The Moscow Mule: An Easy and Ultra Refreshing Mixed Drink with Vodka

The Moscow Mule is a super refreshing vodka cocktail that first became popular in the 1950s. Making a Moscow Mule is as simple as it gets, but the secret to a good Moscow Mule is starting with a good Ginger Beer, such as Cock 'n Bull Ginger Beer.

The vodka can be whatever suits your fancy; add a fresh lime wedge, and voila: The Moscow Mule.

The drink-ware used to serve a Moscow Mule is nearly as important as the ingredients. For some mysterious reason, Moscow Mules just taste (even) better when served in the traditional copper mug. Of course, the mug also adds that certain charm which makes it a perfect cocktail for a summer party or get-together with friends.

What is the difference between Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale? Both are non-alcoholic soft drinks with a ginger flavor. Both have stomach soothing qualities and a fresh, crisp taste. The many differences range from history, to recipe, to taste.

The first difference you'll notice, is the color. Generally, Ginger Beer is golden, while Ginger Ale is a pale shade of amber. The next, obvious difference is the flavor. Ginger Ale is sweet and mild, while Ginger Beer has a spicy, gingery zing.

Ginger Beer is thought to have originated in England in the late 1700s. It was originally a fermented brew with a slight alcoholic content. Currently, Ginger Beer is still a brewed beverage, unlike Ginger Ale.

Ginger Ale arrived on the scene in the 1800s and became popular in America during the prohibition era. Ginger Ale is a ginger flavored, carbonated beverage, not a brew.

It all started in 1941 when friends John(Jack) Morgan, John Martin and Rudolph Kunett sat down together at the Chatham Hotel bar in New York and got inventive. Morgan was the president of Cock 'n Bull, a popular bar in L.A.and producer of ginger beer. Martin was president of a spirits distribution company on the East Coast; and Kunett was president of the company that had acquired the selling rights for Smirnoff Vodka. Together, the three were looking for a way to boost the popularity of vodka, a Russian spirit little known in pre-1940s America.

The three created a delicious drink that is still recognized as the vehicle for popularizing vodka as a mainstream spirit in North America. By 1950, the "vodka craze" was in full swing and vodka had replaced gin as America's most popular white spirit.

Recently, this retro drink has been making a resurgence in popularity across America. Is it the tantalizing flavor or the cool copper mug, that is so appealing?...that's for you to decide!