Name: Mezcal Mule
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 1.5 fl oz Mezcal; 1 fl oz Ginger Wort; 0.75 fl oz Lime Juice; 0.75 fl oz Passion Fruit Purée; 0.5 fl oz Agave Syrup; 4 Cucumber Slices; 1 Candied Ginger Piece; 1 tsp Tajín

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Cocktail History

The Mezcal Mule is a modern cocktail that was created in 2008 by Jim Meehan at PDT in New York City, New York. The recipe is based on the Moscow Mule template but is largely unrecognizable thanks to its base spirit of mezcal and omission of ginger beer in favor of a homemade ginger wort. It then adds in lime, passion fruit, and cucumber to balance out the spiciness and tops it all with a sprinkling of Tajín.

Cocktail Ingredients

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

Mezcal: This is a spirit made in Mexico with fermented agave and yeast, which are distilled after roasting agave hearts in underground pits to develop a smoky, complex flavor.

Ginger Wort: This is an unfermented base made with ginger, water, and sugar, which are boiled or steeped to extract flavor before the fermentation or carbonation process.

Lime Juice: This is the liquid extracted from the flesh of ripe limes that has a zesty, sour flavor and light green color.

Passion Fruit Purée: This is a spread made with passion fruit pulp and sugar, which are blended into a thick, tropical-flavored condiment.

Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener made with agave plant sap that’s extracted, filtered, and heated to convert its sugars into a syrup with a mild, honey-like sweetness.

Cucumber Slices: This is a piece of cucumber that has been cut into a thin circular shape.

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.

Tajín: This is a seasoning made with ground chili peppers, dehydrated lime, and salt that has a tangy, mildly spicy flavor.

Brands I Used

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.

Muddler: This is a handheld bar tool with a thick handle and flat or textured end that’s used for crushing ingredients to release their flavors.

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

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Orange-yellow color

• Aroma: Verdant cucumber, fruit, and pepper

• Taste: Spiced mezcal-laced flavor cooled off by cucumber, passion fruit, and ginger

• Finish: Small touches of chile spice and citrus

Kendall’s Take: “This has to be the most interesting Moscow Mule I’ve tried yet, mostly because it doesn’t come across as one all that much due to there being no fizzy carbonation. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work though! It absolutely does. The ginger is still quite prominent but is delivered in a slightly different format than would be expected in a cocktail bearing its name. The mezcal is also there, but I didn’t find it overwhelming enough to inherently dislike the drink. I liked this a fair amount and could see myself trying it again when I’m feeling adventurous.”