Raspberry Moscow Mule

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This fruity raspberry moscow mule is a refreshing summer cocktail that is easy to make. Made with homemade raspberry simple syrup, vodka, lime juice and then topped with fizzy ginger beer.

This raspberry moscow mule is a fruity (but not overly sweet) spin on the classic cocktail. There are lots of creative moscow mule variations you can make, such as this cranberry mule. 

This raspberry moscow mule uses raspberry simple syrup for a powerful raspberry flavor. For other raspberry cocktails, try this raspberry martini, this raspberry gin fizz or this bourbon raspberry cocktail.  

For other vodka based drinks, try this madras cocktail, this strawberry martini, this vodka sunrise, this grapefruit crush or these watermelon shooters.

Jump to:

• Recipe Highlights
• Ingredients
• Equipment
• Instructions
• Storing Leftover Raspberry Syrup
• Expert Tips
• Variations
• FAQ
• 📖 Recipe

Recipe Highlights

• This mule is flavored with a homemade raspberry simple syrup, which packs in a powerful raspberry flavor — much more than using muddled raspberries.
• This raspberry mule is a light & refreshing cocktail perfect for a summer evening.
• This recipe uses simple, easy to find ingredients and is made without any expensive liqueurs.
• It is easy to make this drink into a mocktail for those who want a nonalcoholic version.

Ingredients

• Raspberries: Use fresh or frozen raspberries. The raspberries are used to make the syrup which adds flavor and sweetens the mule drink.
• Sugar: For the raspberry simple syrup, granulated sugar work best. If needed, use brown sugar as a substitute.
• Vodka: Use your favorite type of vodka. Tito’s, Deep Eddy, and Absolut work well for this recipe. If you have it, you can use a flavored raspberry vodka, but it is not necessary. If you prefer, you can use gin, tequilla or white rum instead of vodka.
• Lime Juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice always tastes best in cocktails. But if needed, you can use bottled lime juice.
• Ginger Beer: All classic moscow mules have ginger beer. This adds fizz and a slight ginger flavor. Ginger beer varies in the degree of spiciness — some brands have a much more zingy ginger flavor. Choose a brand you enjoy the taste of. You can use ginger ale instead, but this will make a much sweeter cocktail.

Equipment

• A small pan for making the simple syrup.
• A fine mesh strainer for separating out raspberry chunks from the syrup.
• Copper mugs to serve the raspberry mule in.
• A glass jar to store any leftover raspberry syrup.

Instructions

Step 1: First make the raspberry simple syrup. Add the raspberries, sugar and water to a small saucepan.

Step 2: Heat on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Use a fork to break apart the raspberries, releasing their juices. Continue to heat for 5 to 7 minutes until the sugar has completely dissolved. 

Step 3: Pass the raspberry syrup through a fine mesh strainer to remove the leftover raspberry chunks. Let the syrup cool for 5 minutes before using it in your mule.

Step 4: Add the raspberry simple syrup, vodka and lime juice to a copper mug filled with ice. Stir with a cocktail spoon to mix the ingredients together. Top with ginger beer and serve immediately.

Storing Leftover Raspberry Syrup

This recipe will make extra raspberry simple syrup. It is difficult to make the syrup in small enough quantities for a single drink without burning it. 

Let the syrup fully cool to room temperature before storing it in either the fridge or freezer.

• Fridge: Store in an airtight glass jar for up to 2 to 3 weeks.
• Freezer: Store in an airtight, freezer-safe glass jar for up to 2 months. Leave a bit of extra space in the jar to allow the liquid to expand once frozen. Let the syrup defrost overnight in the fridge before using.

Expert Tips

• Ginger beer and ginger ale are not the same thing. Although they sound similar, these two drinks are not the same and are not a substitute for one another. Make sure you are using ginger beer for this raspberry moscow mule.
• Don’t boil the raspberry syrup. The syrup should come to a very gentle simmer at most. Anything more than that and too much water will evaporate, making the syrup too thick.
• The raspberry syrup should have a liquid-like consistency. If it is thicker than this, you likely heated it for too long or at too high a temperature. Add it back to the pan on low heat and add 1 to 2 teaspoons of water at a time until it loosens up.
• 1 bottle of ginger beer will make about 2 drinks. Ginger beer is often sold in 8 oz  bottles. Therefore, one ginger beer will make two raspberry moscow mules. Consider making two drinks at a time so the rest of the ginger beer doesn’t go to waste.
• Garnish your drink. Ideas for garnishes include fresh or frozen raspberries, a sprig of mint or a lime slice.

Variations

• Non-Alcoholic Version: For a raspberry mule mocktail, leave out the vodka. Make sure the ginger beer you are using is completely alcohol free. Some brands have a very small quantity of alcohol in them.
• Ginger Beer Free Version: If you don’t have ginger beer or don’t like the taste of it, substitute it with lemon-lime soda instead for a more citrusy drink.
• Low Calorie Version: Replace the regular ginger beer with a diet ginger beer. This may slightly alter the taste.
• Moscow Mule Variations: Try one of these creative moscow mule drink recipes for other great moscow mule flavors.

FAQ

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