Unless you were hiding under a rock lately, you must have noticed the frenzy over the Moscow mule, a cocktail that uses ginger beer and lime which is served in Moscow mule copper mug. So is this the new fad in town? Or it is here to stay? Based on the continuous demand in the bars that I visited, I can certainly say, it is here to stay.
This recipe was extremely popular in 1940’s. Celebrities in Hollywood started drinking and as usual, the public followed them and made this a popular cocktail. But over a period of time, it slowly lost its appeal like any other trend. After a popular television personality recommended it on her show, it regained its lost craze.
The History of Moscow Mule and Copper Mugs
The creation of the Moscow mule was credited to a chance meeting of three friends in Chatham bar in 1941. One of the three friends was John A. Morgan, president of Cock ‘n’ Bull Products who also owned the Hollywood Cock ‘n’ Bull Restaurant. The second one was Rudolph Kunett, president of the Pierre Smirnoff, and the third one was John G. Martin of Heublein, a spirits and food distributor.
Later on, several recipes were created to prepare the Moscow mule. Martin and Kunett mixed ginger beer, alcohol, lemon juice and ice into a concoction using mugs.
The three friends named the mixture Moscow mule. Martin even ordered specially engraved mule mugs to market the new cocktail. The copper mugs with the mule logo would later become inseparable from the drink and contributed to the success of the Smirnoff Company.
Resurgence of Moscow Mule Copper Mugs
These mugs have seen a tremendous resurgence in popularity over the last few years. In certain parts of the country, the bar attendants are holding the patrons’ ID, to make sure they aren’t taking the mugs with them. Today these mugs have an ultra-stylish modern look. Some have a smooth shiny surface and others have a hammered copper look. They also come in different shapes like barrel shapes and drum shapes.
What Are These Mule Mugs Are Made Of?
A majority of today’s mugs are copper-plated outside and lacquered for a long-lasting beautiful look. The inside might have a nickel or tin or stainless steel lining. However, the Moscow mule mugs that are made of 100% copper are also available, but be prepared to spend more.
If you don’t consume alcohol beverages, you can use these mugs with non-alcoholic drinks like soda and lemon juice too. Ginger beer, which is one of the mule ingredients, has also seen an increase in popularity as more and more people are embracing the Moscow mule mug trend.
If you are wondering what makes the Moscow mule so special in copper mugs, you might just need to try it for yourself!