Kentucky Mule

Why We Love This Recipe

• Bourbon-forward: Bourbon doesn't always get a chance to shine in cocktails, but this cocktail definitely bucks the trend, with a strong bourbon-forward flavor. Speaking of bucks, this cocktail is classified as a buck, which are cocktails that contain ginger ale or ginger beer.
• Easy to make: Just add everything to a cocktail shaker, shake, pour, and top with ginger beer.
• Fun spin on a classic: We're huge fans of mules, like this Tequila Mule or our Cranberry Moscow Mule, and this Kentucky mule is another spin on a classic Moscow mule.

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make a Kentucky Mule:

Ingredient Notes

• Which type of bourbon to use: To qualify as bourbon, a whiskey must contain at least 51% corn in its mash and be aged in charred oak barrels. We'd recommend using a mid-range bourbon like Maker's Mark, Michter's, or Four Roses. These will offer the best blend of taste and value, and are all $50 or under for a bottle. You could also use regular whiskey in a pinch, but it won't quite be a Kentucky mule.
• Ginger beer: We recommend using a lower sugar ginger beer if you can find it, since we opt to add a bit of orange juice and simple syrup to our cocktail, which adds more sweetness. The higher quality ginger beer, the better in this cocktail. We personally love Gosling's.
• Lime juice: This helps to provide that classic mule flavor, so we strongly recommend squeezing your limes fresh. We promise it's worth the effort!
• Orange juice: This is technically optional, but we just love bourbon and orange together. Freshly squeezed is always best, but good quality store bought is fine too. If you don't want to use it, swap with more lime juice.
• Simple syrup: Store bought or homemade is fine – it's just equal parts sugar and water heated in a saucepan until the sugar dissolves! You can also sub with agave or even maple syrup.

How to Make a Kentucky Mule

(1) Add bourbon, lime juice, simple syrup, and orange juice to a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice.

(2) Shake well and strain into a copper mug filled with ice.

(3) Top with ginger beer.

(4) Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a lime wedge. 

Expert Tips and FAQs

• Copper mug: A copper mug is the traditional flourish for a Mule, but it also helps to keep the drink super cold, making it even more refreshing.
• Garnishes: This Kentucky Mule looks fantastic served with a sprig of mint and a slice of lime.
• Don't shake or stir the ginger beer: To preserve the carbonation in the ginger beer, be sure to pour it out last, over the other ingredients.
• Freshly squeeze your juices: If you can, opt for freshly squeezed lime and orange juices for maximum flavor.
• Use a bourbon priced somewhere in the middle, which will offer the best blend of value and flavor.

More Cocktail Recipes to Enjoy

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