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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. The recipe is built using what is traditionally a simple Moscow Mule template, but this version increases the complexity by calling for smoky Scotch in place of vodka and sweet lemon juice instead of tart lime. And it also adds in floral elderflower liqueur and aromatic bitters that round out the harsh edges of the whisky.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Scotch: This is a type of whiskey made in Scotland with malt or grain, spices, alcohol, and water. We used The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky because its smoky and sweet flavor works well in cocktails. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Green Label Single Malt Whiskey Non-Alcoholic Alternative in place of the whisky.
Lemon Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lemon. We used freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Elderflower Liqueur: This is a liqueur made with elderflowers, citrus, herbs, sugar, and alcohol. We used Edinburgh Gin Distillery Elderflower Gin Liqueur because it’s high quality and has a fresh, floral aroma and flavor. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Monin Premium Elderflower Syrup in place of the elderflower liqueur.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Aromatic Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters.
Ginger Beer: This is a carbonated beverage made with ginger spice, yeast, and sugar. We used Q Mixers Ginger Beer because it has a delicious ginger flavor that is sweetened with agave syrup.
Candied Ginger: This is a slice of dried ginger root that has been rolled in sugar.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. We used the Boston shaker from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Hawthorne Strainer: This is used to strain out ice and solid ingredients after the cocktail is shaken. We used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus. We used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. We used one from the I-MART Stainless Steel Cocktail Pick Set.
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Tasting Notes
The Glasgow Mule features scents of lemon and ginger, which lead into a taste beginning with citrus followed by a tasty combination of ginger, florals, and earthy Scotch. The aftertaste then has a pleasant mix of lemon and Scotch that balance each out perfectly aside from a bit of ginger burn.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This recipe was interesting. While we’re totally behind the idea of a lemon-accented Scotch Mule, our only hang up was the inclusion of elderflower. As tasty as it was to both of us, the floral notes clashed a bit with the rest of the ingredients and didn’t really feel like an extremely necessary addition overall.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I really enjoyed the idea of this drink, as a sort of Scottish version of a Moscow Mule. Since lime and Scotch really wouldn’t mix well, the lemon was a good call, and this combination with ginger beer was a win. That said, I couldn’t really figure out where the elderflower worked in; it tasted fine with it, but its floral accents seemed a bit out of place. I feel as if the drink would fare just as well if not better without it. I did still really enjoy the recipe for what it was, but I don’t know that the elderflower really worked aside from playing the part of ‘bartenders ketchup’ for which it’s known.”
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 though; I’m in agreement with Alex on that take. Overall, I do think it’s worth trying this at least once, but it 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.
This post contains affiliate links, meaning we make a small commission each time you purchase a product using our links. Product images sourced from Amazon Product Advertising API. Amazon affiliate links last updated on 2024-10-03.
Glasgow Mule
The Glasgow Mule is a modern cocktail that was created by Damon Boelte at Prime Meats in New York City, New York. The recipe is built using what is traditionally a simple Moscow Mule template, but this version increases the complexity by calling for smoky Scotch in place of vodka and sweet lemon juice instead of tart lime. And it also adds in floral elderflower liqueur and aromatic bitters that round out the harsh edges of the whisky.
Ingredients
Method
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Add Scotch, lemon juice, elderflower liqueur, bitters, and cubed ice to a shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a lowball glass or Moscow Mule mug over fresh cracked ice.
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Top with ginger beer.
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Stir gently for 3-5 seconds.
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Garnish with candied ginger.