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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 agave, sugar, and alcohol that is aged in an underground pit lined with wood. I used Creyente Mezcal Joven.
Ginger Wort: This is a made with ginger root, brown sugar, lime juice, and water.
Lime Juice: This is the liquid juice of a lime. I used freshly squeezed lime juice.
Passion Fruit Purée: This is a fruit spread made with puréed passion fruit, sugar, and water. I used homemade passion fruit purée.
Agave Syrup: This is a sweetener that is made from the fluid inside agave plants. I made mine using this stovetop recipe.
Cucumber Slice: This is a cucumber slice that has been thinly cut into wheel shape.
Candied Ginger: This is a slice of dried ginger root that has been rolled in sugar.
Tajín: This is a Mexican spice made with peppers, lime, and salt.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. I used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Muddler: This is used to muddle ingredients. I used the HQY Stainless Steel Cocktail Muddler.
Boston Shaker: This is used to shake ingredients. I 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. I used the A Bar Above Hawthorne Strainer.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. I used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Juicer: This is used to juice citrus, fruits, and vegetables. I used the ALEEHAI Manual Fruit Juicer.
Cocktail Pick: This is used to hold the garnish. I used one from the KingSeal Bamboo Knot Cocktail Pick Set.
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 2024-11-14.
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 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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.”
Recipe
This cocktail recipe was adapted from Mezcal + Tequila Cocktails: Mixed Drinks for the Golden Age of Agave by Robert Simonson.
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 2024-11-14.
Mezcal Mule
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.
Ingredients
Method
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Add three cucumber slices and agave syrup to a shaker.
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Muddle gently for 5-7 seconds.
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Add mezcal, ginger wort, lime juice, passion fruit purée, and cubed ice to shaker.
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Shake for 10-20 seconds.
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Strain into a Moscow Mule mug or lowball glass over fresh cracked ice.
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Garnish with remaining cucumber slice and candied ginger.