The resurgence of the venerable Moscow Mule has been pretty well documented over the past couple of years. Some attribute this renewed interest in a classic cocktail to better economic times and to be sure, there may be something to that theory. But others scan the cocktail horizon and see different forces at work. Perhaps chief among them is the discovery that, in the hands of a talented mixologist, the Mule can be made to serve an almost unlimited number of flavor masters. As a result Moscow Mule variations have proliferated like nukes during the Cold War and now include:

• The Cherry Mule
• The Blueberry Mule
• The Mediterranean Mule
• The Cider Mule
• The Apple Jack Mule
• The Summer Melon Mule
• The Pirate Mule
• The Tuaca Mule
• The Cranberry Vanilla Mule

and about a dozen more delicious, refreshing variations that will send your party guests to cocktail nirvana. Today though we’re here to talk about 1 variation in particular that has recently come to our attention and has earned a post of its own for the OMG qualities of its flavor and its sheer imaginative boldness. That, of course, would be the Moscow Mule with tequila, commonly known as the Mexican Mule.

The South of the Border Boldness of the Moscow Mule with Tequila

A traditional Moscow Mule is composed of vodka, lime juice, ginger beer and ice with a slice of lime all served in a chilled copper mug. For this Mexican variation things are switched up a bit with tequila being used instead of vodka and jalapeno slices instead of lime. That’s right, jalapeno slices. Sure, there are Mexican Mule recipes out there now that still call for lime but we’re going for something bolder, more in keeping with the saucy tradition of the Mexican kitchen. We’re also going to throw in a splash of triple sec just because we love what it brings to the table and, well, because we can.

“Is that it?” you say? Of course not. Our real aim here is to provide you with a way to create separation between your Mexican Mule recipe and the rest of the mule team and to do that we’re going to add one more twist to the recipe that will provide your Mexican Mule with the kind of truly distinctive edge no one expects. Can you guess how we’re going to do that? Well, if you said homemade ginger beer you’d be right on the money.

Making Your Own Ginger Beer

When you make your own ginger beer you get a much more authentic flavor experience. The true aromatic properties of ginger that can often be diluted in commercially available versions of the drink are there to enjoy in all their full, fizzy glory. In addition you can play with the recipe amounts to create the exact taste sensation you’re after. Here’s our recipe for a homemade ginger beer that will take your Moscow Mule with tequila to the next level. Keep in mind that you’ll need to make this several days in advance of when you intend to use it. So if you’re having guest over on Saturday you’ll want to make this ideally on Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday at the latest.

What you’ll need:

• 1.5 liters of spring water
• ½ cup refined sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• A dash of salt
• 1 teaspoon of dry yeast
• ⅓ cup lemon or lime juice

Now that you’ve got everything together let’s make some ginger beer for our Mexican Mule.

• Pour half the spring water into a large saucepan with the sugars and the dash of salt and bring to a boil.
• Stir until sugars are completely dissolved then remove from the heat and add the remaining water and ⅓ cup of lemon juice. Stir until thoroughly blended.
• Cover and let stand at room temperature for 2 or 3 hours.
• Then place in refrigerator until cool (not cold).
• Remove from refrigerator and use a fine strainer to add the yeast. Blend thoroughly.
• Pour the results into an empty water bottle or bottles, leaving at least a couple of inches of empty space at the top of the bottle or bottles.
• Store at room temperature for 2 days. Loosen the cap from time to time to release pressure built up from the fermentation process. (Do so slowly so the cap doesn’t explode like a champagne cork)
• After 2 days place it in the refrigerator to stop the fermentation process. It should keep in the fridge for up to a week before you’ll need to make a new batch.

Once you’ve mastered the art of homemade ginger beer you’ll never want to go back to store bought brands. The zing it will add to your Mexican Mule recipe will be the secret ingredient every one of your guests will be trying to put their fingers on. Use it for your Moscow Mules as well and watch your guest’s eyes light up as the natural carbonation dazzles their taste buds.

Enjoy!

Once you get a taste of our Mexican Mule recipe complete with homemade ginger beer and triple sec you’ll wonder how you ever threw a party without it. Be warned though, your guests will be bombarding you with recipe requests so if you want to protect your secret just leave out the part about the homemade ginger beer.

You’ll find the Moscow Mule with tequila is a 4-season drink as well. It’s perfect to have at your side on those sizzling summer afternoons on the deck or by the pool, and in the dead of winter it’s the ideal way to help take the chill off of guests arriving for the big holiday get together.

Enhance your social events with our one of a kind Mexican mule recipe and leave the everyday cocktail for others. Just make sure you respect the authenticity of the Mule family of drinks by serving them in beautiful, timeless copper mugs. If you don’t have any, Paykoc carries a full line at prices that will probably surprise you.

Own a bar or restaurant and want to use this recipe? Sign up for our wholesale program and we can get you discount glassware or Copper Mugs for a fraction of the price.