Pumpkin Pie Mule

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Cocktail History

The Pumpkin Pie Mule is a Novel Nightcaps original cocktail that was created as an autumn variation of my Holiday Gin Mule, Winter Gin Mule, and Spring Gin Mule. This fall take uses the typical combination of vodka, citrus, and ginger beer and infuses it with a homemade pumpkin spice syrup, making for a deliciously spiced drink that offers a perfect balance of zesty citrus, the heat of ginger, and the rich, cozy notes of pumpkin and baking spices.

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.

Vanilla Vodka: This is a type of vodka made with fermented grains or potatoes and water, which are distilled and then infused with vanilla to develop a sweet, spiced flavor.

Pumpkin Spice Syrup: This is a sweetener made with pumpkin purée, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, brown sugar, white sugar, and water, which are heated and infused into a syrup with a spiced, autumnal flavor.

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

Cinnamon Stick: This is a spice made from dried and rolled bark of the cinnamon tree that has a warm, sweet-spicy flavor.

Brands I Used

• 🔗 Q Mixers Premium Ginger Beer
• 🔗 Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
• 🔗 Simply Organic Cinnamon Sticks

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.

Lowball Glass: This is a short, wide glass with a thick base that’s used for serving cocktails with ice or spirits neat.

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
• 🔗 Anchor Hocking Manchester Rocks Glass

Tasting Notes

This cocktail has the following flavor profile:

• Appearance: Creamy orange hue

• Aroma: Ginger, pumpkin, and a hint of vanilla

• Taste: Smooth blend of spicy ginger beer, creamy pumpkin pie flavor, and the warmth of vodka with a touch of cinnamon

• Finish: Crisp and refreshing notes of ginger and baking spices

Kendall’s Take
“Vodka, lime, and ginger beer already make an iconic trio, and the addition of pumpkin pie spice syrup in place of the vintage template’s simple is a natural fit. The warm baking spices mingle with the zingy ginger for a drink that’s bright yet dessert-like at the same time. To me, the Pumpkin Pie Mule is refreshing and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat in copper mug form.”

Recipe