Glasgow Mule

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Cocktail History

The Glasgow Mule is a modern cocktail that was created by Damon Boelte at Prime Meats in New York City, New York.

Designed to showcase the bold flavors of Scotch, the recipe swaps out the neutral vodka used in the original for the smoky whisky, adding a robust and complex base. Sweet lemon juice then takes the place of tart lime, giving the drink a softer citrus profile, while elderflower liqueur contributes floral notes that complement the Scotch’s depth. Meanwhile, aromatic bitters bring balance, softening any sharp edges, and ginger beer provides the signature Mule effervescence. This modern twist transforms a simple classic into a rich, multifaceted beverage.

Cocktail Ingredients

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ginger Beer: This is a carbonated beverage made with ginger root, and yeast or ginger culture, water, and sugar, which are infused with carbon dioxide gas to develop a fizzy, spicy flavor.

Scotch: This is a type of whisky made in Scotland with malted barley or grains and yeast, which are distilled and then aged in wooden barrels to develop a smoky, complex flavor.

Lemon Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe lemons that has a sweet, tangy flavor and light yellow color.

Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflower blossoms, distilled alcohol, water, and sugar, which are blended and infused to develop a light, floral flavor.

Aromatic Bitters: This is a concentrated flavoring made with a blend of herbs, spices, roots, and botanicals, and distilled alcohol, which are macerated or steeped to develop an aromatic, bittersweet flavor.

Candied Ginger: This is a type of confection made by cooking ginger root in sugar syrup, then applying a sugar coating and drying it to develop a chewy texture and sweet, spicy flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Fentimens Traditional Ginger Beer
• 🔗 The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky
• 🔗 St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 🔗 Angostura Aromatic Bitters
• 🔗 The Snackery Dried Candied Ginger Slices

Bartending Tools

To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:

Bar Mat: This is a rubber or silicone mat that’s placed on the bar surface and used for catching spills, providing grip for glasses and tools, and keeping the workspace clean and organized.

Jigger: This is a small double-sided tool with different volume measurements on each side that’s used for accurately portioning ingredients.

Boston Shaker: This is a two-piece cocktail shaker made with a large metal tin and a second tin or mixing glass that’s used for shaking and chilling cocktail ingredients.

Hawthorne Strainer: This is a flat metal strainer with a handle and a coiled spring around the edge that’s used for straining shaken cocktails from a shaker while holding back ice and solids.

Cutting Board: This is a flat, durable kitchen surface made from materials like wood or plastic that’s used for slicing ingredients and preparing garnishes.

Paring Knife: This is a small kitchen knife with a narrow, sharp blade that’s used for peeling fruit and trimming garnishes.

Electric Citrus Juicer: This is a kitchen appliance with a motorized reamer that’s used for quickly extracting juice from citrus fruits.

Fine Mesh Strainer: This is a mesh metal strainer with a tightly woven bowl and handle that’s used for straining out small ice shards and other solids while pouring cocktails from a shaker or mixing glass.

Measuring Cup: This is a kitchen tool with a handled cup and marked volume measurements that’s used for accurately measuring and pouring liquid ingredients.

Cocktail Pick: This is a small, slender skewer made from metal, wood, or bamboo that’s used for holding cocktail garnishes in place.

Moscow Mule Mug: This is a metal or glass mug with a handle, traditionally made from copper, that’s used for serving Moscow Mules and other chilled cocktails.

Tools I Used

• 🔗 A Bar Above 18×12 Premium Bar Mat
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Japanese Jigger
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Boston Shaker
• 🔗 A Bar Above Stainless Steel Hawthorne Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife
• 🔗 BLACK+DECKER 32 oz Electric Citrus Juicer
• 🔗 Barfly Silver Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Cocktail Strainer
• 🔗 OXO Good Grips 2 Cup Angled Measuring Cup
• 🔗 I-MART Gold Metal Cocktail Pick Set
• 🔗 History Company Crystal Glass Moscow Mule Mug Set

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Pale yellow color

• Aroma: Lemon and ginger

• Taste: Tangy citrus combined with ginger, florals, and earthy Scotch

• Finish: Pleasant lemon and more ginger burn

Kendall’s Take: “What a unique Moscow Mule variation this is. It probably lands at the bottom of my list of favorite recipes that use the Mule template but not because it isn’t tasty. It’s just not what I’d consider to be as good as several others. The Scotch is a cool twist when paired with the lemon and spicy ginger. The elderflower is pretty unnecessary for balance and complexity though. Overall, I do think it’s worth trying this at least once, but the Glasgow Mule likely won’t be a go-to for me.”

Recipe

This cocktail recipe was adapted from Winter Drinks: 70 Essential Cold-Weather Cocktails by the editors of PUNCH.