This Bourbon Mule is a great twist on one of my favorite cocktails! Like the original, it’s super refreshing and ridiculously easy to make.
If you’re a bourbon fan, you’ll love this 4-ingredient cocktail whose flavors can be modified easily with fresh herbs and bitters. I’ve tried all the Moscow Mule recipes and this one is perfect for serving at parties or sipping one at the end of a long day.
Kentucky Bourbon Mule Recipe
Classic Moscow Mules are delish. Ginger beer is my jam and I love how refreshing these drinks are. And the fresh lime juice also makes my heart and mouth happy.
This version with bourbon is excellent! The flavors work so well together that you’ll wonder why you didn’t try this easy bourbon cocktail sooner!
*Note: These are sometimes called Kentucky Mules, you know, because a lot of bourbon comes from Kentucky.
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Why This Recipe Works
Bourbon is so hot right now. Not, like temperature hot. But, like, hipster-y hot.
And I know you want to make sure you are all up to speed on what the cool people are doing. Insert laughing/crying emoji face here. Because now that I’m over 40, who cares?
Since we are already bourbon fans in this house, (you guys, Bourbon Cake!) I knew it would be delicious in a Mule. A Moscow Mule with bourbon whiskey doesn’t taste all that different from the original.
Swapping out the vodka for bourbon gives it another layer of flavor that is great as we head into fall. I mean, you can drink a Bourbon Mule cocktail any time of the year but for some reason, these cocktails feel especially perfect during colder weather.
Adding the bourbon and sage makes them a great cocktail to serve at Thanksgiving or anytime during fall and winter. The sage flavor is subtle so, no, you won’t think you are drinking stuffing.
Want more bourbon drink ideas? Try this Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail, a Bourbon Champange Cocktail or an Apple Bourbon Cocktail.
And while these Bourbon Cocktails for Christmas might have some seasonal flavors, they really are great all year round.
Ingredient Notes
Use whatever bourbon you have on hand. (You could even use whiskey and make it a Whiskey Mule if that’s what you have). Or use scotch (Scotch Mule recipe) for a smokier flavor.
And also you should note that all bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon. I won’t go into detail, but you really can use bourbon or whiskey interchangeably in most recipes.
Reed’s Ginger Beer is my favorite brand of ginger beer to use. I like the bite of ginger without it being overly sweet. But you can really use any brand.
Fresh lime juice is a must. Bottled just doesn’t give it the same zing.
A traditional mule uses a bit of fresh mint to finish it off but fresh sage pairs really well with the flavors too. It also makes it feel a little more fall-ready.
A few dashes of regular bitters is the perfect finishing touch. Or you can use a flavored bitters to add another flavor element like I did with the Bitterman’s Elemakule Tiki bitters.
It doesn’t take much to make the best bourbon mule recipe.
How to Make a Moscow Mule with Bourbon
In a copper mug or glass, add Bourbon whiskey.
Add fresh lime juice.
Fill the glass with ice.
Top with 3-4 ounces of ginger beer.
Just a few drops of bitters in the finished drink and you’re all set.
Bitters are such a great way to add depth of flavor to cocktails. And they come in so many different varieties.
They’re usually pretty subtle but they are my favorite way to finish off a Mule.
Clap a fresh sage leaf (or sprig) between your palms and place on top of the drink.
After making this Bourbon mule with bitters recipe a few times you won’t even need to look at the measurements anymore.
They are SO easy and you don’t need any fancy equipment unless you want to serve them in these copper mugs. (Which you should because they’re cute).
Tips
- You can make a Mule with bourbon even more flavorful by adding flavors that typically go with bourbon. A bit of cherry juice or a squeeze of fresh orange juice would be really tasty!
- If you want a little more fresh sage flavor in the Bourbon Mule, you can muddle a little with the lime juice and bourbon before adding ice.
- Need to sweeten this cocktail up a bit? Add a little Vanilla Cinnamon Simple Syrup! It will add another layer of flavor and pair really well with the bourbon.
- If you aren’t a big drinker, try 1 – 1 ½ ounces of bourbon. You can always add more, but you can’t take too much away.
- Resist the urge to fill the mug to the top with the ginger beer. To keep the flavors balanced, you want to use 3-4 ounces so it doesn’t overpower everything else.
Pretty much. To be considered bourbon, it is whiskey that is made up of at least 51% corn giving it a slightly sweeter flavor. Lots of bourbon is made in Kentucky so these are sometimes called Kentucky Mules. And since bourbon is technically whiskey, they can also kind of be called Whiskey Mules. Confused? Me too. Don’t get me started on Scotch.
I love Four Roses. Woodford Reserve is also easy to find. And I think Knob Creek is a great one for making a Moscow Mule Recipe with bourbon. They are a decent price point and tasty enough to sip if you had to. I wouldn’t use an expensive bourbon in a mixed drink. Save that one for drinking on the rocks.
No. You can make a Bourbon Mule in any type of glass. BUT, a copper mug is created to make a drink extra refreshing. The whole sipping experience is leveled up. The mug gets frosty and the handle keeps your hand from freezing.
This Bourbon Moscow Mule recipe is easy to make and a fun twist on the classic mule cocktail. If you are a bourbon fan, you’ll love this delicious drink idea.
More Bourbon Cocktails
- Christmas Bourbon Cocktails
- Apple Bourbon Cocktail Recipe
- Spiced Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
- Best Old Fashioned Recipe
- Bourbon Cocktails with Champagne
- Non-Dairy Bourbon Milk Punch
More Mule Recipes
- Mule with Whiskey (Whisky Mule)
- Scotch Mule
- Apple Cider Whiskey Mule
- Cinnamon Whiskey Mule
- Holiday Moscow Mule
Bourbon Mule
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Bourbon
- 4 oz. Reed’s Ginger Beer
- Juice of half a lime
- Fresh sage leaves
- 2 dashes Bitters
Instructions
- In a copper mug or glass, add the lime juice and bourbon.
- Add ice.
- Top with 3-4 ounces of ginger beer. (Not to the top of the glass).
- Add a few dashes of bitters and stir.
- Clap a fresh sage leaf between your palms and place on top of the drink to garnish.
Notes
- You can make a Bourbon Mule even more flavorful by adding flavors that typically go with bourbon. A bit of cherry juice or squeeze of fresh orange juice would be really tasty!
- If you want a little more fresh sage flavor in the Bourbon Mule, you can muddle a little with the lime juice and bourbon before adding ice.
- Need to sweeten this cocktail up a bit? Add a little Vanilla Cinnamon Simple Syrup! It will add another layer of flavor and pair really well with the bourbon.
- If you aren’t a big drinker, try 1 – 1 ½ ounces of bourbon. You can always add more, but you can’t take too much away.
- Resist the urge to fill the mug to the top with the ginger beer. To keep the flavors balanced, you want to use 3-4 ounces so it doesn’t overpower everything else.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on August 30, 2017 and has now been updated with tips and tricks to make it perfect every time. If you love easy cocktails, you need to give this one a try!
Alina Orozco says
Why didn’t I think to use Bourbon!? So genius and I bet it adds so much more flavor . Yum! Stealing this recipe. Thanks!
Carrie Harris says
Love this! I’m not much of a Moscow Mule drinker, but I sooooo love the cups! :)
Sharon Garofalow says
The cups are perfect for apple cider too! :)