feel free to use your favorite brand. You can use up leftovers with more Irish whiskey cocktails like Irish coffee or an Irish sour.
For the ginger bee, we like to use Q Ginger Beer because it’s made with real ginger and comes in small cans that are the perfect size for drinks. You can also use up leftovers with ginger beer cocktails like El Diablo or a Floradora.
Why serve it in a copper mug
When you order a mule at a restaurant or bar, it’s usually served in a copper mug. You can serve it in any glass, of course—it’s still an Irish mule. But a solid copper mug is great for two reasons:
- Drinking out of ice cold copper brings another sensory element. The copper turns ice cold with the drink, giving another sensory element to a sip. You can really taste the difference!
- It’s tradition. Back in the 1940’s, the drink was originally served in a copper mug. The trend 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.
Irish Mule
The Irish mule is a tasty spin on the classic Moscow mule: just swap out vodka for Irish whiskey! The spicy finish makes it irresistibly refreshing.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 minutes
- Yield: 1 drink 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Poured
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 ounces (¼ cup) Irish whiskey
- ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice
- 4 ounces (½ cup) ginger beer
- For serving: ice, lime wedge, fresh mint
Instructions
- In a copper mug or glass, pour in the Irish whiskey, lime juice, and ginger beer.
- Add ice and garnish with a lime slice. Serve immediately.
More Moscow mules
There are lots of Moscow mule variations on the classic! Swap out the liquor and you have a totally new drink. Here are our favorites:
- A Mexican Mule stars the bite of the tequila with spicy ginger and zingy lime.
- The Mezcal Mule is a smoky spin.
- A Gin Gin Mule is a mashup of a bubbly Moscow mule and a minty Mojito.
- The Kentucky Mule is bubbly, bright and bold: with zingy lime and a spicy whiskey finish.
- A Dark and Stormy features dark rum in a highball glass.
- Try seasonal spins like the Watermelon Mule or Apple Cider Mule.
I love Irish Mules! They are so refreshing and perfect for a hot summer day.
I really enjoyed this Irish Mule recipe! It was so easy to make and tasted great!