The Gin Mule - a combo of gin and ginger beer that's a little sweet, a little spicy and one of the easiest drinks you'll ever make. A variation of the traditional Moscow mule, this recipe is popular even among those who don't love gin!
And if you do love gin, you should really try this Gin and Ginger Ale cocktail that's flavored with lemon and mint!
Gin and Ginger Beer
It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of ginger beer. It's bright snappy flavor and subtle sweetness make it the perfect cocktail mixer. Plus, you get a lot of flavor for very little effort which is always a win in my book!
Low effort food and drinks are a favorite here at ACT. So it's probably no surprise that ginger beer drinks, like this riff on the original Moscow Mule, are on frequent rotation around here.
Which brings me to my new favorite... the Gin Moscow Mule!
What is a Gin Mule?
Gin and ginger beer, aka the Gin Mule or Gin Gin Mule, is a twist on the classic Moscow Mule recipe. The cocktail was created by Audrey Saunders of the Pegu Club. The drink is made with homemade ginger beer, lime juice, simple syrup, and gin.
Saunder's swapping gin for vodka was absolutely brilliant. The ginger highlights gin's citrus and spice botanicals and gives the drink a more complex flavor.
Gin Gin Mule Ingredients
- Gin - The best gin for a moscow mule IMO is one a traditional London Dry Gin like Sipsmith (my personal favorite!) or Tanqueray. Why? Simple. The flavors of a London Dry gin won't get lost and can stand up to the lime, ginger, and mint in the drink! Bonus points since you won't need to add another bottle of gin to your bar!
- Ginger Beer - Since ginger beer is a key ingredient in this cocktail, the type of ginger beer you use matters. You want one that has a good spicy kick to help balance all the other flavors. I used my favorite, Fever-Tree. If you're really ambitious, homemade ginger beer would be amazing in this drink. Please don't use ginger ale - it's doesn't have enough of a ginger kick for this cocktail!!
- Fresh lime juice - This drink has only a few ingredients so each one really does matter! Fresh lime juice tastes so much better than bottled so you definitely want fresh limes for this drink.
- Simple syrup - you may or may not need this - it all depends on how sweet your ginger beer is and how sweet you like your cocktail.
- Fresh mint leaves
- Garnish - lime wedge or slices and a mint sprig.
How to make a Moscow Mule with Gin
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the lime juice, mint leaves, and simple syrup together.
- Add the gin.
- Fill the shaker two thirds full with ice and shake for 10 seconds.
- Strain over ice into either a copper mug or a highball glass.
- Top off with the ginger beer.
- Garnish with lime wedges and a sprig of mint.
If shaking a cocktail makes you a little shaky - not to worry! I've got a video that walks you through the whole process!
Moscow Mule variations you may enjoy!
- Rum and Ginger Beer - aka a Rum Mule
- Tequila Mule - Reposado tequila makes this one sweet and smooth!
- Moscow Mule - Made with grapefruit vodka!
- Whiskey Mule - Jameson's and ginger beer!
- Kentucky Mule - Sweet and smooth bourbon with a little kick!
Gin Cocktails for all you gin lovers!
- Clover Club Cocktail - homemade raspberry syrup!
- Gin Fizz - a pomegranate twist on the classic
- Gin Gimlet - a modern take on the classic!
If you enjoyed this Gin Mule recipe, please give it a 5-star rating! Cheers, Nancy!
Gin Moscow Mule Recipe
Gin Mule
Equipment
- cocktail shaker
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ oz. gin
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- 1 lime wedge about ¼ of a lime
- 4 fresh mint leaves
- 3 oz. ginger beer
- 1 cup ice
Garnish:
- 1 lime wedge or lime slice
- 1 fresh mint sprig
Instructions
- In a shaker tin, combine the lime juice, simple syrup and mint leaves.
- Using a muddler or the back of a spoon, muddle the mint leaves by gently pressing on them.
- Add the gin.
- Fill the shaker tin about ⅔ full with ice.
- Top with the second tin and shake for 10 seconds.
- Strain into an ice filled copper mug or highball glass.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Gin - a good London dry gin is the best choice for this cocktail since it won't be overwhelmed by the ginger beer! I used Sipsmith, but use any London dry gin you have or enjoy.
- Ginger Beer - I used Fever Tree which is my favorite ginger beer, but use any ginger beer that you enjoy.
- Fresh lime juice - this cocktail is so simple that you really notice the difference between fresh lime juice and bottled.
- Simple syrup (opitional). Depending upon the ginger beer you use and how sweet you like your cocktails, you may not need to add any. If you do, Simple Syrup is really easy to make. Just combine equal amounts of granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Continue to boil just until the sugar dissolves. Let cool and then store in the refrigerator if not using immediately.
- Serving Tips: This is a great cocktail to serve for a party since they are so easy to make. If you want to make the process even easier, you could mix up the gin, lime juice and mint leaves a few hours ahead of time and then just measure it into a moscow mule mug or an Old Fashioned glass. Add ice and then top off with the ginger beer.
Valentina says
Sounds delicious! Nancy, your cocktail glass collection is as pretty as the drinks you make!