Kentucky Mule
Bourbon Smash garnished with mint and lemon.
The Kentucky Mule: A Bourbon Take on a Classic
The Kentucky Mule is what happens when bartenders take the Moscow Mule and swap vodka for bourbon. The Moscow Mule was created in the early 1940s in Los Angeles, pairing vodka with ginger beer and lime. As the drink spread across the country, bartenders started experimenting with regional spirits, leading to variations like the Mexican Mule with tequila and the Kentucky Mule with bourbon.
The recipe is simple: bourbon, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice served over ice in a copper mug. The copper mug isn't just for looks - it keeps the drink cold and adds to the whole experience, though a regular glass works fine if that's what you have.
For bourbon, use something from Kentucky if you want to keep it traditional. Bulleit, Maker's Mark, Four Roses, or Jim Beam all work great. You don't need top-shelf stuff since the ginger beer and lime are doing a lot of the work, but pick something you'd actually want to drink.
Ginger beer is the key ingredient here. It's spicier and less sweet than ginger ale, giving the drink that signature kick. Brands like Fever-Tree, Gosling's, or Reed's are solid choices. Fresh lime juice is mandatory - bottled lime juice will make this taste flat and artificial.
Making it is dead simple. Fill your copper mug or glass with ice, add two ounces of bourbon and half an ounce of fresh lime juice, top with ginger beer, stir gently, and garnish with a lime wedge and mint sprig.
The Kentucky Mule has gained serious popularity in recent years, sometimes even overtaking the original Moscow Mule at bars. The bourbon brings warmth and complexity that vodka can't match, making it more interesting to drink.
It works year-round too. Refreshing enough for summer but the bourbon and ginger make it feel right even in cooler weather. The drink is versatile - some people add muddled mint or berries, but the classic three-ingredient version holds up just fine on its own.
RECIPE:
2 oz bourbon
½ oz simple syrup
½ oz fresh lemon juice
Fresh mint leaves
Method:
Muddle mint with simple syrup and lemon juice in shaker.
Add bourbon and ice, shake.
Strain into ice-filled glass and garnish with mint.