3 simple ingredients, 1 perfect cocktail (part 3)

Another week, another cocktail recipe! If you've been keeping up with our easy-to-make cocktails, Everything On Tap hopes you've been enjoying them. As the back-to-school season draws closer, the workload of everyday life begins to mount. That's why making cocktails simpler should be a must! Not only is the Moscow Mule easy to make, but it's also the perfect fall drink. It packs just enough of a spice kick to warm you up.

When I first started going out to the bar, I had no idea what to order. I had ordered a Moscow Mule before and it seemed like a safe drink to stick with. I, like several other people I know, was immediately hooked by the welcoming ginger kick of the Mule.

The Mule was one of the first drinks I learned how to make at home. They were just so darn easy to make. Since I started drinking mules at home, I have gotten much better at making them. Luckily for you, I'm willing to share my secrets on the art of making the perfect mule! Since I've put a lot of effort into the mule-making process, this cocktail holds a bit of nostalgia for me.

I have a geeky passion for the history of cocktails. I hope most of you do too. The Moscow Mule has an interesting one. Although the story remains murky, there are a lot of parts that have stayed the same.

John Martin decided to make a risky business venture in the 1930s; purchasing Smirnoff for $14,000. He hoped his vodka gamble would pay off because, at the time, Americans were drinking mostly whiskey and beer. They didn't love the vodka, therefore the gamble didn't pay off for him.

Meanwhile, Martin's friend, John Morgan, owned a bar. He had just launched his own brand of ginger beer. However, he and his bartenders were having a very difficult time selling it in his bar. That is until Sophie Berezinski walked into the bar one unsuspecting day.

She had her own sad story. She had just immigrated to America, from Russia, with 2,000 copper mugs to sell, with no buyers. She had no luck selling the mugs in America. Here was where the idea of the Moscow Mule was born. The vodka, the ginger beer, and the copper mugs. Together. There was an idea to combine the three. Together, this random assortment of failures created a drink that would be served in bars all over the world.

While Moscow Mules are traditionally made with vodka, you can interchange the liquor with one of your choosing. As the liquor changes, so does the name of the mule cocktail. For example, with whiskey, it's a Kentucky Mule, and with tequila, it's a Mexican Mule.

Using Sophie Berezinski's copper mugs is the traditional way to serve a Moscow Mule. If you don't have one, I won't judge you for using what you have! Aside from using the copper mug, there isn't any other equipment needed to make this simple drink. Let's dive in!

Recipe:
2oz vodka
1oz lime juice
ginger beer

Directions:
Add vodka and lime juice to copper mug
Add ice to top
Fill mug with ginger beer
Garnish with lime wedge if desired