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This classic moscow mule cocktail with a delicious Irish twist is refreshing, crisp, and served up in minutes. Whiskey lovers will enjoy this variation of the Moscow mule that features smooth Irish whiskey, spicy ginger beer, and bright citrus flavor.
If you want to try out other mule variations, check out our Mexican mule and cranberry Moscow mule. No matter what kind of cocktail you’re in the mood for, we have a great cocktail recipe for you.
Why this Irish Mule Recipe Works
- Simple ingredients and rich flavor profile.
- Just like the classic cocktail, but with a good old Irish whiskey.
- Quick and easy cocktail to have ready in minutes.
- Perfect cocktail not just on St Patrick’s Day, but any time of year.
Grab These Ingredients or Ingredients You Need
Here are the simple ingredients for this Irish Mule cocktail recipe. Most are pantry staples and easy (and affordable) to find in grocery stores. Jump down to the recipe card for exact measurements.
- Irish whiskey: Our favorite brand to use is Jameson Irish Whiskey, but any smooth Irish whiskey (or even American whiskey)
- Lime juice: Don’t skip the fresh squeezed lime juice. There are only 3 ingredients in this cocktail and fresh lime juice is key to a really good Irish Mule.
- Ginger beer: In terms of taste, ginger beer adds a bit of spice. Any quality ginger beer will work for this recipe. I used a light ginger beer for lower sugar and calories. The carbonation of the ginger beer adds a kick and spice to the finished drink.
- Garnishes: Mint sprig, lime wheel, or rosemary sprig
Pro tip: Make it the perfect drink for fall by using an orange-flavored Jameson and adding a simple syrup with seasonal ingredients like maple syrup and dried rosemary.
How to Make an Irish Mule
The full printable recipe is below, but let’s walk through the steps with some photos and a video so you have a clear idea of what to expect. This Irish Whiskey Mule is really easy and these step-by-step instructions will make sure they turn out every time.
Prepare a copper mug: Fill a copper mug (if you have one) with plenty of ice, either crushed or cubed. This recipe easily doubles, so divide it among the number of cups you have. Here are the copper mugs we use.
Pour and stir: Pour the whiskey and lime juice over the ice, giving everything a gentle stir to combine.
Top it off and garnish: Top it off with ginger beer to taste. Add more ice as needed and garnish it with a sprig of mint or rosemary, and a lime wedge. Cheers and enjoy!
VIDEO: Watch How to Make an Irish Mule
Recipe FAQs
The two most common substitutes for ginger beer in a Moscow Mule are ginger ale and club soda. Ginger ale adds the ginger flavor while club soda adds some fizz.
Although the name is deceiving, ginger beer doesn’t usually contain alcohol. It’s similar to root beer in that way. However, you can find spiked ginger beer if you want it, but I find mule cocktails to be plenty alcoholic.
Copper is a great conductor of temperature, so when an ice-cold Irish Mule is poured inside it takes on that temperature and keeps the drink cold longer. It’s not absolutely necessary to have, but the copper cup does add to the experience!
Recipe Variations
- Fresh ginger root: Grab this near the onion at the grocery store. It gives the drink a real ginger flavor to pair with ginger beer.
- Fresh rosemary leaves: While classic Moscow mule recipes always use fresh mint (and you still can), rosemary pairs really well with whiskey, too.
- Make it non-alcoholic: There are plenty of different brands of non-alcoholic whiskeys out there that you could easily substitute into this drink. One popular choice is Spiritless Kentucky 74.
- Kentucky mule: Swap the whiskey for bourbon.
- Make it seasonal: Use an orange-flavored Jameson and add a simple syrup with seasonal ingredients like maple syrup.
Moscow Mule Tips
- Serve them in a frosty copper mug. Not only do they look fancy, but it also helps keep them cold. We bought a set of 4 copper mule mugs from Amazon (affiliate links).
- Don’t add the ginger beer until right before serving. The ginger beer could go flat if you add it too early.
- Get fancy with your garnishes. This is part of the fun of the cocktail and really impresses guests with little to no effort.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
More Refreshing Cocktail Recipes
If you have leftover ginger beer, give this maple bourbon smash a go. It’s made with fresh muddled fruit and herbs, bourbon, and a splash of ginger beer.
One of our favorite cocktails is a margarita. Try a refreshing cucumber margarita then save this recipe for mango margaritas (frozen or on the rocks).
For some fall-inspired cocktails, give this apple cider sangria or cranberry apple sangria a try.
How to Make an Irish Mule
Save this Recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Irish whiskey (we used Jameson)
- 1- ounce fresh lime juice (Note 1)
- 3 ounces ginger beer or more to taste
- Mint leaves, lime wedge, or rosemary sprig to garnish
Instructions
- Fill a copper mug with crushed ice, nugget ice cubes, or full ice cubes (we like crushed).
- Pour the whiskey and lime juice on top and stir gently to combine.
- Top it off with ginger beer to paste. Add more ice as needed and garnish with fresh mint or rosemary, and a lime wedge. Serve right away.
- Note 1. Lime Juice. Don’t skip the fresh squeezed lime juice. There are only 3 ingredients in this cocktail and fresh lime juice is key to a really good Irish Mule.
Notes
- Fresh ginger root: Grab this near the onion at the grocery store. It gives the drink a real ginger flavor to pair with ginger beer.
- Fresh rosemary leaves: While classic Moscow mule recipes always use fresh mint (and you still can), rosemary pairs really well with whiskey, too.
- Make it non-alcoholic: There are plenty of different brands of non-alcoholic whiskeys out there that you could easily substitute into this drink. One popular choice is Spiritless Kentucky 74.
- Kentucky mule: Swap the whiskey for bourbon.
- Make it seasonal: Use an orange-flavored Jameson and add a simple syrup with seasonal ingredients like maple syrup.
Equipment
- Copper mug optional
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
