Gin Gin Mules and Moscow Mules are among my favorite drinks. This festive twist updates the traditional Summer refresher for cooler weather.
You can find the traditional copper mug on Amazon but these can be served in just about anything. The sweet-tart cranberry juice, spicy ginger beer, and fragrant rosemary combine perfectly for a drink that’s both comforting and fun.
I originally posted this back in 2014 but it’s such a staple at our home around the holidays and I couldn’t resist the chance to update the pictures for those of you planning your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years meals.
To make the sparkling sugared cranberry garnish, bring 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water to a simmer over low heat. Remove from heat before it starts to boil, pour the syrup over two cups of cranberries, and refrigerate overnight. Drain the cranberries the next day and let them dry a few minutes until tacky. Roll them in superfine sugar and let dry in a single layer for an hour or two.
Serve these for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Tuesday night after work.
Ingredients
- 1/2 oz simple syrup
- 1/2 oz unsweetened cranberry juice
- 1 1/2 oz gin or vodka
- 2 oz chilled ginger beer
- 1 rosemary sprig
- orange slice, for garnish
- sugared cranberries, for garnish
Instructions
Combine simple syrup, cranberry juice, and gin. Pour over ice and top with ginger beer. Serve garnished with rosemary, orange wedge and sugared cranberries, if desired.
Nutritional Information
Calories 192
Total Fat 0.0g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 13mg
Potassium 19mg
Total Carbohydrates 20.5g
Sugars 8.1g
Protein 0.0g
Definitely a cocktail I can see myself making throughout the upcoming Christmas period! Love the glass especially.. have to get my hands on one!
HomeGoods has these all of the time
This drink if perfect for the upcoming season and the photo is stunning.
Thanks, Carrie!
I just bought 4 of these copper mugs at Ruby Tuesdays…they were 12.99 per two.
This is so pretty! I love that mug 🙂
Thank you so much! I love copper mugs, too 🙂
Beautiful cocktail! I love this holiday twist!
Definitely digging this drink! Moscow Mules are one of my favorites. I can totally see my friends all over this when I make it for our holiday parties!
this drink is one of my favorites. thanks
Moscow Mules are one of my very favorite cocktails (and not just because I want to steal the mug it comes in), so this spin on it will definitely be taking over during the holiday season! And I probably should just put those mugs on my Christmas list… 🙂
Can’t wait to try this! Something to add to the holiday menu. Great photography!
By “unsweetened cranberry juice” do you mean 100% Juice blend or do you find pure cranberry juice somewhere?
I use Knudson “Just Cranberry.” The tartness of the cranberries is a perfect substitute for the lime of a traditional Mule.
Thanks for this great recipe! Made it for my family for Thanksgiving and it was a hit! The garnish really makes it…inhaling the fresh rosemary as you take a sip sends this drink over the top! Thanks for creating the drink and for sharing it with us! This ones a keeper!
I’m so glad you and your family loved it as much as I do. I’m totally with you on the rosemary – makes such a difference!
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! Featuring it on my blog today.
http://everydaycelebrationsblog.blogspot.com/2014/12/holiday-cocktails.html
Thanks so much! Beautiful post!
This drink was awesome!! I didn’t have fresh rosemary, but I wanted the scent and slight taste, so I used dried rosemary while cooking my simple syrup and put it through a (clean) French press. It made for an extra special element to the drink, and it was really easy to pour the simple into the jigger from the press when I was making each drink. LOVE it. Thanks for the post!
What a brilliant way to make rosemary-infused simple syrup! I have to try it.
I’m so glad you loved this as much as we did. Thanks so much for coming back to let me know!
Happy New Year, Kate!!
I received these copper cups for Christmas and your gorgeous photo has forced me to try the cocktail too! A tasty treat that is perfect on a snowy evening in front of the fire!
Hooray! 🙂
Hi Maggie, I love Moscow Mules and can’t wait to try this recipe this Christmas. I live in The Netherlands and I’m not sure what is simple syrup, can you share the name of some brands so I can take a look at them and try to find something similar here? Thanks!
So excited to meet another Maggie! 🙂
You can make your own simple syrup by combining 2 parts sugar and 1 part water in a small saucepan. Simmer until it’s fully dissolved then let it cool. You can store it in the fridge almost indefinitely.
I hope you love this cocktail!
This is a great recipe! Tried it over thanksgiving and plan on using it again for holiday parties. The recipe doesn’t call for a specific ginger beer. I used Rocky’s Ginger beer when I made it and would call it my secret ingredient. It is both low cal and adds a spicy bite to the holiday mule. You can order it online from their website http://www.rockysgingerbeer.com (free shipping!).
I have to try this! Low cal + spicy bite = just perfect!
I make the sugared cranberries every year. I love how they pop in your mouth! You can reserve the syrup from the cranberries to use for drinks. It basically is a cranberry-infused simple syrup that would be perfect for a moscow mule!
I love that idea to use the cranberry-infused syrup! Genius!
if I am going to make them for 6 people how much simple syrup should I make and how many cranberries. I am wondering how many you can make with the recipe. Plus I am wondering if I should plan for people to have a second cocktail. It seems like if I follow your recipe , I wold have more syrup than for just one cocktail. Thanks for your help in advance.
What ginger beer do you use? The kind I tried was much too mellow and lacked spice, making the drink far too sweet.
Ah… we have the same taste. The ginger beers with the best bite that I’ve found are Fever Tree and Q Ginger Beer (I think you can get Q at Bevmo). I totally agree that the more common brands like Gosling or Reed’s are too sweet.
Hi Maggie! Do you have any recommendations as to how to make a batch of these cocktails I had a time for a party?
Ahead of time*
Hi Sarah,
I think you could mix everything but the ginger beer in advance. Then, when you serve, just top off the drink with ginger beer and garnish.
We served this at our holiday, exactly as shown, and it was a huge hit!!! Very tasty and easy to put together.
We served this at our holiday party, exactly as shown, and it was a huge hit!!! Very tasty and easy to put together.
Okay, but y’all missed out on the name “Yule Mule”
Ohmygod! What a perfect name!! I seriously missed out!
And the Moscow Mule recently turned 75!
http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/moscow-mule-start-smirnoff-a-tale/306289/
Interesting! The owner of the Cock ‘n Bull bar who brewed ginger beer, the guy with American rights to Smirnoff and a woman that owned a copper factory just made it up. I’m glad they did. It’s a great drink!
Hi , do you know how long I can keep the sugared cranberries for? I presume they are to be stored in the fridge?
Thank you!
Hi Nicola! The biggest risk with storing the cranberries is that the sugar may absorb humidity from the air and dissolve. Where I live in arid SoCal I’ve successfully stored them on the counter looking pretty for 4 days. If you’re in a more humid climate or put them in the fridge, I’d try adding some rice to the container to help keep them dry. Good luck!
Yummy cocktail! I love this. It looks so yummy in photos. I have to try this one 😉
this drink looks really awesome and i wish i could try it!