My Merry Mule

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the invention of the SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule and we have teamed up with the brand to help you celebrate this occasion in your bar. To go along with the traditional recipe, SMIRNOFF has created new recipes to give your Moscow Mules a "merry twist". Make sure you make the most of this occasion and download your free poster and recipe cards for your bar at the end of the article!

Where the Moscow Mule began

It all started in 1941 in America when two men came together to create the game-changing cocktail.

One of the men owned a brand of ginger beer, but unfortunately, most Americans didn’t know what ginger beer was, preferring the sweeter taste of ginger ale. Americans were not familiar with Vodka either, preferring Whiskies and Bourbons.

John Martin of Heublein (now The Smirnoff Co.) knew that if SMIRNOFF Vodka was going to have a fighting chance to compete with the Whiskies it would have to start as a mixer. So he got together with an L.A. restaurateur and paired SMIRNOFF No. 21 Vodka with the ginger beer and a spritz of lime for a simple, yet effective combination they dubbed the “Moscow Mule.” The origin of the name is somewhat of a mystery to this day, but as the story goes, it has to do with the fact that the Moscow Mule has a nice “kick” to it.

Next, they hit the road, pouring Moscow Mules and convincing bartenders to do the same. Legend has it they would snap a Polaroid picture of the bartender mixing things up with SMIRNOFF Vodka, then show that photo to the next bar, and keep the cycle going until they'd convinced the whole country to try the cocktail.

By 1943, the Moscow Mule had taken the country by storm and gained so much popularity in cocktail culture that it served as a stepping stone, paving the way for the development of many other popular mixed drinks, including The Screwdriver, The Bloody Mary, The Gimlet and more.

How to make the most of this occasion in your bar

The 75^th anniversary of the invention of the SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule is the perfect opportunity to offer your customers a Moscow Mule cocktail. With mixed spirit drinks being the most profitable drink your outlet can sell, it really makes sense to use all the available tools to influence your customers’ choices. A cocktail menu featuring a range of Moscow Mule cocktails can really help promote these mixed-drink sales and it gives you the opportunity to suggest new drink ideas to your customer while allowing them to be inspired and make informed decisions. Take a look at some of the new festive SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule serves below and don’t forget to download your free poster, recipe cards and Facebook cover image at the end of the article.

Key serves for the occasion

Ready to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule? Have a look at these key serves. From the original recipe to some "merry twists" on the Moscow Mule.

Original Moscow Mule

1.75 oz. SMIRNOFF NO. 21 VODKA

5 oz. ginger Beer

Fresh Lime

METHOD:

Fill a copper mug with cubed ice.

Add SMIRNOFF NO.21 Vodka

Top with ginger beer.

Stir to combine and garnish with a lime wedge.

Holiday Moscow Mule

1.75 oz. SMIRNOFF No. 21 Vodka

5 oz. ginger Beer

3 Cranberries

1 Orange Slice

1 Rosemary sprig

METHOD:

Fill a copper mug with cubed ice.

Add SMIRNOFF RED No.21 Vodka

Top with ginger beer.

Squeeze in fresh orange juice and stir.

Garnish with cranberries, an orange slice and a rosemary sprig.

Kissed Caramel Mule

175 oz. SMIRNOFF Kissed Caramel Vodka

5 oz. ginger Beer

5 dashes of bitters

3 caramel cubes

1 Lime

METHOD:

Fill a copper mug with cubed ice.

Add SMIRNOFF Kissed Caramel Vodka

Top with ginger beer and bitters.

Squeeze in fresh lime juice (reserving a wedge for garnish) and stir.

Garnish with caramel cubes and a lime wedge.

Downloadable menu and recipes cards

Celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule. Download our free SMIRNOFF Moscow Mule menu and recipe cards for your bar!

(*One standard drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol)