If you don’t have a copper cup then stop right now and go out and buy one. If you are going to have a Moscow mule then you should really do it right, and I think there is a real difference in how the drink tastes without the cup. This is a great drink any time of year, but a must-have in the warm summer months. Now, you’ll notice as time goes on that the taste varies of vodka and ginger beer. I use Tito’s vodka and Cock ‘n Bull ginger beer, but you can experiment or use your go-to vodka. Ginger beer is non-alcoholic, so you could just have that and fresh lime juice if you don’t want the alcohol. We’ve also experimented and you’ll see it widely available in flavored vodka as well, such as cucumber, peach, pear, blueberry, and more. These are great too, however, some of them get a little sweet tasting for me. I’d rather have the flavor and spice of the ginger beer come through strongly. Once you have a few and you visit a bar that wants to give you the Moscow Mule in a glass, you’ll say stop! I’ll have some whiskey instead.

Here’s all you need to make a Moscow mule:

• 1/2 ounce of fresh lime juice
• 2 ounces of good quality vodka
• 4 to 6 ounces of good quality spicy ginger beer (not ginger ale as it’s almost too sweet)
• slice of lime for garnish
• 1/2 ounce of Cointreau which is an orange-flavored liqueur (optional)
• 3 to 4 ice cubes
• a small drink straw to stir

Put the ice cubes in the copper mug and then squeeze the fresh lime juice over the ice. Add the rest of the ingredients to the mug, stir, add the garnish, and let it sit for a few minutes so that all of the ingredients have a chance to mingle in the cup.

Then get ready for a wonderful, refreshing drink!

Enjoy!