Apple Cider Mule Cocktail Drink

Apple Cider Mule

A shot of Gavin Wrigley looking to the camera in a dimly lit room
Written by Gavin Wrigley
Andrea
Tested by
Andrea Ottaiano

Are you craving a tasty autumn cocktail? This Apple Cider Mule recipe is just the ticket! It’s a flavorful drink that’s easy to make with readily available ingredients.

Apple Cider Mule Recipe

Get cozy with our easy Apple Cider Mule recipe this fall! This comforting cocktail will make you love the mix of vodka, apple cider, ginger beer, and fresh lime.

Prep time:

1 minute

Mixing time:

1 minute

Servings:

1

Calories:

147 kl

Ingredients

  • oz Vodka
  • ½ oz fresh lime juice
  • 2 oz Apple Cider
  • 2 oz Ginger Beer
  • Apple slices and cinnamon sticks, for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Copper Mug or Highball Glass
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Stirrer or Bar Spoon

Instructions

  • Prep Mug: Fill your copper mug or highball glass with ice cubes.
  • Add Lime Juice: Measure and pour ½ oz fresh lime juice into the glass.
  • Add Vodka: Pour 1½ oz Vodka over the ice.
  • Add Apple Cider: Add 2 oz Apple Cider to the mix.
  • Add Ginger Beer: Pour together with the apple cider 2 oz Ginger Beer.
  • Stir Gently: Use a bar spoon to stir the ingredients gently.
  • Garnish: Place apple slices and a cinnamon stick into the glass for garnish.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Vodka: If you don't have vodka on hand, you can use bourbon for a richer, deeper flavor. I've also used tequila for a unique twist on this cocktail.
  • Fresh Lime Juice: In a pinch, bottled lime juice can work, but fresh is always best. You could also try lemon juice for a slightly different citrus kick.
  • Apple Cider: If you're out of apple cider, apple juice can be used as a substitute. It won't have the same depth of flavor, but it will still give you that apple taste.
  • Ginger Beer: If you're not fond of ginger beer's spiciness, use ginger ale instead. It's sweeter and less spicy but still adds a nice ginger flavor.

Making a Pitcher:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of vodka, 4 oz of fresh lime juice, 16 oz of apple cider, and 16 oz of ginger beer.
  • Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the vodka, lime juice, apple cider, and ginger beer. Stir well.
  • Serve: Pour the mixture into ice-filled copper mugs or highball glasses, garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Vodka Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic vodka substitute; these are available and do a decent job mimicking vodka's neutral flavor.
  • Ginger Beer Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic ginger beer or a simple soda water infused with ginger syrup.
  • Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.

Making it Vegan:

This cocktail is already vegan-friendly as it doesn't contain any animal products. Ensure that the apple cider you're using is vegan (most are, some brands may use animal-derived filtering agents).

Nutrition Facts

Calories
147
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
0.1
g
0
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.01
g
0
%
Sodium
 
7
mg
0
%
Carbohydrates
 
13
g
4
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
 
11
g
12
%
Potassium
 
75
mg
2
%
Protein
 
0.1
g
0
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.02
g
Vitamin A
 
8
IU
0
%
Vitamin C
 
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
8
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.2
mg
1
%

 

Apple Cider Mule Cocktail Drink

Apple Cider Mule Recipe

Gavin Wrigley Written by Gavin Wrigley
Jump to Video
Get cozy with our easy Apple Cider Mule recipe this fall! This comforting cocktail will make you love the mix of vodka, apple cider, ginger beer, and fresh lime.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 1 minute
Servings: 1
Calories: 147

Ingredients
 

  • oz Vodka
  • ½ oz fresh lime juice
  • 2 oz Apple Cider
  • 2 oz Ginger Beer
  • Apple slices and cinnamon sticks - for garnish, optional

Equipment

  • Copper Mug or Highball Glass
  • Measuring Jigger
  • Stirrer or Bar Spoon

Instructions

  • Prep Mug: Fill your copper mug or highball glass with ice cubes.
  • Add Lime Juice: Measure and pour ½ oz fresh lime juice into the glass.
  • Add Vodka: Pour 1½ oz Vodka over the ice.
  • Add Apple Cider: Add 2 oz Apple Cider to the mix.
  • Add Ginger Beer: Pour together with the apple cider 2 oz Ginger Beer.
  • Stir Gently: Use a bar spoon to stir the ingredients gently.
  • Garnish: Place apple slices and a cinnamon stick into the glass for garnish.

Notes

Substitutes:

  • Vodka: If you don't have vodka on hand, you can use bourbon for a richer, deeper flavor. I've also used tequila for a unique twist on this cocktail.
  • Fresh Lime Juice: In a pinch, bottled lime juice can work, but fresh is always best. You could also try lemon juice for a slightly different citrus kick.
  • Apple Cider: If you're out of apple cider, apple juice can be used as a substitute. It won't have the same depth of flavor, but it will still give you that apple taste.
  • Ginger Beer: If you're not fond of ginger beer's spiciness, use ginger ale instead. It's sweeter and less spicy but still adds a nice ginger flavor.

Making a Pitcher:

  • Scale: To make a pitcher that serves 8, multiply all the ingredients by 8. That would be 12 oz of vodka, 4 oz of fresh lime juice, 16 oz of apple cider, and 16 oz of ginger beer.
  • Mix: In a large pitcher, combine the vodka, lime juice, apple cider, and ginger beer. Stir well.
  • Serve: Pour the mixture into ice-filled copper mugs or highball glasses, garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick, and serve immediately.

Making it Non-Alcoholic:

  • Vodka Substitute: Use a non-alcoholic vodka substitute; these are available and do a decent job mimicking vodka's neutral flavor.
  • Ginger Beer Substitute: Opt for a non-alcoholic ginger beer or a simple soda water infused with ginger syrup.
  • Proceed As Usual: Use these non-alcoholic substitutes instead of the regular ingredients, follow the original steps, and enjoy a non-alcoholic version.

Making it Vegan:

This cocktail is already vegan-friendly as it doesn't contain any animal products. Ensure that the apple cider you're using is vegan (most are, some brands may use animal-derived filtering agents).

What is an Apple Cider Mule?

An Apple Cider Mule is a vodka-based cocktail made of apple cider, ginger beer, and lime juice. This drink is relatively easy to make as it only requires combining these three ingredients in appropriate proportions. It’s a variant of the well-known Moscow Mule, with apple cider adding a seasonal twist to the traditional recipe. The drink stands out for its perfect balance between ginger beer’s sharpness and apple cider’s sweetness, making it an ideal choice for autumn or winter gatherings.

A side shot of a Apple Cider Mule cocktail in a highball glass on a wooden coaster placed on a wooden tray surrounded by apple slices, a wooden board and a knife.

What is an Apple Cider Mule made of – The ingredients

Before starting on your Apple Cider Mule, assemble these ingredients:

  • Apple Cider: Adds a sweet and tangy flavor, giving the drink its signature apple taste.
  • Vodka: Provides the alcoholic base for the cocktail, enhancing the overall flavor.
  • Ginger Beer: Gives the mule its characteristic spicy kick and fizzy texture.
  • Lime Juice: Balances out the sweetness of the cider with a sour note.
  • Ice Cubes: Chills the drink, making it more refreshing.
  • Cinnamon Stick: Used as a garnish, it infuses a subtle warm spice into the drink.
  • Apple Slices: Used for garnishing, they enhance the apple flavor and add visual appeal to the cocktail.

Vodka, lime juice, apple Cider, ginger beer laid out on a white bar table.

How do you make an Apple Cider Mule?

With our simple instructions, you can learn to create an Apple Cider Mule:

1
<p>Take a fresh lime and cut it into wedges. Squeeze 1/2 of the juice into the glass over the ice cubes.</p>

Take a fresh lime and cut it into wedges. Squeeze 1/2 of the juice into the glass over the ice cubes.

2
<p>Add 1 1/2 ounces of vodka to the glass. You can use any brand of vodka you prefer, but a high-quality vodka will give your Apple Cider Mule a smoother taste.</p>

Add 1 1/2 ounces of vodka to the glass. You can use any brand of vodka you prefer, but a high-quality vodka will give your Apple Cider Mule a smoother taste.

3
<p>Pour two ounces of apple cider into the glass. Again, the quality of the cider can significantly affect the overall taste of the drink, so choose a cider that you enjoy.</p>

Pour two ounces of apple cider into the glass. Again, the quality of the cider can significantly affect the overall taste of the drink, so choose a cider that you enjoy.

4
<p>Add, together with the apple cider, two ounces of ginger beer to the mixture. The ginger beer adds a spicy kick to the drink and complements the sweetness of the apple cider.</p>

Add, together with the apple cider, two ounces of ginger beer to the mixture. The ginger beer adds a spicy kick to the drink and complements the sweetness of the apple cider.

5
<p>Stir the ingredients together gently with a long spoon or a cocktail stirrer. You want to make sure that the flavors are well combined, but you want to avoid stirring so vigorously that you lose the carbonation from the ginger beer.</p>

Stir the ingredients together gently with a long spoon or a cocktail stirrer. You want to make sure that the flavors are well combined, but you want to avoid stirring so vigorously that you lose the carbonation from the ginger beer.

6
<p>Garnish the drink with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick. The apple slice adds a fresh, crisp element to the drink, while the cinnamon stick enhances the warm, spicy flavors.</p>

Garnish the drink with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick. The apple slice adds a fresh, crisp element to the drink, while the cinnamon stick enhances the warm, spicy flavors.

Variations

Want to uncover more styles? We’ve highlighted our preferred selections:

  • Caramel Apple Cider Mule: This rendition sweetens the mix with caramel vodka instead of the usual, adding a rich, sugary twist that enhances the overall sweetness. The inclusion of caramel complements the apple’s natural flavors beautifully, making it a warm, inviting choice for chilly evenings. I really enjoy the sweet, comforting flavor of caramel in this; it makes sipping it feel like a special treat.
  • Spiced Apple Cider Mule: This takes the traditional base and infuses it with cinnamon and other spices, often using a spiced rum or cinnamon whisky to amplify the warmth. This blend of spices adds a delightful complexity that warms you up from the inside, perfect for brisk fall days. I love how the spices make the whole experience more vibrant and festive.
  • Cranberry Apple Cider Mule: Here, cranberry juice joins the ensemble, introducing a tart counterpoint to the sweet and spicy notes of the base ingredients. Additionally, the cranberry lends a vibrant color to the presentation, making it as appealing to the eye as it is to the palate. The tartness of the cranberry is something I particularly appreciate, as it adds a refreshing zest that balances the sweetness of the apple cider.

A Apple Cider Mule cocktail, shot from above, in a highball glass on a beige table surrounded by Vodka, lime juice, apple Cider, ginger beer

History and Origin

The Apple Cider Mule cocktail is a tasty mix of apple cider, vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Its story starts with two drinks: the Moscow Mule and traditional apple cider.

In the 1940s, the Moscow Mule first came to life. John Martin had just bought Smirnoff vodka but found it hard to sell in America, where people loved whiskey. Jack Morgan, who owned the Cock ‘n’ Bull pub in Los Angeles, had too much homemade ginger beer. They decided to work together and created the Moscow Mule to help sell their products.

Apple cider has been around for a very long time. It started around 55 BC when Romans invaded England. They found the locals drinking something made from apples. This fermented apple juice became popular all over Europe and then traveled to North America with early settlers.

The Apple Cider Mule is a mix of these two drinks. It has yet to be determined precisely when or where someone first made this combination. But it probably happened during the late 20th and early 21st centuries when bartenders started trying new flavors and putting a spin on classic drinks.

 

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FAQ

How many calories does an Apple Cider Mule contain?
An average serving contains approximately 150-200 calories. However, this can vary depending on the specific ingredients used and their quantities.
What is the strength of the Apple Cider Mule?
The strength of an Apple Cider Mule typically ranges from 10-15% ABV (Alcohol by Volume), which translates to 20-30 proof. This makes it a relatively mild cocktail compared to others.
What type of alcohol is used in an Apple Cider Mule?
The primary alcohol is vodka. Some recipes may include a splash of apple brandy or bourbon for added depth and complexity.
In what kind of glass should I serve an Apple Cider Mule?
Traditionally, you serve the drink in a copper mug. This enhances the presentation and helps keep the drink chilled longer.
What does an Apple Cider Mule taste like?
It offers a delightful balance of sweet, tart, and spicy flavors. The sweetness comes from the apple cider, the lime juice tartness, and the ginger beer spiciness.
What is the ratio of ingredients in an Apple Cider Mule?
A standard recipe calls for a ratio of 1 1/2 oz of Vodka, 1/2 oz of Fresh Lime Juice, 2 oz of Apple Cider, and 2 oz of Ginger Beer.
How should I serve an Apple Cider Mule?
Serve your cocktail over ice in a copper mug. This method, known as "on the rocks," ensures the drink remains cold and refreshing.
Is there a specific time or season to enjoy an Apple Cider Mule?
While you can enjoy the drink any time of the year, it's trendy in the fall when apple cider is in season.
Can I prepare an Apple Cider Mule ahead of time for a party?
Absolutely! You can mix the apple cider, vodka, and lime juice ahead of time and refrigerate it. If you want, add ginger beer and ice to maintain its fizziness before serving.

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