If you love Moscow Mules, you'll love this delicious Irish twist!

Made with Jameson Irish whiskey, ginger beer, lime juice, and muddled mint, this Irish Mule has everything you need to get you through the cold days of winter. It comes together quickly, with just a few ingredients, and can be made individually or for a crowd.

It's  the perfect cocktail for game days, St. Patrick's Day, or weekends with friends! Any way you mix it, it's sure to become a new favorite for whiskey lovers everywhere!

I tend to think there are two different kinds of people in the world: the vodka lovers and the whiskey lovers. And, for the most part, you're either one or you're the other.

For the longest time, I put myself in the vodka camp. I thought I didn't like whiskey. In fact, I was pretty much convinced I hated it. There was something about the smell... and the taste... but most definitely the smell, that got me every time.

And then I discovered Irish whiskey. And if you've ever had Irish whiskey, you know it's there's something different about it. Something delicious about it. So when I was out for drinks with a friend recently, and I saw an Irish whiskey cocktail on the menu, I didn't pass right over it like I would have in the past. Instead, I ordered it! And I loved every last sip of it.

And now... I'm sharing it with you!

Jump to:

• 🌿 Ingredients
• 📋 Instructions
• 🥃 Irish whiskey vs. American whiskey
• 🍋 Recipe variations
• 📍 Pro tips
• 🍹 Related recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Feedback

🌿 Ingredients

I love incorporating fresh ingredients into my cocktails, and I love that this recipe calls for both fresh mint AND fresh lime. I always get questions about the mint, since it's not an ingredient found in traditional Moscow Mules. Personally, I'm a big fan of the flavor it adds to the drink, but if you're skeptical, you can leave it out.

The one thing I would definitely NOT leave out is the fresh lime juice. Sure, you can use bottled juice in a pinch, but for optimal flavor a fresh squeezed lime is definitely worth it.

• 10 mint leaves, muddled
• 2 shots Jameson Irish Whiskey
• ¾ cup non-alcoholic ginger beer
• ½ lime, juiced
• 1 splash lime sparkling water (optional)

Obviously I used Jameson Irish Whiskey, but you can feel free to substitute any other brand you have on hand. Some other suggestions would be Tullamore Dew, Teeling, or Bushmills.

As for the ginger beer, be sure it's non-alcoholic. You can usually find it in the liquor section of your local grocery store. There are many different brands to choose from, but some of my favorites are Barritts, Gosling's, Fever Tree, or Smirnoff.

📋 Instructions

1. Muddle fresh mint leaves in a copper mug. You can either do this with a cocktail muddler, the back of a wooden spoon, a mortar and pestle, or any tool with a blunt end that won't pierce the mint.
2. Add whiskey, ginger beer, lime juice, and sparkling water. As with any recipe, the amounts are flexible. If you want a sweeter, less spirit-forward drink, add more ginger beer. If you're looking for more citrus, add more lime juice. The purpose of the sparkling water is to tone down the sweetness, so use it according to your tastes.
3. Add ice to the top rim. I used cubes, but crushed ice would also work well.
4. Garnish with fresh mint. This is purely for looks, as you won't actually be eating the mint leaves.

 

🥃 Irish whiskey vs. American whiskey

The main difference between the two is their primary ingredients. Irish whiskey is made primarily with barley, while American whiskey is made with corn, rye, or wheat. In terms of taste, Irish whiskey has a lighter and less sweet flavor than most American whiskey. This has to do with the combination of barley & malt, as well as the longer aging process that is used in Irish whiskey.

🍋 Recipe variations

If you're anything like me, experimenting with different drink variations can be a lot of fun. Here are some of our favorite substitutions:

• Substitute fresh basil for the fresh mint
• Omit the fresh mint altogether
• Substitute another type of citrus for the lime juice
• Use ginger ale in place of ginger beer for a milder taste
• Substitute your favorite whiskey for Jameson

📍 Pro tips

1. Use a copper mug. Traditional Moscow Mules are always served in a copper mug, not only for temperature purposes (the copper keeps the drink perfectly cold), but for taste purposes, as well. Copper is said to increase the fizziness of the ginger beer while also reducing the acidity and bringing out the best flavor in the limes. If you've tried a mule both ways, you'll agree that the copper mug really does make all the difference.
2. Use fresh limes. Since lime juice is a key ingredient in a Mule, freshness matters. The fresher the limes, the brighter and sweeter the juice and the better it will complement the flavor of the ginger beer.
3. Muddle that mint. One of my favorite parts of the Irish Mule is the mint, and you want to be sure you get enough of that delicious mint flavor. If you don't have a muddler, the end of a wooden spoon works just as well. And since the perfect amount of mint is all a matter of taste, feel free to experiment with more or less until you find the perfect balance.

🍹 Related recipes

In case it isn't clear by now, I REALLY love Moscow Mules. So much that I've made nearly every flavor I can think of! Check out some of my favorites, as well as these other delicious cocktail recipes!

• Orange Moscow Mule
• Pomegranate Moscow Mule
• Moscow Mule Sangria
• Pineapple Moscow Mule
• Apple Moscow Mule
• Cranberry Mule
• Whiskey Sour
• Vodka Cranberry
• Irish Mimosa
• Irish Mudslide