This Bourbon Moscow 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.
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You’ll Love this Bourbon Moscow Mule!
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.
Since we are already bourbon fans in this house, I thought I would see if I liked it in a mule.
Fun fact: I do.
A Moscow Mule with bourbon doesn’t taste all that different from the original.
I stinking love Moscow Mules. Ginger beer is my jam and I love how refreshing these drinks are. The fresh lime juice also makes my heart and mouth happy.
Is a Whiskey Mule the same as a Kentucky Mule and Bourbon Mule?
Pretty much. I’ll be honest I don’t totally know the difference between whisky, whiskey and bourbon. Or is it bourbon whiskey?
And don’t get me started on Scotch. And should they be capitalized? Who knows? Have you heard of Kentucky bourbon?
Hence why this is sometimes called a Kentucky Mule.
Ok, so Scotch is whisky that is made in Scotland. And Bourbon is whiskey made in the United States. There is also a difference in the ingredients that are used.
But that’s as far as my knowledge goes. You can read more about Whiskey and Bourbon on Mentalfloss.
For the most part, you can use all these names pretty interchangeably. There are slight flavor variations. But they’re all generally in the same family.
What is the Best Bourbon for a Moscow Mule?
It doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky to be called bourbon, but there are a bunch of great varieties that are made there.
I love Four Roses. Woodford Reserve is also easy to find. And I think Knob Creek is a great one for making a Bourbon Mule Recipe.
All of these are an accessible price point and taste delicious.
Bourbon can be costly. So this is a great drink for something that is not top-shelf since it’s mixed with other things.
My husband is a whiskey sour man, so we were fresh out of all our whiskey and bourbon except for the last two drinks in this Four Roses bottle… which is now empty. And I’m not sorry. These drinks were delicious.
My all-time favorite bourbon is Hudson Baby Bourbon. But I like sipping that over ice, plus it’s expensive (ish) so I wouldn’t use it in a mule unless it was an emergency.
Emergency Bourbon Mules are a thing.
A traditional mule uses a bit of fresh mint to finish it off but I thought that sage might be a great addition to this drink. I also decided to muddle a little with the lime juice and bourbon to boost the flavor a little.
This is 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.
I mean you can drink a Bourbon Mule any time of the year but for some reason, they feel especially perfect during colder weather.
How to Make a Moscow Mule with Bourbon
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Bourbon
- 4 oz. Reed’s Ginger Beer
- Juice of half a lime
- Fresh sage leaves
- Bitters
You can use regular bitters too and it will still be delicious! I just really like the blends from Bittermens!
As almost happened with this post, I almost didn’t have the main ingredient that I needed for this recipe. If that’s how you roll, you should know about Drizly.
Drizly is an online shop that has everything you need to make your favorite cocktails. And it’s delivered to your house in an hour! It’s my favorite!
Steps:
- In a copper mug or glass, add the lime juice, Bourbon and sage then muddle gently.
- Add ice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Add a few dashes of bitters.
- Clap a fresh sage leaf between your palms and place on top of the drink.
After making these this Bourbon mule 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).
Bourbon Mule with Bitters
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.
Then just give that sage a clap in between your hands to release the scent and lay it on top of your drink. It smells so good!
But it tastes even better! I love that you can take something basic, like ginger beer, and change up the flavor so much with just a few other ingredients.
I’ve made versions with strawberry and mint, pumpkin and now the perfect Holiday Mule!
What is your favorite kind of mule to make?
Printable Bourbon Mule Recipe
(Because remember, they can be called all different things but the recipes are pretty much all the same. It just depends on the type of liquor you use).
Easy Bourbon Moscow Mule
This delicious Bourbon Moscow Mule recipe is a delicious whiskey twist on the classic Moscow Mule cocktail!
Ingredients
- 2 oz. Bourbon
- 4 oz. Reed's Ginger Beer
- Juice of half a lime
- Fresh sage leaves
- Bitters
Instructions
- In a copper mug or glass, add the lime juice, Bourbon and sage then muddle gently.
- Add ice.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Add a few dashes of bitters
- Clap a fresh sage leaf between your palms and place on top of the drink.
Nutrition Information
Yield
1Serving Size
1 ServingsAmount Per Serving Calories 407Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 155mgCarbohydrates 53gFiber 1gSugar 47gProtein 1g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
Are you a fan of Bourbon Mules?
More Mule Recipes to Try
More easy cocktail recipes to try:
Pin this Moscow Mule with Bourbon for Later
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.
Why didn’t I think to use Bourbon!? So genius and I bet it adds so much more flavor . Yum! Stealing this recipe. Thanks!
Love this! I’m not much of a Moscow Mule drinker, but I sooooo love the cups! :)
The cups are perfect for apple cider too! :)