Moscow mule: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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The Moscow Mule kicked off the vodka craze in the United States during the 1950s, when gin was the preferred "white" (clear) liquor. The cocktail was invented in 1941 by John G. Martin of G.F. Heublein Brothers, Inc., an East Coast spirits and food distributor, and John "Jack" Morgan, President of Cock 'n' Bull Products which produced ginger beer and proprietor of the Cock 'n' Bull Tavern, a bar on [[Sunset Boulevard]] in Los Angeles popular with celebrities. George Sinclair (2007) quotes from an article run in the ''New York Herald Tribune'': |
The Moscow Mule kicked off the vodka craze in the United States during the 1950s, when gin was the preferred "white" (clear) liquor. The cocktail was invented in 1941 by John G. Martin of [[Heublein Inc.|G.F. Heublein Brothers, Inc.]], an East Coast spirits and food distributor, and John "Jack" Morgan, President of Cock 'n' Bull Products which produced ginger beer and proprietor of the Cock 'n' Bull Tavern, a bar on [[Sunset Boulevard]] in Los Angeles popular with celebrities. George Sinclair (2007) quotes from an article run in the ''New York Herald Tribune'': |
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In some areas of the country, Moscow Mule is also referred to as a "Moose Can." |
In some areas of the country, Moscow Mule is also referred to as a "Moose Can." |
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In January 2009, the Moscow Mule made a major comeback as the Smirnoff Mule. Part of the re-launch is [http://www.itstartedwithamule.com A Classic Hollywood style website ]that tells the story of the Cock n Bull in Los Angeles (Amnesia Razorfish, 2009). |
In January 2009, the Moscow Mule made a major comeback as the Smirnoff Mule. Part of the re-launch is [http://www.itstartedwithamule.com A Classic Hollywood style website ]that tells the story of the Cock n Bull in Los Angeles (Amnesia Razorfish, 2009). |
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==Variations== |
==Variations== |
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Revision as of 20:10, 19 June 2009
| Cocktail | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cocktail |
| Base spirit | |
| Served | On the rocks: poured over ice |
| Standard drinkware | copper cup |
| Commonly used ingredients |
|
| Preparation | Mix ingredients together and serve |
| Notes | The proportion of ginger beer varies from 2 parts to 4 parts |
A Moscow Mule or Smirnoff Mule is a cocktail made with vodka, ginger beer, and lime. The name refers to the popular perception of vodka as a Russian product and the intense flavor "kick" of ginger beer.
History
The Moscow Mule kicked off the vodka craze in the United States during the 1950s, when gin was the preferred "white" (clear) liquor. The cocktail was invented in 1941 by John G. Martin of G.F. Heublein Brothers, Inc., an East Coast spirits and food distributor, and John "Jack" Morgan, President of Cock 'n' Bull Products which produced ginger beer and proprietor of the Cock 'n' Bull Tavern, a bar on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles popular with celebrities. George Sinclair (2007) quotes from an article run in the New York Herald Tribune:
The mule was born in Manhattan but "stalled" on the West Coast for the duration. The birthplace of "Little Moscow" was in New York's Chatham Hotel. That was back in 1941 when the first carload of Jack Morgan's Cock 'n' Bull ginger beer was railing over the plains to give New Yorkers a happy surprise...
Three friends were in the Chatham bar, one John A. Morgan, known as Jack, president of Cock 'n' Bull Products and owner of the Hollywood Cock 'n' Bull Restaurant; one was John G. Martin, president of G.F. Heublein Brothers Inc. of Hartford, Conn., and the third was Rudolph Kunett, president of the Pierre Smirnoff, Heublein's vodka division. As Jack Morgan tells it, "We three were quaffing a slug, nibbling an hors d'oeuvre and shoving toward inventive genius". Martin and Kunett had their minds on their vodka and wondered what would happen if a two-ounce shot joined with Morgan's ginger beer and the squeeze of a lime. Ice was ordered, limes procured, mugs ushered in and the concoction put together. Cups were raised, the men counted five and down went the first taste. It was good. It lifted the spirit to adventure. Four or five later the mixture was christened the Moscow Mule...
As suggested above and evidenced by an article run in Insider Hollywood the Moscow Mule was most popular in Los Angeles: "There is a new drink that is a craze in the movie colony now. It is called 'Moscow Mule'" (Gwynn, 27 December 1942).
The Nevada State Journal reinforced the Mule's popularity in reporting: "Already the Mule is climbing up into the exclusive handful of most-popular mixed drinks" (12 October 1943).
Legend has it that the Moscow Mule was served in a copper mug as part of its marketing. John G. Martin then launched a Moscow Mule marketing campaign targeting American bars, a strategy that played a major role in shifting the liquor market from gin to vodka.
In some areas of the country, Moscow Mule is also referred to as a "Moose Can."
In January 2009, the Moscow Mule made a major comeback as the Smirnoff Mule. Part of the re-launch is A Classic Hollywood style website that tells the story of the Cock n Bull in Los Angeles (Amnesia Razorfish, 2009).
Variations
- Mule's Kick, served over crushed ice in a copper (or other metal) mug, with no fruit.
- Three Legged Mule, with Jameson Irish Whiskey
- Manuka Mule, served with 42BELOW Manuka Honey vodka, adding a warm and spicy taste. Also known as Honey Bear in the UK.
- George Special, served with slice of orange instead of lime
- Garden Mule, served with fresh melon & cucumber slices crushed into a shaker (o. Severino)
- Vanilla Mule, served vanilla vodka, lime juice (and wedge), ginger beer, bruised mint leaves, over ice.
References
- Grimes, William (2001). Straight Up or On the Rocks: The Story of the American Cocktail. New York: North Point Press. ISBN 0-86547-601-2.