Made with Irish whiskey instead of vodka, this Irish Mule is a light and refreshing cocktail which can be enjoyed on St. Patrick's Day or any time of year.

When it comes to St. Patrick's Day, I love me some Irish-themed recipes - from smoked corned beef to Irish coffee cake to Baileys ice cream.
And while most think of Guinness on this holiday, I wanted to change it up with some Irish whiskey.
No this isn't a traditional drink on St. Patrick's Day, but with spring just around the corner, I figured something bright and refreshing with some green in it would make this Irish Mule appropriate. And if you are up for a different drink, try this Jameson whiskey sour.
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Ingredient Notes
- Irish Whiskey - used instead of vodka. Irish whiskey is more fruity and smoother than bourbon.
- Lime - only freshly-squeeze lime juice. No bottle lime juice.
- Ginger beer - there are a ton of ginger beer options out there, so use your favorite.
Step-by-Step Photos
Pour Irish whiskey and lime juice into a mug filled with crushed ice. Top with ginger beer and stir to combine. Garnish with some lime.
FAQs
If you believe history, the Moscow Mule was created as a way to get rid of excess vodka and copper mugs. Even if it isn't true, I'm glad it was invented!
The original Moscow Mule got its name because Americans associated vodka with Russia. This uses Irish whiskey instead, hence the name.
This is an Irish mule for a reason so you've got to use a whiskey from Ireland. Some of my favorites are Knappogue Castle, Slane and Green Spot.
The main benefit of using copper mugs is temperature. The metal quickly takes to the icy temperature of the cocktail which creates a tasty chilled drink. You can buy copper mugs on Amazon.
Types of Ginger Beer
Luckily for everyone, there is no shortage of options for ginger beers. However, which one to pick for this Irish Mule?
- Fever-Tree - has a strong ginger flavor without being overpowering.
- Gosling's - nice balance of spice and sweetness.
- Bundaberg - the Australian ginger beer is great for Mules.
- Q Ginger Beer - has some added carbonation.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- While store-bought bottles can be quite convenient, they lack in flavor compared to the real thing. It really isn’t that much extra work to freshly squeeze the lime and you’ll notice a difference in taste.
- Used crushed ice which will make the drink colder quicker.
- If you like a sweet drink, stir in honey or maple syrup 1 teaspoon at a time until you like it.
- Garnish the mule with some fresh herbs like mint.
Other Cocktails
If you’ve tried this Irish Mule or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Irish Mule
Ingredients
- 2 oz Irish whiskey
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz ginger beer
- lime wedges for garnish
Instructions
- Fill cocktail shaker with ice ¾ of the way. Add whiskey and lime juice and shake until chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a mug, preferably copper, filled with crush ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime.
Notes
- While store-bought bottles can be quite convenient, they lack in flavor compared to the real thing. It really isn’t that much extra work to freshly squeeze the lime and you’ll notice a difference in taste.
- Used crushed ice which will make the drink colder quicker.
- If you like a sweet drink, stir in honey or maple syrup 1 teaspoon at a time until you like it.
- Garnish the mule with some fresh herbs like mint.
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