articles

Recipe Box: Blackberry Moscow Mule

☀️ A Refreshing Drink for a Hot Summer Day

By Kyrie Collins, Highlands Ranch-Parker-Castle Rock-Lone Tree Publisher August 23, 2016


Have you noticed that Moscow Mules are this summer's "it" drink? Two years ago, I hadn't even heard of Mules, but this year I'm seeing them — and their famous copper mugs — popping up everywhere.

Apparently, Mules have been around since the 1940s. John G. Martin had recently purchased Smirnoff, but Americans weren't too keen on vodka yet (one book even claimed "vodka" was Russian for "horrendous") and he couldn't sell it.

Martin complained to his friend and restaurant owner, Jack Morgan, who was having a similar problem with his supply of ginger beer. They mixed the two drinks with a bit of lemon and the rest, as they say, is history.

They are tasty, to be sure, and so refreshing on a hot summer afternoon! We've created a few different variations this season, but my very favorite is the blackberry version. Because blackberries.

Blackberry Moscow Mule

  • 8 oz ginger beer (or ginger ale if the flavor of ginger beer is too strong)
  • 1-2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz lime juice (fresh-squeezed preferably)
  • Fresh blackberries, muddled
  • Sliced limes (or lemons) for garnish

In a copper mug (or a regular glass mug if you must), stir together vodka and lime juice (simply omit the vodka for the non-alcoholic version). The lime is so important to balance out the sweetness of the berries and ginger beer... adds just the right amount of tartness!

Toss a handful of fresh blackberries into a small bowl and muddle them. That's just means mash them for a bit with a fork or spoon, but doesn't "muddle" sound fancy?

Add a couple of spoonfuls of the muddled berries to the mug, then fill with ice cubes and ginger beer. Garnish with a few fresh blackberries and a couple of lime slices. Serve and enjoy!