Why not drink something different and refreshing for a change? This is the answer – The Moscow Mule.
In 1941, John G. Martin of Heublein, an east coast spirits and food distributor, met Jack Morgan, Owner of the Cock ‘n’ Bull Restaurant and Bar on Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip. Martin was feeling defeated in trying get bartenders (and their patrons) to imbibe in his newly-imported spirit from Russia. Morgan was bemoaning the fact that no one would try his struggling Cock ‘n’ Bull Ginger Beer franchise. Together they invented the Moscow Mule by mixing Morgan’s ginger beer and Martin’s Smirnoff Vodka with fresh lime, and served it in specially engraved copper mugs. The concoction caught on and became the toast of Hollywood elite. You’ll find it referenced in many popular songs and motion pictures of the late 1940’s and 50’s.
My husband happens to own 25 original mugs, a gift from his pal Brady. You never know when 25 thirsty people are going to show up demanding a Moscow Mule!
Moscow Mule Cocktail
1½ oz Vodka
8 oz Ginger Beer
Juice of ½ Lime
Pour the vodka into a mug, along with the lime juice and the lime slice. Then, add the ice cubes and fill with ginger beer. Decorate with a lime wedge, which you can simply drop into the mug.
When do you drink it?
Anytime you feel like having a Vodka Lime with an unusual twist.
Blythe's Blog 
Hmmm…sounds like a must try. I’m still enjoying the memory of the fabulous mint juleps we enjoyed last time. As with the Moscow Mule, much (but far from all!) is to be gained by having the perfect vessel, whether a sterling silver cup or a copper mug. A great bartender help as well, of course!
How well I remember the wonderful brunch the Cock-n-Bull used to have on Sundays. Blueberry muffins back when they were special. Now it is a Jaguar dealership–quite appropraite, really. These drinks are great. I don’t like vodka and rarely drink it, but I make an exception for these refreshing drinks. Gingery-limey goodness. Yes, the mugs make all the difference (thanks Brady!). Errol Flynn was a regular at the Cock-n-Bull and when he was there, he drank Moscow Mules. Nuff said.
I love my Mules, and am very pleased to see that they appear on the Cocktail Menu at one of my fave late-nite eateries in Scottsdale, Arizona, called AZ88. They even serve them in copper mugs, but have to use “fakes” since all of the orignal C & B mugs they had were stolen by greedy patrons!!
The other night, while in a fab place called Ken’s Creekside in Sedona (of all places!), I notice the bartender stocked a lot of unique kinds of liquor, including the wonder Canton, a Ginger liquer. I decided to have him make a variation on the Mule by using a lime-flavored vodka and adding Canton. It was sublime! I dubbed this new Mule variation The St. Petersburg Pony, as both ponies and St. Petersburg are more upscale than mules and Moscow. We shortened the name, and now one of my new summertime treats is a St. Pete’s Pony!
Canton is wondrous indeed–beautiful packaging for a great product. I bet it works well with Rangpur! (Honestly, I am not on the Tanqueray payroll…….). There’s a creek in Sedona?