Whether you heard about the Moscow Mule when you were out with your friends one night, or you saw it featured on Oprah (Yeah, Oprah confessed to absolutely loving this drink), it needs to be made just right if you are going to enjoy it as much as J G. Martin and Jack Morgan did the first time it was prepared all the way back in 1941. Do you even know what's in it? Don't worry if not, as we're going to show you the way during the course of this article, and we're not even going to charge you for our wisdom! You'll learn about all the ingredients needed to make this delicious drink, which you can then enjoy again and again for the rest of your life (remember to always drink responsibly though!).

The Ingredients: Getting it Right

The Moscow Mule isn't exactly the most complex cocktail that you'll ever attempt to make; in fact it's probably amongst the easiest. There are only four ingredients. I mean how hard can it be to mix just four ingredients! These are:

• Vodka (2 ounces usually works best)
• Ginger Beer (minimum of 6 ounces, but you can use more if you want!)
• Quarter of a Lime
• Ice

Vodka: Which Should You Use?

If you've been to the nearest liquor store recently you're probably well aware that there are now a lot more brands of vodka (Yeah, J G. Martin brought vodka to the US and paved the way for others to follow!) than there was back in 1941, when people turned their noses up at this drink and drank whiskey or gin instead. Technically, you can use absolutely any type of vodka to make a Moscow Mule, and don't be surprised if the vodka used to make the cocktail at a bar is a cheaper "alternative" to Smirnoff; that's just bars trying to maximize their profits (there is a recession on after all!). However, at least for the first time, we would recommend sticking with Smirnoff vodka to get the taste of the original Moscow Mule.

Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale?

Sometimes people get a little mixed up with the ginger beer, using ginger ale instead, thinking they are just two different names for the same thing. While they are both classed as non-alcoholic drinks (ginger beer's alcoholic content is less than 0.5%), ginger beer is brewed, meaning it has gone through the process of fermentation, whereas ginger ale is simply carbonated water that has been flavored with ginger. These lines have become blurred in recent years though owing to the fact that some of the major soda companies now use the brewing or the carbonated water method for both ginger beer and ginger ale. You can usually tell the two apart by looking at them, as ginger ale is typically much lighter than ginger beer. Then, of course, there's the difference in taste; ginger beer has a much more robust, spicier taste, while ginger ale is much milder. To answer the question typed at the start of this section, it's most certainly ginger beer that you should be using to prepare your Moscow Mule, and going along the same lines as the vodka suggestion, we would recommend going with Rocky Mountain Soda Company ginger beer for the perfect mix.

Lime? I Thought It Was Lemon?

In many of the accounts of the night that the Moscow Mule was "created" it was a freshly squeezed lemon that was used, not lime, but the truth is it doesn't seem to matter which you use. Most recommend using lime juice; just make sure it is freshly squeezed. This ingredient plays off the ginger and gives the drink its tanginess.

Crushed or Cubed?

We'll keep this bit brief (since there's not really anything to say anyway); you should serve with crushed ice.

Don't Forget to Serve in Those Special Copper Mugs for Moscow Mules

No matter how well you prepare this cocktail it just wouldn't be complete without a Moscow Mule copper mug! Why is this drink even served in copper mugs? Back when it was promoted and sold for the first time, the Moscow Mule was always served in copper cups, which means:

• You have to serve your Moscow Mule in a copper mug because it's tradition! Even better get it in a classic engraved mug
• You'll notice how the copper mug keeps your cocktail cold for a long period of time, which is actually really nice if it's the middle of summer and you've got beads of sweat running down your forehead!
• It's supposed to be good for your health to drink from a copper mug! Apparently it helps to slow down the ageing process, eliminates harmful bacteria and stops viruses in their tracks. That sure does give you a good reason to keep knocking back the Moscow Mules!