We all seem to get so carried away with counting calories these days that half the time we feel guilty when eating and drinking the things we love. But no one should ever have to feel guilty when sipping on a Moscow Mule cocktail. I mean, this drink is something to savor, not fear, and that's part of the reason we came up with this Skinny Moscow Mule recipe. So just enjoy this great drink as we've taken care of those extra calories for you!

Compress Those Calories - The Skinny Moscow Mule

While it's not always been hugely popular since it was first concocted, the Moscow Mule has definitely enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in recent years and along with those funky copper mugs, it has become an essential part of the warm summer months. As soon as the temperatures start to rise, this is a drink that you are guaranteed to see drunk is bars and restaurants alike, and it's not uncommon to see it as a signature cocktail. However, in today's "calorie-conscious" society it has become vitally important to strike the right balance between treating yourself and maintaining a healthy diet. Many people find themselves constantly battling to maintain this balance, often feeling guilty when they do indulge and as a result don't enjoy these so called "treats." This just isn't right though. Why should you feel guilty for having a slice of homemade apple piece, or in the case of the Moscow Mule, a glass (or copper mug) full of your favorite drink? Oftentimes, a person will think that the only solution is simply to cut these indulgences out of their life completely, but as we are going to show you during this article, that doesn't have to be the case.

Where Do All of the Calories Come from in the Traditional Moscow Mule Recipe?

The traditional Moscow Mule, unlike many other cocktails that are prepared in bars up and down the country, is actually very simple to make and contains only a few core ingredients. These are: 1.5 fl oz of Vodka (96 calories), 3 fl oz of ginger beer (36 calories), 1 tsp of simple syrup (48 calories) and 1/4 fl oz of lime juice (2 calories), resulting in a grand total of 182 calories in a standard Moscow Mule measuring approximately 150 ml. 

It should be noted that the number of calories may vary slightly depending on the brand of vodka and ginger beer that you use to prepare the cocktail. To be able to cut down the total calorie count of your Moscow Mule cocktails, you first need to know the calorie content of each ingredient. 

The Classic Moscow Mule (182 Calories)

• Vodka - 1.5 ounces (96 calories)
• Ginger Beer - 3 ounces (36 calories)
• Simple Syrup - 1tsp (48 calories)
• Lime Juice - 0.25 ounce (2 calories)

While vodka is the biggest contributor to the calorie count, it is also the main ingredient and can have a significant impact upon the taste of the drink. It is therefore not advisable to "mess around" too much with your choice of vodka and stick to the premium brands, which include Smirnoff, Grey Goose and Stolichnaya vodka.

Ginger beer and the simple syrup that is traditionally used in the Moscow Mule CAN be substituted for a "lighter" alternative, which will bring down the overall calorie count of the drink. What we would recommend you do is simply swap the ginger beer for ginger ale; but not any old ginger ale - diet ginger ale! You'll usually be able to spot the difference between ginger beer and ginger ale without taking a swig of each, since ginger ale is usually much lighter in color. However, it's also lighter in terms of calories and there's many brands of diet ginger ale that contain no calories whatsoever! So just by making this swap, you can immediately lower the total number of calories by 36, but that's not all; it's often artificially sweetened too (although there are brands that don't use artificial sweetener), meaning you no longer need to add simple syrup.

Below are the resulting ingredients of a skinny Moscow Mule, and the total calories in each.

The Skinny Moscow Mule (98 Calories)

• Vodka - 1.5 ounces (96 calories)
• Diet Ginger Ale - 4 ounces (0 calories)
• Lime Juice - 0.25 ounces (2 calories)

This cuts the total number of calories down from 182 calories to 98; almost a 50 percent decrease!

Is the Technique Any Different When Mixing a Skinny Moscow Mule?

The only real changes relate to some of the ingredients, everything else, right down to the Moscow Mule copper mug (an essential feature when drinking this cocktail!), is left exactly the same as the traditional recipe. It should go a little like this:

1. Gather all ingredients (remember, these are: premium brand vodka, diet ginger ale, fresh lime, shredded ginger, lime wedge, mint leaves).
2. Add a pinch of shredded ginger to the mixing glass, before adding the vodka and lime juice.
3. Add ice to the mixing glass until it's full, before sealing and shaking vigorously for 20 - 30 seconds.
4. You should see some condensation form on the outside of the mixing glass, which should become very cold to the touch; these are indications your cocktail is ready.
5. Take your copper cup and fill with crushed ice.
6. Add the lime wedge to the lip of the cup, position a strainer over the top and then pour the contents of the mixing glass into this cup.
7. Last but not least, top up with your diet ginger ale and mix.

The Moscow Mule is the perfect way to help you relax after a hard week a work, and by using this recipe you can do so without having to worry about the consequences - at least as far as calories are concerned!