Break out the chips and salsa and copper pitcher — it’s Mexican Mule time!
Any time is a good time for a Mexican meal and cocktail. How about tonight? You can transform your classic Moscow Mule recipe into a nod to Mexico by swapping tequila for vodka and mixing in some jalapenos and cilantro.
The spicy kick of these ingredients pairs perfectly with the mule’s ginger beer and freshly squeezed lime.
MEXICAN MULES ARE AN EVERYDAY DELIGHT
Tequila, made from fermented juice of the Mexican blue agave plant, has been produced since the 16th century near the location of the city of Tequila (est. 1666). The volcanic soils of this region are ripe for growing the 300 million plants that are still harvested there each year.
The farming of the agave is still a manual effort, with the knowledge being passed down amongst generations of jimadores. They possess the important skill of knowing when the agave plant is ripe, which can take 8 to 12 years.
Jalapenos are also native to Mexico. The name itself is Spanish for “from Xalapa,” which is the city where the pepper was cultivated. In the United States, California, New Mexico and Texas also grow the jalapenos. The pepper has two planting seasons, spring and fall, so they are abundant year-round.
Cilantro is also easy to cultivate in your own garden, especially in cooler temperatures, or can easily be found in supermarkets.
The ease of finding these ingredients means you can enjoy a Mexican Mule whenever you feel like it — on a summer evening at the beach, at a dinner party in the fall, at Cinco de Mayo happy hour, you name it.
TEQUILA + COPPER
Drinking a Mexican Mule in a copper mug is recommended for maximum flavor, not to mention several health benefits!
Tequila also has some healing claims to fame. The agave plant contains high levels of insulin, which in turn aids the digestive system by growing good bacteria. It also can be good for your bones. Mexican researchers have recently discovered that agave fructans may help you absorb more calcium into your bones plus create more of a certain protein that helps you build new bone tissue.
MEXICAN MOSCOW MULE INGREDIENTS
To make a Mexican Mule, you will need:
- 2 ounces silver tequila
- 6 ounces ginger beer
- 1 fresh lime
- 1 jalapeno (sliced)
- 4 sprigs of cilantro
The original Moscow Mule calls for Smirnoff Vodka, but this one calls for silver tequila.
Silver tequila (alternately, blanco or white) is clear. It has been bottled immediately after being distilled and then aged less than two months. Tequila purchased in the United States is guaranteed to be 80-100 proof.
In lieu of ginger beer, you can use 3 ounces of seltzer water with our Moscow Mule Ginger Syrup, which is a careful small-batch blend of fresh ginger, cane sugar and lime juice.
Cilantro can be a hard sell for some people. Up to 21 percent of people think it tastes like dish soap — so if this is you, don’t fret — just leave it out of your drink!
How to Make a Mexican Mule
by Moscow Copper Co.
Making a good Mexican Mule isn’t hard — take it step by step, and you can’t go wrong!
- First, cut the jalapeno into slices and remove the seeds.
- Next, muddle cilantro and 2 slices of jalapeno with a little bit of ice into a cocktail shaker.
- Now’s the time to fill your Moscow Copper mug with ice and add the muddled contents.
- Then squeeze in fresh lime juice, followed by the tequila, and topped with ginger beer.
- Lastly, garnish with a jalapeno slice and a sprig of cilantro. Enjoy!
If your entire family or dinner party wants a Mexican Mule, feel free to make a giant batch in a copper pitcher. Simply multiply the ingredients by the number of drinkers. One caveat: Do not put ice in the pitcher, or you’ll water down your mules. Make sure to add ice to each individual mug, then pour your mix over the top.
For the designated driver, you can hold the tequila and instead add more ginger beer to make a spicy, bold mocktail.
P.S. If you make this Mexican Mule recipe, don’t forget to tag and share on Instagram!
