If winter makes you think of comfort foods, baking spices and bourbon, you’re not alone. Traditionally we favor American whiskey cocktails when sweater weather hits — the sweet, corn-based bourbon mixed with cozy flavors is just what the season calls for...
And just like craving ice cream during a snowfall, there’s something especially delicious about an icy bourbon beverage in freezing temperatures. Kentucky Mule, anyone?
Even better if it is served out of a copper mug. Here are three good reasons to drink bourbon in the winter from a copper mug.
REASON #1: Copper is Used to Distill and Make Bourbon
Putting bourbon in a copper mug is just like bringing it home to the distillery. This is because bourbon makers have largely agreed to use copper to distill the spirit.
Whiskey makers have tried a lot of methods over centuries, but they keep coming back to copper because it’s malleable, heats evenly, and doesn’t add any harmful chemicals to the alcohol like iron or other materials.
In fact, copper also contributes to the pure taste and flavor of bourbon as it stops sulfurous odors from muddying the beverage.
REASON #2: Copper Prevents Winter Illnesses
If you’re drinking bourbon from a copper mug, you could also be warding off winter sickness.
Did you know that copper has antioxidant properties? Antioxidants fight off free radicals in your body, which can help boost your immune system.
Copper can also destroy bacteria and viruses such as E. coli and even COVID-19. In fact, studies have shown that copper quickly destroyed the coronavirus even as it continued to linger on stainless steel and glass. Additionally, copper’s antimicrobial properties have been proven to kill nearly 100 percent of bacteria that cause infections to spread in hospitals.
If you’re trying to avoid the latest COVID-19 variant, it wouldn’t hurt to drink out of copper mugs this winter.
REASON #3 Copper Enhances the Flavor of Bourbon
Last, but not least, copper enhances the flavor of cocktails.
It makes ginger fizzier, cold drinks colder, lime tangier, and distilled spirits such as bourbon more refined.
The solid copper mug is just the vessel for mixing your next winter bourbon cocktail. Perhaps you should make it a Kentucky Mule!
KENTUCKY MULE RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces bourbon
- 1/2 ounce lime juice
- Ginger beer, to top How to Make:
- Add the bourbon and lime juice to a Moscow Mule mug.
- Fill the mug with ice and top with ginger beer.
P.S. If you drink your Kentucky Mule in a copper mug, don’t forget to tag and share on Instagram!
