The Perfect Mule for Bourbon Drinkers

Everybody knows about the Moscow Mule. It’s been a fixture in American bars since it was first crafted in Los Angeles back in 1939. Not only does it have a distinctive taste, but its copper dimpled mug is a cultural icon.

But what if we told you that there’s a better mule cocktail – one you can craft in less than five minutes at home?

After crafting and drinking a Kentucky Mule, you won’t just believe us. You’ll become a Kentucky Mule fan too.

In simple terms, a Kentucky Mule is a Moscow Mule crafted with bourbon instead of vodka.

There’s no debate that the two drinks are similar. However, in our opinion, the Kentucky Mule is the superior cocktail.

We don’t know why bourbon combines splendidly with ginger beer. Then again, bourbon pairs well with most mixers. Ginger beer is no exception to this rule.

Fun Fact
Bourbon can be produced anywhere but it isn’t officially bourbon unless it’s produced in Kentucky.

You don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients to craft a Kentucky Mule. You probably have the following ingredients in your pantry and/or bar:

Essentially, you just need bourbon, ginger beer, lime and ice to craft a Kentucky Mule at home. However, you’ll also want some fresh mint for garnish. That being said. your Kentucky Mule will taste great with or without mint.

Don’t feel compelled to run to the liquor store to buy a special bottle of bourbon for this cocktail. Instead, you can and should use your favorite bourbon. There are no bad bourbon choices here!

We use Bulleit Bourbon due to its warm, rich flavors. This bourbon has a 45% ABV and a generous amount of rye in its mix.

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The first step in this recipe is to pour freshly squeezed lime juice into a Moscow Mule mug.

We use a miniature angled measuring cup for this step but you can use a jigger instead.

The second step is to measure the bourbon and ginger beer. We use a Japanese Jigger for this step to ensure accurate measurements and clean pours.

Buy a Japanese jigger from Amazon if you need a jigger or want an inexpensive upgrade.

The third step is to pour the bourbon and ginger beer into the Moscow Mule mug.

Pour these ingredients immediately upon measuring each.

The fourth step is to fill the copper mule mug with ice cubes and gently stir.

We use a metal straw to stir the cocktail but you can use a bar spoon instead.

Unless you’re as stubborn as a mule, consider experimenting with the following mule recipes to discover your favorite:

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Did you craft this cocktail? If so, please rate the recipe below.

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