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A Nerd Cooks » Cocktails » Moscow Mules

Kentucky Mule

Nov 9, 2014 · Modified: May 21, 2021 by Lauren Pacek · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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The Kentucky Mule is the official cocktail of Fall in my house. They're spicy and sweet, but not too sweet. It's a fun and delicious riff on the classic Moscow Mule cocktail.

Need more Moscow Mule recipes? Try my Cranberry Moscow Mule and Pumpkin Pie Mule!

Jump to:
  • 🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • 💭 What is a Kentucky Mule?
  • 📝 Ingredients
  • 🔀 Substitutions or Variations
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a Kentucky Mule
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 🔗 More Moscow Mule recipes
  • ✨ Recipe
  • Kentucky Mule

🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe

It's sweet and spicy. Sweet apple cider and spicy ginger beer play very well together.
It's so easy to make. Can you pour a few ingredients into a mug? Then you can totally make this drink.
This is the perfect drink for Fall. Bourbon, ginger beer, and apple cider come together to make the perfect Fall drink in a copper mug.

💭 What is a Kentucky Mule?

A classic Moscow Mule (which interestingly was invented in the U.S., rather than Russia) is made from vodka, lime juice, and ginger beer. It's typically served in a distinctive copper mug.

A Kentucky Mule, on the other hand, is a delicious riff on the classic cocktail. The Kentucky Mule swaps bourbon for the vodka and adds sweet and seasonal apple cider.

The "Kentucky" aspect of this drink is the bourbon. The state is known for bourbon production; 95% of the world's bourbon is produced in Kentucky!

I generally make them make them individually, but this would be an easy drink to make in larger quantities and serve in a pitcher. Perfect for parties! Seriously, as soon as apple cider shows up in the grocery store, it's a safe bet that I'm making and drinking these.

📝 Ingredients

This cocktail only requires four ingredients. They're described below. See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

  • Bourbon: Bourbon is a uniquely American product. It's a type of whiskey that, by law, must be made in the U.S. from at least 51% corn, and must be aged in new charred oak barrels.
  • Apple cider: Make sure that you're grabbing apple cider and not apple juice. Though it's most prevalent in the Fall and Winter months, you can usually find apple cider in your grocery store all year round.
  • Lime juice: Freshly squeezed, please!
  • Ginger beer: Ginger beer is a non-alcoholic, carbonated beverage that's sweet, spicy, and full of ginger flavor. Different brands vary in terms of sweetness and spiciness, so try a few to find what you like best. I'm a Fever Tree kinda gal (though Goslings and Bundaberg are often in my fridge, as well).
  • Garnish: Garnishes are always optional, but I think a thin slice of apple looks really nice when perched on the edge of your copper mug. Bonus: it's a little snack.

🔀 Substitutions or Variations

  • Use flavored vodka. Use caramel-flavored vodka instead of bourbon to make a really tasty Caramel Apple Moscow Mule.
  • Omit apple cider. If you leave out the apple cider, you'll have a delicious Bourbon Mule.
two copper mugs with kentucky mules

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make a Kentucky Mule

Moscow Mules are built in the glass out of which you'll drink them, so there's minimal cleanup involved (I'm always a fan of this).

Start by filling your copper mug (or whatever you plan on drinking out of) with ice. I tend to favor crushed ice for mules, but use whatever you like. You can see that I went with bullet ice in the photos. It's all good.

Pour the apple cider, lime juice, and bourbon over the ice. Top everything off with ginger beer and give it all a gentle stir.

two copper mugs with kentucky mules

If you're feeling fancy (and let's be honest, you are), garnish your drink with a thin slice of apple. I like to cut it so that you can see the star shape where the apple seeds live in the apple core. Just make sure to discard the seeds.

two copper mugs with kentucky mules

❓ Recipe FAQs

Can I use ginger ale instead of ginger beer?

Yes, but then the drink won't be a Mule. It will, however, still be delicious.

What is the best bourbon to use in a Kentucky Mule?

In short, whatever you like! I often use Bulleit bourbon in my mules, but you should try a few and see what you like.

Can I make a bigger batch of this drink?

Sure! I'd recommend mixing a larger batch of the apple cider, lime juice, and bourbon (just scale the amounts up according to however many drinks that you want to make). Then, you can pour this into each individual glass and top them off with the ginger beer.

🔗 More Moscow Mule recipes

You need more mules in your life, I just know it.

  • two copper mugs with cranberry moscow mules
    Cranberry Moscow Mule
  • collage image for 20 delicious moscow mule recipes roundup
    Delicious Moscow Mule Recipes
  • two Irish Mule cocktails in copper mugs on a gray background
    Irish Mule
  • two copper mugs full of pumpkin pie moscow mules
    Pumpkin Pie Moscow Mule
two copper mugs with kentucky mules

I'd love to know what you thought of this recipe! Don't forget to leave a comment and ⭐️ star rating below!

✨ Recipe

two copper mugs with kentucky mules

Kentucky Mule

Lauren Pacek
The Old Kentucky Moscow Mule is the official cocktail of Fall in my house.  They're spicy and sweet, but not too sweet.
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Inactive Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Moscow Mules
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 284 kcal

Equipment

  • Cocktail jigger
  • Copper mugs

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ounces bourbon
  • 3 ounces apple cider
  • 3 ounces ginger beer
  • ½ lime juiced
  • apple slice for garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

  • In a copper mug over ice, add the bourbon, apple cider, ginger beer, and lime juice. Stir gently.
  • Garnish the mug with a thin apple slice, if you're feeling fancy.

Notes

  • Make sure to use apple cider rather than apple juice

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 284kcalCarbohydrates: 49gProtein: 1gSodium: 13mgFiber: 5gSugar: 40g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Comments

    5 from 6 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Elsie S. Stewart

    October 28, 2022 at 5:59 pm

    I tried this recipe and it's really good. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to try the recipe.
     

    Reply
    • laurenpacek

      October 28, 2022 at 6:37 pm

      Thank you so much, Elsie!!

      Reply
  2. Anne|Craving Something Healthy

    October 07, 2018 at 1:23 am

    I just recently discovered Mule drinks and I'm so in love with them! Can't wait to try this variation and your others!

    Reply
    • laurenpacek

      October 09, 2018 at 7:47 pm

      They're one of my favorites! (as if you couldn't tell 😉 ) I hope you love them all.

      Reply
  3. Melissa

    October 04, 2018 at 12:51 am

    5 stars
    Sounds delicious! I love mules in general, and I love the sound of one with cider. And totally agree on the Fever Tree, that stuff is so good. This may be my new fall drink.

    Reply
  4. Melissa

    October 04, 2018 at 12:51 am

    5 stars
    Sounds delicious! I love mules in general, and I love the sound of one with cider. And totally agree on the Fever Tree, that stuff is so good. This may be my new fall drink.

    Reply
  5. bluecrabmartini

    November 14, 2014 at 8:37 pm

    I've shared this as my "Friday Happy Hour" feature this week! I know my readers will love it too 🙂

    Reply
    • A_Nerd_Cooks

      November 15, 2014 at 1:20 pm

      Aw, that is awesome, thank you! I hope they love it as much as I do.

      Reply
  6. Amy (Savory Moments)

    November 11, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    What a fantastic fall drink this is! I love the flavors in it and will definitely need to give it a try.

    Reply
    • A_Nerd_Cooks

      November 11, 2014 at 12:24 pm

      Hi Amy! I hope you love it as much as I do!

      Reply
  7. Chelsea @ A Duck's Oven

    November 10, 2014 at 8:53 am

    First of all, that background is fantastic! I'm really excited to make something like that once I'm back in the US. It looks so good! Second of all, your pictures are gorgeous! Third of all, I love and adore this cocktail recipe. These flavors are right up my alley!

    Reply
    • A_Nerd_Cooks

      November 10, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Thank you (x3)!! Not sure how readily available apple cider etc. is in SA, but if you get to try this out, I hope you love it!

      Reply
  8. bluecrabmartini

    November 09, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! What a great drink for this time of year. I'm totally digging your new DIY back drop too. Definitely in need of some new photo props myself, so I'm headed over to check out the tutorial you suggested.

    Reply
    • A_Nerd_Cooks

      November 10, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Thank you!! The backdrop tutorial is so easy. Can't wait to make a few more!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Lauren! I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer here at A Nerd Cooks. I'm a 30-something wife, mom, and scientist with a passion for mixing cocktails, brewing buzzy coffee drinks, and making other delicious beverages at home.

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