If you’re looking for an easy-to-follow Irish Mule recipe, you’ve found it.
Now, you can make an Irish Mule with whiskey (preferred) or you can make it with vodka and give it an Irish twist (see below).
In the guide below, we’ll present you with two straightforward recipes to help you mix up this classic Irish cocktail at home.
Some quick need-to-knows before making the Irish Mule
The Irish Mule or the Irish Whiskey Mule is, quite literally, a Moscow Mule with whiskey.
It’s easy to make and beautifully refreshing and zingy on the palate. Here’s some info to get you up-to-speed quickly:
1. A couple of variations to choose from
Most Irish Mule recipes use whiskey as the base drink. However, you can also use vodka and then give the drink a kick with some grapefruit bitters. Personally, I prefer it with Irish whiskey, but the vodka variation is OK if you haven’t whiskey on hand.
2. Pick your ginger carefully (it’s 3/4 of the drink)
So, while you can just grab any old ingredients, if you want to make a proper Irish Mule, it’s worth buying a good Irish whiskey brand. Also, as the ginger beer makes up a good chunk of the drink, try and get a premium brand (your tastebuds will thank you!).
3. Strength
This Whiskey Mule recipe creates a refreshing and easy-to-drink cocktail that’s pretty easy to knock-back. Just keep in mind there’s a strong shot of vodka in your glass and always drink responsibly.
Our Irish Whiskey Mule ingredients
One of the advantages of this Irish Mule recipe is its simplicity.
Here’s what you’ll need on hand to make it (the whiskey vs the vodka variation):
Version 1
- 35.5ml whiskey (we like Dingle)
- Premium Ginger Beer
- Lime
- Ice
- A HiBall glass (if you have one)
Version 2
- 35.5ml Vodka
- Premium Ginger Beer
- Grapefruit Bitters
- Lime
- Ice
- A HiBall glass (if you have one)
How to make an Irish Mule
In the video above you’ll find an overview of how to make an Irish Mule with vodka and grapefruit bitters. Below, I’ll take you through the traditional Whiskey Mule below. Dive on in!
Step 1: Chill your glass with some ice
Our first step is optional, but it’s a quick and handy way to keep your drink chilled for longer. Simply pop some ice in your glass, stick your hand over the top of it and swirl the ice around the glass.
Keep on going for around 15 – 20 seconds and your glass will be nice and chilly. Pour out the ice and any water left behind in the glass.
Step 2: Add the ice, whiskey and two squeezes of lime
Now it’s times to assemble your Whiskey Mule. Fill your glass with ice and add 35.5ml whiskey to the glass. The take a fresh lime and roll it between your palm and a hard surface to release its juices.
Cut out two slices of lime and squeeze them into the glass. You can add an additional slice of lime to the side of the glass to garnish your Irish Mule, if you like.
Step 3: Introduce the ginger beer slowly
Here’s a tip for you – when you’re making any ginger beer cocktails, always gently tip the ginger beer into the glass with the glass at an angle. This helps keep more of the fizz in the ginger beer.
Add your ginger beer to your glass and then add two dashes of grapefruit bitters and gently stir. And that’s it!
Discover more handy Irish cocktails
Looking to sip away on some other cocktails like the Whiskey Mule? Here’s some of our most popular drink guides to hop into:
- Best St Patrick’s Day Drinks: 17 Easy + Tasty St Patrick’s Day Cocktails
- 18 Traditional Irish Cocktails That Are Easy To Make (And Very Tasty)
- 14 Delicious Jameson Cocktails To Try This Weekend
- 15 Irish Whiskey Cocktails That’ll Tantalise Your Tastebuds
- 17 Of The Tastiest Irish Drinks (From Irish Beers To Irish Gins)
FAQs about making a Whiskey Mule
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Which ginger beer and whiskey mix is the tastiest?’ to ‘What Irish Mule recipe is the handiest to make?’.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
What is the best tasting Irish Mule recipe?
Personally, I like to add whiskey, fresh lime, ginger beer and some grapefruit bitters to ice, and leave it at that.
How do you make a Whiskey Mule?
Get your favourite whiskey and pop it in a glass with a premium ginger beer and some fresh lime. Stir and you’re ready to rock.
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Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.