Moscow Mule Variations: 25 Twists on the Classic Recipe

These Moscow Mule variations are served in copper mugs! Change up the traditional cocktail with one of these 25 recipes you’ll have to try.

The Moscow Mule cocktail is such a popular cocktail! Why? It’s delicious. But also it’s snappy with a bit of spice, and doesn’t require any special tools or shaking. Just mix it and drink!

Since a mule is usually served in a chilled copper mug, it’s refreshingly cold and makes a great party or summer drink. Having said that, you will see people drinking them in fall as well.

As you will see from the first recipe on this list, the traditional Moscow Mule is made with vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.

Some recipes also list simple syrup in the drink for people who may like it a bit sweeter. Due to its popularity, bartenders have come up with numerous variations on the classic drink.

Common Ways to Change Up a Mule

Most variations of the Moscow Mule will do one of the following:

Add to the recipe. Since the base recipe has three ingredients, there are many things you can add to it for additional flavor.
Swap out the vodka. Whatever your favorite spirit, you can bet there’s a recipe that replaces the vodka in the classic mule recipe with your fave.
Swap out the lime juice. There are variations that stay close to the original recipe by using another citrus fruit. However, you can really replace it with any fruit juice.

What can I use instead of ginger beer in a Moscow Mule?

A less common way to vary the recipe is to swap out the ginger beer. For it to still be a mule you would need to replace both the bubbly and the strong kick of ginger. Ginger ale is going to be your desired substitution.

This can be a tough replacement because the beer really gives the mule cocktail its signature bubbly spice! I’d try the ginger ale, but otherwise I’d just select another cocktail.

Now that you know about how to vary the classic recipe, you can have fun making up your own versions. Get some inspiration by checking out the 25 popular mule drink variations I’ve collected for you below.