Do you want to start your day with a refreshing Bourbon Mule?
An adult beverage that is both fun and tasty?
A drink with a mix of sweet, sour and spicy flavors in one sip?
If the answer to any of the above is yes then you need to try this drink.
It’s the perfect way to start your day or end your evening.
We’ll discuss the ingredients and their amounts, how long it takes to make and what type of glassware you should use when serving a Bourbon Mule.
We’ll also take a look at some of the variations that are possible, as well as what type of ginger beer you should use.
Finally, we’ll give you some tips on how to garnish a Bourbon Mule for a special occasion.
What ingredients do you need to make a Bourbon Mule?
The basic ingredients of a Bourbon Mule are as follows:
- 2 to 3 parts bourbon whiskey (bourbon, rye, or blended whiskey)
- 2 parts ginger beer (ginger ale, which is the same product)
- 1 part fresh lime juice
It’s also recommended that you add one part simple syrup and one part freshly squeezed lemon juice.
How long does it take to prepare a Bourbon Mule?
Bourbon Mules are fairly simple to make, but there is a little preparation that needs to be done before you get started.
It takes just a few minutes to mix up the ingredients for the drink, but it takes longer to chill the glasses that you will use.
This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending on how much ice you have in your fridge.
We recommend using glass containers as it’s important that your drinks stay chilled.
While you can drink out of a plastic cup, it’s best practice to avoid it altogether.
What type of glass is best for serving a Bourbon Mule?
Just like most other alcoholic beverages, a Bourbon Mule is best served in a glass that you can keep chilled.
A proper serving glass will keep the drink cold and serve as a good visual aid in showing off the layers of ingredients and the finished product.
What type of bourbon is best for making a Bourbon Mule?
The best Bourbon for a Bourbon Mule should be a straight Bourbon, which is aged at least four years.
Bourbon aged between four and eight years is fine for mixing with ginger beer and water, but you won’t get the full flavor of the bourbon.
Old Bourbon, which is seven to 13 years old, will taste too harsh when mixed with the sweet flavors of ginger beer.
” Bourbon” whiskies that are barely one year old have little to no character from the wood aging process and won’t add much to your drink.
As for what type of Bourbon you should use, you can use any brand, as long as it’s a straight Bourbon.
It doesn’t matter if you like whiskey or Tennessee whiskey more than any other kind of whiskey.
Both types of whiskeys will make an excellent Bourbon Mule.
Is a Bourbon Mule a sweet or a sour cocktail?
The Bourbon Mule is a tart drink that is balanced by the sweet flavors of ginger beer and mint.
The sweet notes come from the ginger beer and the sour ones come directly from the bourbon.
In short, it’s a sweet and sour drink.
You might wonder why this drink is called a mule.
Mule is an abbreviation for “mulled wine”, or, a hot alcoholic drink.
That’s because this drink was originally invented to warm you up after a day on the slopes.
People used to make a cold beverage in the morning and then heat it up on the stove before serving it to their guests.
The word mule came from the word mulled, which means heated up.
When you taste this drink you’ll notice that it really does warm you up when you’re drinking it (especially if you’re enjoying one on a cold winter morning !).
Are there any variations to the traditional Bourbon Mule recipe?
The traditional Bourbon Mule recipe is a drink that comes out of the Kentucky region of the US.
It’s a mix of bourbon, ginger beer and lemon, with a twist at the end.
There are many variations that you can try to make this drink your own.
The first variation is one that you might have seen in bars and restaurants.
This one uses simple syrup instead of honey.
Simple syrup is sugar dissolved in hot water.
This gives you more complexity and sweetness in this drink.
You can also add either some dry mustard or a pinch of dry horseradish, which are widely considered to be two of the best additions to any cocktail.
Mixing them in with your ginger beer would give your mule an extra kick.
The fourth variation takes this simple drink and turns it into something more special.
In addition to adding horseradish, you can add some fresh black pepper too.
What type of ginger beer should you use to make a Bourbon Mule?
The most important element of this drink is the ginger beer.
Fortunately, there are several different varieties to choose from if you have a hard time deciding on one.
We’ll look at the types of ginger beer available, and go over the differences between them in order to help you make the right choice.
Lime Ginger Beer
You’ll know a Lime Ginger Beer if it’s pale yellow in color and has a very subtle taste.
This type of ginger beer isn’t designed to taste like lime juice or slices of lime.
It’s designed to be more on the sour side and is ideal for cocktails.
Barbados Ginger Beer
Barbados Ginger Beer can be slightly darker than a Lime Ginger Beer, but it still has a lime flavor so it’s still best suited for cocktails.
If you’re looking for something with a strong ginger flavor then this is your best bet.
Lemon Ginger Beer
Finally, we have Lemon Ginger Beer which is also best suited for cocktails.
It’s similar to Lime Ginger Beer but it tastes more like lemonade due to the stronger juniper flavor present.
Is it necessary to use fresh lime juice when making a Bourbon Mule?
Fresh lime juice is a must if you want to really appreciate the fresh citrus and sour notes of this cocktail.
This is usually made with regular limes so next time you are at the grocery store around the corner, pick up a couple of limes as well.
The amount of lime required can vary depending on how sour your ginger beer tastes.
How can you garnish a Bourbon Mule for a special occasion?
If you are having a special occasion, such as a wedding or a birthday party, then you will want to make sure that your guests enjoy their beverages.
How do you do this? You can garnish the drinks to provide a little more visual appeal.
For example, consider the heart-shaped ice cube in the top of the glass.
You can create these hand-made heart shapes by using an ice ball mold and dipping the edges of the mold into melted candy melts.
If you want to add something more to your drink than just ice, try using a cookie cutter and place it into melted candy melts.
For something completely different, you could use fresh mint.
What type of ice should you use when shaking a Bourbon Mule?
I recommend using ice cubes made from crushed soda or lemonade.
You’ll find these in the freezer section at your local store.
Ice is much cheaper than buying bottled water.
Just make sure to keep the ice in a covered container so that it doesn’t melt too quickly.
It’s also important not to use the very cold water in the pop dispensers, as these have ice added to them already.
Equipment
- copper mug
Ingredients
- 2-3 oz 1 shot bourbon
- 6-8 oz. ginger beer
- 1 lime
- ice
Instructions
- In a copper mug, place a handful of ice (or a glass).
- Pour in the bourbon, ginger beer, and half of the lime juice.
- Serve with a wedge of lime and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.