Summer has finally arrived, bringing sunny days and warm nights perfect for gathering with friends or relaxing at the end of the day with a cold cocktail. When the temperature rises, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your drink stays cool and refreshing, whether by adding extra ice or drinking out of a naturally chilled copper cup. While the Moscow Mule is the classic copper mug beverage, there are a few popular, equally delicious alternatives to this favorite cocktail that all Moscow Mule drinkers should know.

Refreshing and Delicious Summer Alternatives to the Moscow Mule

While few drinks can beat the particular mix of spice and sweet that the Moscow Mule perfected, both the Kentucky Mule and the Jamaican Mule also utilize ginger beer, giving them a unique tang. The buck, or mule, family of cocktails refers to any drink that pairs ginger ale or ginger beer and citrus juice with a variety of liquors. The main difference between different types of mule mixed drinks is the type of liquor used as a base. While the classic Moscow Mule recipe calls for vodka, and was in fact one of the main reasons vodka became popular in North America, other mule drinks use rum, gin, whisky, tequila, or even brandy—ginger beer can be a great complement to any liquor!

Use Rum to Make a Jamaican Mule

Switch it up with a Jamaican Mule. This drink can also be called a Rum Buck, a Caribbean Mule, or a Barbados Buck depending on the type of rum used. Light rum mules are known as Shanghai Bucks. Usually served in a Collins glass, this tropical alternative also tastes great in a copper mug. Here’s the recipe:

• 2 shots of rum,
• ½ shot of freshly squeezed lime juice,
• ½ shot sugar syrup (2 parts sugar, 1 part water),
• and fill the glass up with alcoholic or non-alcoholic ginger beer.

While most of the original recipes for Jamaican Mules call for Appleton’s Extra Estate rum, most versions today suggest a spiced rum to enhance the flavor of the ginger beer. Other favorite Jamaican rums include Blackwell Rum and J. Wray and Nephew. Jamaican Mules give the drink a slightly sweeter taste compared to that of the Moscow Mule, which is similar to that of a Dark ‘N’ Stormy—a rum and ginger beer mixed drink without lime juice. The Jamaican Mule is great when paired with fish, spicy jerk chicken, or jambalayas.

Use Bourbon to Make a Kentucky Mule

The Kentucky Mule uses bourbon whiskey instead of vodka. Fill a glass or copper mug with ice and you’re ready to go! Although there are many variations, this is the basic formula:

• 1 ½ ox bourbon whiskey,
• 1 splash lime juice,
• A bundle of mint leaves,
• Ginger beer to the top of the glass, and
• A lime wedge for garnish.

The Kentucky Mule is a distinctly American twist on the classic Moscow, making it the perfect cocktail to serve at your Memorial Day or Fourth of July celebrations. Make it all the more true to its name by using a bourbon distilled in Kentucky like Maker’s Mark or Wild Turkey. The bourbon whiskey gives the cocktail a smoky or even oaky dimension if it was aged in oak barrels. A toasty drink that is best sipped while sitting by a bonfire, the Kentucky Mule is also great as a palette cleanser between courses. Southern fare is the perfect pairing for the Kentucky Mule, including baby back ribs, bacon on anything, cheese grits, smoked corn, and more.

Use Vodka to Make the Classic Moscow Mule

The drink that started it all, the Moscow Mule has been a popular drink since it was first invented in the 1940s. The Moscow Mule calls for vodka, lime juice, simple syrup, a dash of bitters, and ginger beer. The vodka gives the Moscow Mule a light and crisp finish, its simple flavors bringing out the sour lime and spicy ginger. Since it’s such a versatile drink, the Moscow Mule can be served to accompany a wide variety of dishes and snacks including Italian foods like pizza and pastas for an entrée and mozzarella if you’re thinking of assembling a cheese platter.

While the base liquor varies across these summery cocktails, the ginger beer is what gives all of them that extra kick. Ginger beers can be either alcoholic or non-alcoholic. Some of the best brands include Fever Tree, the Ginger People, Gosling’s, River City, Reed’s, and Q Ginger Beer.

Whether you’ll be savoring a Jamaican, Moscow, or Kentucky Mule this summer—or a different type of mule for each day of the week—you’ll be sure to enjoy every sip of these spicy and refreshing warm-weather cocktails.