When I was in Lake Arrowhead with my boot camp group for Oktoberfest, I made my first ever Moscow Mule. I didn’t realize how crazy easy they were to make, as the copper mugs they are traditionally served in, always made them seem like some elusive, intimidating cocktail that only the hippest of bartenders could master.
But nope, all it is is some vodka, fresh squeezed lime and ginger beer. So easy to make that in fact it doesn’t seem all that special without the copper mug, and I even went as far as throwing my own Moscow Mule into a Powerade bottle and smuggle it into Oktoberfest. It was a wild group of girls, and I was a much more daring version of myself for 36 hours. I even competed in a sauerkraut eating competition. Anywayyyyyssss…
How to Make Apple Cider Moscow Mules
Back to the mules.
To give them a seasonal twist, I swapped the lime juice for the apple juice, and added some fun cinnamon and apple garnish. This version is just as easy to make as the original, and can be made for single servings or in a big batch, as I did on Halloween night. 
You can use either unfiltered, not from concentrate apple juice, as that always has a stronger flavor than regular apple juice, or you can use actually apple cider, but don’t use sparkling apple cider, since you’ll already be getting fizz from the ginger beer. 
You can also infuse your vodka with ginger for an added punch, by adding a good knuckle size peeled knob of ginger to a mason jar full of vodka, and let it sit over night. If you have a juicer, you can also juice some ginger and add that to the cocktail shaker for am enhanced ginger flavor.
I made a batch where I added the ginger beer to the whole mix, and that was a rookie mistake. It tastes much better if you add the ginger on top right before serving, and then you can stir things around a bit with your cinnamon swizzle stick.Moscow Mule Garnish
Cinnamon sticks can be found on the cheap in the Mexican food aisle in any major grocery store, by the way. Feel free to slice your apples or use a peeler for an apple “twist.” Whatever you do though, make sure you drink these slow, because they’ll kick you with a punch after downing one too quickly, they go down that smooth.
Where to Get the Copper Mug
By the way, I got my Moscow Mule Mugs
on Amazon and they were about $10 cheaper last week when I ordered them, and now I see they’ve jumped up in price. They’re still a fair price at $51 for a package of 4 16 ounce mugs, but I hear Target has them for $10 a piece, not sure what size they are. I searched around though, and these seemed to be the average going rate. The mugs don’t change the flavor of the drink, obviously, but they make it more fun and festive for sure.
Apple Cider Moscow Mules
Ingredients
- 4 ounces of apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
- 4 ounces of vodka preferably infused with ginger *see note in text
- 2 ounce splash of ginger beer
- ice cinnamon stick and apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- Mix the ice, vodka and apple cider in a cocktail shaker and mix vigorously. Pour over ice in a mule mug, and top with a heavy splash of ginger beer. Garnish with cinnamon stick and apple slice.
- To make this for a large party, pour equal parts vodka, about 1/2 pint, and apple cider in a beverage container. Mix with ice, and when ready to serve, simply pour mix over individually cups of ice, and then top with ginger beer. Do not add ginger beer to large batch of vodka/apple cider. Leave a tray of garnishes out and allow guests to top off their own.
Karri says
DEFINATELY making these for thanksgiving!!
But as a long-standing, avid Moscow Mule (and other Mules of sorts) drinker, I need to point out that they have lime, not lemon, in them 😉
As far as the copper mug, I did ask a local bartender about them and he said the reason they are used is threefold: 1) the copper oxidizes when the vodka hits it, boosting the smell, 2) copper increases the bubbles, 3) it makes it instantly cold and the handle keeps it away from your body, keeping it cold.
Whether these are true, I have no clue…..
Karri says
DEFINITELY making these for thanksgiving!!
But as a long-standing, avid Moscow Mule (and other Mules of sorts) drinker, I need to point out that they have lime, not lemon, in them 😉
As far as the copper mug, I did ask a local bartender about them and he said the reason they are used is threefold: 1) the copper oxidizes when the vodka hits it, boosting the smell, 2) copper increases the bubbles, 3) it makes it instantly cold and the handle keeps it away from your body, keeping it cold.
Whether these are true, I have no clue…..
gravatar.com says
Quite informative article. Loved to read it.
Leslie Padgett says
Hi Andrea! Thanks for the inspiration on these. Making them tomorrow night for a little party 🙂 Have a great weekend, and Happy Thanksgiving to you guys!!
Kathryn says
This was an excellent post day of projects drink, even without the mug 🙂 Thanks!
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Susie Weinrich says
Totally making these this weekend.. and probably for thanksgiving too. great idea!
Tawnie says
My family is going to love this drink!
Emily Bruno says
THanks for reminding me that i bought copper mugs last year- need to bust them out now that i have a recipe!