Let’s be honest: 2020 has been…strange. Stressful. Hectic. Kind of like riding a roller coaster during a lightning storm, or while your lap restraint is wobbly and the whole thing’s on fire. Most of us will be very happy to have it over and done with, which, under normal circumstances, would mean throwing absolutely epic New Year’s Eve parties.
Unfortunately, one aspect of 2020’s weirdness is that parties (which generally entail large groups of people coming together to socialize, share snacks, and drink) are really not a good idea right now. And that’s a real bummer, especially if you’re accustomed to attending or hosting a celebration on December 31st.
But don’t be TOO sad! You can definitely still celebrate the new year, even if the only “guests” you’ll be reveling with are your family members or housemates. So have a movie marathon, play games, watch the Times Square Ball drop on TV or online—it’s up to you! And while you’re celebrating leaving 2020 in the dust, here are some awesome, unique cocktails to try your hand at whipping up:
Moscow Mule
This is it, folks: the original, the one-and-only. Moscow Mules are truly one of the greatest cocktails ever concocted by humankind, if not THE greatest. A Mule’s crisp, refreshing flavor is something nearly any drinker can get behind, and while its ice-cold frigidity makes it incredibly refreshing during the summer months, it’s still a classy, festive, and absolutely timeless beverage to enjoy on New Year’s Eve. But don’t take our word for it; sample it yourself using our classic Moscow Mule recipe- 6 oz. ginger beer (or 1 oz. of our Moscow Mule Ginger Syrup mixed with 6 oz. seltzer)
- 2 oz. vodka (or 3 oz., if you’re using syrup and seltzer instead of ginger beer)
- 1/4 oz. fresh squeezed lime juice
- Sliced or wedged lime for garnish
To make the perfect Moscow Mule, start by placing ice into a Moscow Copper Co. mug. Yes, using a 100% copper mug IS essential; it’s not truly a classic mule unless it’s served in a copper cup! Once the mug is nice and chilly, pour in the vodka. Add the lime juice, then top with the ginger beer. Garnish with the lime wedge (or slice), and you’re done. Cheers!
Eximo Estrella
If you’ve already wowed your housemates or significant other with your ability to whip up an Instagram-worthy Moscow Mule at home, here’s another sophisticated cocktail to try. Because it’s supposed to be enjoyed very cold, it’s a great drink to serve in a copper mug, as well.- 2 oz. Facundo Eximo rum
- 1/2 oz. demerara sugar (turbinado sugar or light brown sugar can be substituted if you don’t have access to demerara)
- 1 bar spoon Creme Yvette
- 1 dash strawberry bitters
- 1 dash chocolate bitters
- Orange peel for garnish
Combine all the ingredients except for the orange peel together and stir with ice until it’s totally chilled (and the sugar is dissolved). Use a strainer to pour it into a rocks glass or copper mug, preferably with a single, large ice cube (as opposed to multiple small cubes). Cut the orange peel into a zig-zag or lightning bolt shape and perch it on the rim of the cup.
Two Minutes to Midnight
This a fruity, quirky beverage whose deep gold color and herbaceous garnish is instantly evocative of winter holidays and a party atmosphere. More importantly, though, the presence of thyme, combined with the drink’s name, means that you can crack all sorts of time/thyme puns when making or serving the cocktail to people (e.g., “We’re running out of thyme in 2020!” or, “It didn’t take much thyme to make this!” or even, “Two minutes to midnight? I think it’s thyme for a drink!”). Of course, folks will probably groan when you say that stuff, but you can always threaten to withhold the alcohol if they’re not good sports about it.- 4 oz. prosecco
- 1 oz. pear puree
- 1 oz. vodka
- Sprig of thyme, for garnish
Pour the prosecco, pear puree, and vodka into a tall champagne flute and stir gently to combine. Drop the thyme sprig into the flute and serve immediately.
Confetti Champagne
This is a neat variation on traditional New Year’s champagne, one that’s colorful, exciting, and very fun! It’s also a touch nostalgic, which makes it even more perfect for ringing in the new year while acknowledging how far we’ve come. As you’re passing out flutes, don’t be surprised if the kids want one, too, especially if this is the first year that they’re old enough to stay up until midnight. But that’s not an issue; you can very easily make a “virgin” version of the cocktail by nixing the champagne and vodka, substituting sparkling cider, and adding extra Sprite (or cider) to compensate.- 1 lime wedge
- 1 packet of Pop Rocks (your choice of flavor)
- 1 oz. vanilla vodka
- 4-5 oz. champagne
- 1-2 oz. Sprite (or store-brand equivalent)
Sprinkle the pop rocks onto a plate or shallow dish, then wet the rim a glass with the lime juice and dip the cup into the candy to create an even coating. Pour the vanilla vodka into the glass, add four to five ounces of champagne (depending upon your personal preferences), and then top with an ounce or two of Sprite, to taste.
Once again, we understand that ringing in 2021 is probably going to feel a lot different than ringing in 2020 did. Even though most of us will be doing so at home instead of at a grand party, that doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun with it—and if you make it to January 1st, you will have DEFINITELY earned the right to celebrate!
Moscow Copper Company is more than just your source for original copper Moscow Mule mugs. Try our wide variety of simple, yet tasty, Moscow mule recipes. Please remember to drink responsibly.
FAQs on Moscow Mules
Why does a Moscow Mule have to be in a copper cup?
Copper mugs aren’t just for promoting a certain aesthetic—they actually serve a practical purpose. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, which means that, once it’s chilled, it feels very cold to the touch (since it quickly and easily draws the heat out of your skin). Moscow Mules are supposed to be enjoyed ice cold, so sipping the beverage from a copper mug allows you enjoy a certain delightful frigidity while you’re drinking.
Why is it called Moscow Mule?
To answer that question, we need to break the name down into its components: “Moscow” and “Mule.” The “Moscow” part comes from the fact that it’s a vodka-based drink, and vodka is strongly associated with the country of Russia (the capital of which is the city of Moscow). Meanwhile, the “mule” part comes from the proverbial ‘kick’ of unique flavor that the ginger beer provides; mules are one type of animal known for being able to deliver seriously powerful (literal) kicks. “Moscow Mule” is a quirky Alliterative names are often easy to remember and fun to say, so the name stuck!
Is drinking from a copper cup healthy?
Yes, it is! Despite widespread fears about certain kinds of drinkware contaminating beverages with toxins or impurities, the average adult is extremely unlikely to suffer ANY kind of ill effect from drinking out of a copper cup. The sheer amount of the metal that you’d have to ingest in order to develop copper poisoning is basically impossible to get just from using a copper cup at anything resembling a normal frequency (as opposed to on a near-constant basis for literal decades). In fact, you’re far more likely to enjoy certain health BENEFITS from drinking out of a copper mug, and recent research has suggested that copper cups are less hospitable to harmful microbes than stainless steel, plastic, or glass drinkware. For more information about the safety and advantages of copper mugs, please refer to blog posts linked in this answer.
