Mezzing with a vodka classic: Mezcal Mule

This summery riff on the Moscow Mule swaps mezcal for vodka; a chile/cayenne pepper mix adds a little heat to this refreshing drink. Recipe below.

I’M A FAN OF WORDPLAY. Not puns exactly, but riffing on sounds and sometimes meanings. So when I came across a mention of a Mezcal Mule, based on the vodka classic the Moscow Mule, I was already halfway there. The mezcal quickly got me the rest of the way.

The Moscow Mule is a storied cocktail in its own right, steeped in somewhat dubious tradition. It was apparently born in the 1940s in New York City, created by a bartender trying to unload stuff in the bar’s basement that wasn’t selling—Smirnoff vodka and ginger beer. The copper mug tradition was of equally humble (cynical?) origin. When the drink took off, Smirnoff’s owner—John A. Martin—used the copper mug as a marketing gimmick to spread the drink’s popularity across the country.

Leave it to lawmakers to ruin the fun, though. In 2017, Iowa outlawed the use of copper mugs for Moscow Mules, saying that high concentrations of copper are poisonous. They didn’t specify how many Mules you’d have to drink to be affected.

As you can see here, I’ve broken with the copper mug tradition. While copper does transmit cold better to the lips, creating a sense of intense cold, I just prefer the look and feel of glass. If you’ve got copper mugs, by all means use them—unless you’re in Iowa.

The more important tradition break here is, of course, the mezcal. Vodka is often praised for its absence of flavor—mezcal is tequila’s smoky little brother. There are numerous variations on the Mezcal Mule—some get quite involved, with passion fruit purée, agave syrup, cucumbers… I stayed close to the Moscow Mule, just swapping out the liquor. I did add a sprinkle of chile powder and cayenne pepper. Besides looking cool, it packs a little heat. The end result is fresh, flavorful and lively—a perfect summer drink.

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Mezcal Mule

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 to 2 ounces mezcal see Kitchen Notes
• 1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
• ginger beer see Kitchen Notes
• equal parts chile powder and cayenne pepper mixed (optional)
• lime wedges or wheels for garnish

Instructions

• Fill a highball or rocks glass (or copper mug) with ice. Add mezcal and lime juice, then pour in ginger beer to fill. Sprinkle with chile powder/cayenne pepper mix and add lime garnish. Serve.

Kitchen Notes

How much mezcal? Two ounces delivers a true cocktail strength without being martini-lethal. Using the smaller amount gives you a nice low-octane cocktail if you're day drinking or making an evening of it.

Ginger beer—is it beer? No, it's non-alcoholic. Think root beer. It adds a fresh, sparkly, slightly spicy finish to the drink. There are premium brands galore, but Trader Joe's makes a delicious ginger beer that retails at four bucks for a four-pack.