Fresh Citrus Summer Mule Cocktail Recipe
When the weather warms up, I start craving sparkling citrusy cocktails! Ok, who am I kidding. I crave cocktails even when it’s pouring rain! This Fresh Citrus Summer Mule Cocktail Recipe has fresh orange juice, lime juice, vodka, and is topped off with ginger beer. Honestly, whether it’s the middle of summer or the dead of winter, this bright, fizzy, citrusy drink is the perfect cocktail!
But since Summer is around the corner, let’s chat all things Summer! There’s something about an ice-cold cocktail, the smell of BBQ in the air, and a favorite playlist that screams Summer has arrived. And this fun twist on a classic Moscow mule recipe is literally Summer in a glass!
A traditional Moscow mule recipe has 3 simple ingredients — fresh lime juice, vodka, and ginger beer. Because of these 3 simple ingredients, it’s an incredibly easy cocktail recipe to make. Most likely you already have the ingredients, so no need to run to the grocery store.
It’s also an easy recipe to tweak…..and you know how much I love to shake things up a bit….pun intended. For this version, you’ll need to break out your juicer and squeeze some oranges, because you’ll be adding fresh orange juice. The orange juice adds a pop of citrusy goodness and takes the flavor to the next level!
Why You’ll Want to Make this All Summer Long:
Easy – you don’t have to be a professional bartender (or have any fancy bartender tools) to make this! And, there’s a high probability you already have all the ingredients.
Refreshing – the zippy tang of the ginger beer and the sweetness of the orange create a really refreshing drink…..perfect poolside, or lounging on your favorite chair in the backyard.
Party Ready – this is such an easy cocktail to make for a crowd! Squeeze the juice early in the day (I highly recommend using an electric juicer to make it quick and easy), and you’ll be able to whip this up easily for all your friends and family.
Star Ingredients:
ORANGES: You can use any type of orange depending on the season.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Cara Cara oranges— they are less acidic and more sweet than navel oranges and, bonus, are also seedless.
Blood oranges – these have a floral taste compared to a navel orange, and are known for their vibrant color which makes for an absolutely gorgeous cocktail. Fun fact — their color comes from an antioxidant called anthocyanin.
Valencia oranges — these originated in Valencia, Spain and are also on the sweeter side. They are a larger size and also produce more juice than regular oranges.
VODKA – Because there are only a few ingredients, it’s important to use a really high-quality vodka. I love using a local distillery or small batch, like Oola, but Tito’s and Ketel One are also solid choices.
GINGER BEER – Because it’s one of the main ingredients, it’s important to use a really good ginger beer. I’m a huge fan of Fever-Tree ginger beer because it has a good punch of ginger flavor.
If you’re looking for a milder ginger beer I highly recommend Q Ginger beer. It’s lime forward flavor enhances the fresh lime juice in the cocktail. I also love that Q ditches high fructose corn syrup and uses agave which is a much healthier sweetener option.
If you really like a spicy ginger kick, then I’d recommend Reed’s.
FAQS
Is ginger beer the same thing as ginger ale?
Ginger beer and ginger ale have 2 things in common: they are both non-alcoholic and both have a ginger flavor. Ginger ale has a much more delicate ginger flavor and is sweeter, while ginger beer has a stronger and spicier ginger flavor. If you substitute ginger ale for ginger beer your cocktail will have a much different flavor profile. It will like the balance of spice and citrus, and be a lot sweeter.
If ginger beer is too strong for you, instead of substituting ginger ale, add some club soda to mellow out the spice. Play around with different ratios and find one that tastes good to you!
Do you need a cocktail shaker?
Nope! This cocktail can be made directly in your glass or copper mug, no shaker required.
Can I make this a mocktail?
Yes! This makes a DELICIOUS mocktail! Leave out the vodka and add lemonade or limeade for a refreshing and delicious mocktail.
How to make this citrus mule:
STEP 1: Squeeze fresh orange juice and fresh lime juice. Then add ice to a cocktail glass and swirl it around to get the glass nice and cold. Traditionally, this cocktail is served in copper mule mugs which keep the cocktail nice and chilled. If you don’t have a copper mug, no worries! Freeze your glasses beforehand or swirl a few ice cubes around in your glass before making the citrus mule.
STEP 2: Once you have juice and a cold glass, add the juice to the glass with the gin, and give it a stir.
STEP 3: Fill the glass to the top with ginger beer and a splash of simple syrup.
Other ways to elevate this classic cocktail:
Use rosemary simple syrup. Heat equal parts water and granulated sugar in a pan on the stove with a sprig or two of fresh rosemary. Once the sugar completely dissolves, remove from heat and let cool. Discard rosemary sprigs and pour simple syrup into mason jar.
Use cold ginger beer (instead of room temperature straight from the cupboard) — this drink should be ice cold, so cold ginger beer is a great way to keep things nice and cool.
Add a sprig of fresh mint, wedge of lime or a sliced orange wheel for a pretty garnish
Use fresh lemon juice instead of fresh lime juice.
Now that temps are heating up, I can’t wait for you to try this fresh citrus summer mule!! The citrusy flavor paired with the spice of ginger will make this your new favorite cocktail. It’s sure to make your happy hour this Summer even happier!
If you make this recipe, I’d love if you’d leave a comment and let me know how it turned out! Your comments are super helpful to other guests who swing by looking for tasty recipes. Cheers!
