Spiced Cranberry Mule

Name: Spiced Cranberry Mule
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 large Mint leaves; Ice; 2 ounces Cranberry vodka; 2 ounces Spiced Simple Syrup; 6 ounces Ginger beer (or ginger ale); Sugar & Spice Cranberries; Fresh mint leaves

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Warm spices pair perfectly with crisp cranberry vodka to create this festive, refreshing Spiced Cranberry Mule.

close-up of copper mule mug filled with ice and liquid, and garnished with a toothpick with 3 cranberries and fresh mint.

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Benefits of Drinking from Copper
What Goes into this Recipe
How to Make this Cocktail
FAQs & Expert Tips
Related Recipes
Spiced Cranberry Mule

Benefits of Drinking from Copper

One of the reasons we love a good mule - besides the obvious fact that they are delicious - is that we get to use our Moscow Mule Mugs - and not just because they make for a great presentation.

Copper Enhances Flavor

There are a number of bonafide benefits to drinking your mule from a good copper mug. Not only do copper vessels keep drinks colder; but they accentuate and heighten the flavors of whatever else they hold.

If you are the kind of person who can perceive the subtle differences between drinking soda or beer from a glass bottle versus aluminum can, you will likely notice a similar difference when you drink a mule in a copper mug.

Copper naturally enhances the flavor of beverages made with ginger beer, vodka, lime, and mint (among other things). This happens through a chemical reaction that takes place when you pour liquids into a copper vessel. As the liquid makes contact with the sides of the mug, the copper begins to oxidize. According to experts, it is this oxidation process that enhances the aroma and the taste of the drink.

Cold copper will increase the production of bubbles in anything carbonated, creating more fizziness than a glass or plastic vessel might. It also affects the character of citrus juices (i.e., lime, orange, cranberry, etc.) by intensifying citrus flavor as it reduces the acidity.

Health Benefits of Copper

In addition to the flavor benefits, copper drinking vessels have long been thought to carry some impressive health benefits; including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.

If you don't have your own mule mugs, consider making this the year that you give yourself a set.

Copper mule mug sweating with condensation, garnished with cranberries and fresh mint. Felt mouse stands to the side.

The mugs we have are solid and sturdy; made of hammered solid copper, they have a nice, heavy feel in your hand. Our advice is, when you decide to purchase a set of mule mugs, don't go cheap! Quality makes a big difference when it comes to mule mugs. Plus, if you get good ones, they'll last forever.

What Goes into this Recipe

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

★ Mint Leaves: We usually make these mules using spearmint leaves. Any fresh mint will work though.

★ Ginger Ale: Craft ginger ales, with their more intense flavor, work best for this cocktail.

★ Cranberry Vodka: If you don't have cranberry vodka on hand, you can use plain vodka and a splash of cranberry juice instead.

★ Simple Syrup: We came up with these Spiced Cranberry Mules while we were experimenting with our (amazing!) Spiced Simple Syrup, and we highly recommend using it! However, you can use a plain simple syrup for this cocktail as well.

★ Sugared Cranberries: These tasty little treats are perfect for holiday snacking a beverage garnishing. You can also sub in plain or rehydrated dried cranberries.

How to Make this Cocktail

Muddle two large mint leaves in the bottom of a Moscow Mule mug or tumbler.
Fill the mug with ice.
Pour in vodka, spiced simple syrup, and ginger ale and stir gently.
Garnish with Sugar & Spice Cranberries and mint leaves.

Overhead shot of copper mule mug filled with ice and liquid, and garnished with a toothpick with 3 cranberries and fresh mint.

FAQs & Expert Tips

What makes a drink a Mule?

At its basic, a mule is a cocktail made with ginger beer or ginger ale, some kind of citrus or acidic juice, and any kind of spirit.

This Cranberry Mule recipe is a riff of a Moscow Mule. Moscow mules are made with vodka; likely so named because of the Russian-vodka association.

Do you love Cranberries?

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Warm spices pair perfectly with crisp cranberry vodka to create this festive, refreshing Spiced Cranberry Mule.

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Course: Beverages

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time:5 minutes

Total Time:5 minutes

Servings: drink

Calories: 341kcal

Author: Renee

Equipment

1 Moscow Mule Mugs
1 muddler

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

2 large Mint leaves
Ice
2 ounces Cranberry vodka
2 ounces Spiced Simple Syrup
6 ounces Ginger beer or ginger ale

Garnish

Sugar & Spice Cranberries
Fresh mint leaves

Instructions

Muddle two large mint leaves in the bottom of a Moscow Mule mug or tumbler.
Fill mug with ice.
Pour in vodka, spiced simple syrup, and ginger ale and stir gently.
Garnish with Sugar & Spice Cranberries and mint leaves.

Notes

Craft Ginger Ale, with its more intense flavors, works best for this cocktail.

We like to use spearmint leaves for this.

Nutrition

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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Spiced Cranberry Mule