Equipment
Ingredients
Main
- 60 ml bourbon
- 15 g ginger syrup
- 15 ml lime juice
- crushed ice
- ice cubes
Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition is estimated per serving. Nutrients without complete source data are omitted.
Full nutrition
- Calories
- 154 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbohydrates
- 4 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Sodium
- 3 mg
- Saturated Fat
- 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat
- 0 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0 g
- Potassium
- 82 mg
- Calcium
- 5 mg
- Iron
- 0.1 mg
- Magnesium
- 8 mg
- Phosphorus
- 12 mg
- Zinc
- 0.1 mg
- Vitamin A
- 0 mcg
- Vitamin C
- 5 mg
- Vitamin E
- 0.1 mg
- Vitamin K
- 0 mcg
- Vitamin B6
- 0.0 mg
- Niacin
- 0.1 mg
- Folate
- 3 mcg
- Water
- 25 g
Sources: Aggregated Public Data, USDA FoodData Central
Method
Fill a copper mug three-quarters full with crushed ice.
Fill a cocktail shaker three-quarters full with ice cubes.
Add the bourbon, ginger syrup, and lime juice to the cocktail shaker.
Shake the ingredients vigorously for 15 seconds until the shaker is very cold.
Strain the liquid from the shaker into the prepared mug.
Top the drink with additional crushed ice to fill the mug.
Chef's Notes
- For the best flavor, use a fresh ginger syrup. You can make your own by simmering equal parts sugar and water with fresh ginger slices until the sugar is dissolved and the ginger has infused the syrup. Strain and cool before use.
- The key to a good Mule is the balance between the spirit, the sweetness of the syrup, and the tartness of the lime. Taste and adjust the ginger syrup and lime juice to your preference.
- Use a good quality bourbon. A higher-proof bourbon will stand up better to the other flavors and provide a more robust base.
- Copper mugs are traditional for Mules as they help keep the drink exceptionally cold and create a pleasant condensation on the outside, enhancing the drinking experience.
Storage
Troubleshooting
The drink tastes watery and weak.
Cause: The ice cubes in the shaker were too small or the drink was shaken for too long.
Fix: Cannot be fixed
Prevention: Use large, solid ice cubes for shaking and do not exceed 15 seconds of shaking time.
Cultural Context
The Mule cocktail family, most famously the Moscow Mule, gained popularity in the mid-20th century, often attributed to a marketing initiative by ginger beer and vodka producers. The Kentucky Mule specifically swaps vodka for bourbon, highlighting the spirit's rich, caramel notes and its deep roots in American culture, particularly in the South.
