Copper has been used for thousands of years as a drinking vessel. In ancient Ireland, people drank from a copper goblet called an escra, and the yogis of India used copper cups. The American colonists drank from copper mugs, including the Virginia tankard, dating from 1645, and the flaggon with its generous three-cup capacity. And, in the 1940s the Moscow Mule came to town, a cocktail with a kick that demanded its own copper mug.
Most cocktails require specific glassware for their drinks—the highball and the martini glass, for example—however, the copper mug for the Moscow Mule is a must. If the old stories about the genesis of the drink are correct (they are mostly unanimous with a few variations) then it goes like this. In the early 1940s, John Martin was the president of G.F. Heublein & Brothers, an East Coast food and spirits importer best known for introducing A-1 Steak Sauce to America. Sometime in the 1930s, Martin, in an effort to market the next cocktail craze, purchased a small vodka distillery called Smirnoff for $14,000. Yes, that Smirnoff. Back then, very few people drank vodka because most had never heard of it, let alone tasted it.
One day, while Martin was visiting his friend Jack Morgan who owned the Cock n Bull pub on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, he bemoaned the fact that he couldnt sell his vodka. Morgan complained he couldnt sell his ginger beer, a side passion of his that saw cases of it sitting in his restaurants basement. And a third person (never identified in any of the stories) lamented that she had copper mugs that she either didnt want or need. Enter the brainstorm. Could all three benefit from combining their losses? The vodka and ginger beer were mixed with a dash of limejuice and served in copper mugs, imprinted with a kicking mule.
In one of the most successful marketing campaigns in cocktail history, Martin combined these three seemingly hopeless endeavors into one of the most popular drinks of the 1950s and early 1960s. Advertised as the Smirnoff Mule, magazine ads and posters across the nation showed celebrities Woody Allen, Monique Van Vooren, Julie Newmar, “Killer” Joe Piro, and Dolores Hawkins enjoying this tasty drink.
The result was that the Moscow Mule became a huge hit within a few years, helped by the Hollywood set and their affinity for the latest cocktail trends. Copper mugs were soon ordered across the country to support the lively libation.
But, as popular as it was, the original Moscow Mule is rarely seen outside of vintage magazine ads. Although, in 1996, a ready-to-drink version of the Smirnoff Mule was re-introduced in a copper bottle.
As a testament to the correctness of the drink, you can still by original copper mugs from the 1940s at flea markets and on eBay. Some companies even market a set of four copper mugs for about $120. The original copper mugs weighed eight ounces and measured three and a quarter inches tall with a three-inch diameter base. The underside was imprinted with the words, “A Cock n Bull product.”
To make your own Moscow Mule, mix two ounces of vodka, four ounces of ginger beer (ginger ale will suffice, but ginger beer is preferred) and one ounce of lime juice. Garnish with a lime wedge. Make sure that youve properly served it in your copper mug, and enjoy.
Moscow mule purists know that tradition isn’t the only reason the drink is served in a copper mug: The cold metal insulates the temperature of the chilled ginger beer, keeping the cocktail cool and refreshing. Some experts say that the mug enhances the individual flavors of the ginger beer, vodka, and lime.
Whether Morgan and Martin realized it or not, the copper mugs were the perfect glass for a mule. Copper is very good at conducting temperature, so when an ice cold mule is poured inside, the glass actually takes on that temperature and keeps the drink frosty cold longer. Also, there is research to support that the copper interacts with the drink and actually enhances the tangy flavors of ginger and lime in the cocktail.
Now as for the copper mug, some stories say Morgan had a girlfriend who owned a copper company. Other stories say it was a Russian immigrant who was selling copper for cheap to make ends meet that owned the copper mugs. Either way, Morgan and Martin found cheap copper mugs readily available and, combined with the tangy flavors of the mule, they hit the jackpot.
The history is fuzzy (as is the case with most cocktail legends), but it appears that the copper mug for a Moscow mule could have started as a mere coincidence. Most historians agree that the Moscow Mule was invented sometime around 1940 by Jack Morgan and John Martin. Morgan was the owner of the Cock ‘n’ Bull restaurant in LA and Martin was the newly minted owner of Smirnoff vodka. As legend would have it, the two were having trouble selling their drinks to the public (Cock ‘n’ Bull ginger beer and Smirnoff vodka), so they decided to combine the two to make the Moscow Mule. (We’re pretty glad that worked out!)
If you’ve made it this far, then we know you’re ready for a mule! Head over to Tricky Fish in Richardson, Texas or Fort Worth, Texas and join us for lunch, happy hour, or dinner. We’ll show you what a great Moscow mule tastes like!
In one of the most successful marketing campaigns in cocktail history, Martin combined these three seemingly hopeless endeavors into one of the most popular drinks of the 1950s and early 1960s. Advertised as the Smirnoff Mule, magazine ads and posters across the nation showed celebrities Woody Allen, Monique Van Vooren, Julie Newmar, “Killer” Joe Piro, and Dolores Hawkins enjoying this tasty drink.
But, as popular as it was, the original Moscow Mule is rarely seen outside of vintage magazine ads. Although, in 1996, a ready-to-drink version of the Smirnoff Mule was re-introduced in a copper bottle.
To make your own Moscow Mule, mix two ounces of vodka, four ounces of ginger beer (ginger ale will suffice, but ginger beer is preferred) and one ounce of lime juice. Garnish with a lime wedge. Make sure that youve properly served it in your copper mug, and enjoy.
Most cocktails require specific glassware for their drinks—the highball and the martini glass, for example—however, the copper mug for the Moscow Mule is a must. If the old stories about the genesis of the drink are correct (they are mostly unanimous with a few variations) then it goes like this. In the early 1940s, John Martin was the president of G.F. Heublein & Brothers, an East Coast food and spirits importer best known for introducing A-1 Steak Sauce to America. Sometime in the 1930s, Martin, in an effort to market the next cocktail craze, purchased a small vodka distillery called Smirnoff for $14,000. Yes, that Smirnoff. Back then, very few people drank vodka because most had never heard of it, let alone tasted it.
As a testament to the correctness of the drink, you can still by original copper mugs from the 1940s at flea markets and on eBay. Some companies even market a set of four copper mugs for about $120. The original copper mugs weighed eight ounces and measured three and a quarter inches tall with a three-inch diameter base. The underside was imprinted with the words, “A Cock n Bull product.”
Are Copper Moscow Mule Mugs DANGEROUS???
FAQ
Why is a Moscow Mule made with a copper cup?
Can a Moscow Mule be served in a glass?
Can you have a Moscow Mule without a copper mug?
Do Moscow Mule mugs need to be solid copper?
Why is Moscow mule served in a copper mug?
Moscow mule purists know that tradition isn’t the only reason the drink is served in a copper mug: The cold metal insulates the temperature of the chilled ginger beer, keeping the cocktail cool and refreshing. Some experts say that the mug enhances the individual flavors of the ginger beer, vodka, and lime.
How do you serve a Moscow mule?
Whiskey is served in lowball glasses. Margaritas are served in large glasses. Just like the above-mentioned drinks, a Moscow Mule is best enjoyed when served in a cold copper mug. A traditional copper mug heightens all individual flavors, raises the aroma, and gives a distinctive look to the Moscow Mule cocktail.
What is a Moscow mule mug?
Though the Moscow Mule takes its name from a city in Russia, it is a thoroughly American invention. It even has a few variations like the Mexican Mule or the Kentucky Mule. One common thing is that mules should always be served in copper mugs. Why are copper mugs so vital to enjoy a traditional Moscow Mule drink? Let’s find out.
Can you drink from a Moscow mule mug?
Copper mugs are safe to drink from, and most Moscow mule mugs are coated with another material to prevent the risk of copper exposure. Even if you drink from an unlined mug, copper poisoning is unlikely unless you consume a large amount of copper.