If you love Moscow mules, you will love this seasonal fruity recipe twist (the Blackberry Moscow Mule) that can be ready in less than 5 minutes.

The Blackberry Moscow Mule is easy to make, gorgeously colored thanks to a simple ginger and lime wedge, and garnished with fresh berries and mint leaves. It's the perfect summer sipping liquid!

If you enjoy experimenting with cocktails and are conscious of your health, you will love the Drink Pax Moscow Mule, a zero-calorie, zero-sugar version of this classic drink. It is easy to make and always a hit on any occasion.

This article will discuss how to make the Blackberry Moscow Mule. 

Ingredients for a Blackberry Moscow Mule

You’ll only need to grab a few ingredients at the store to make this delicious cocktail.

• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 ounces of vodka
• 4–6 ounces of ginger beer
• Plenty of crushed ice
• Fresh mint and 2 lime wedges for garnish

Tools you will need

To make this classic drink, you will need the following tools:

• Muddler
• Cocktail shaker
• Copper mug or glass
• Strainer

You may also like: Home Bartending Essentials: Tools You Need to Mix Like a Pro.

How to make a Blackberry Moscow Mule

• In a shaker, muddle the blackberries to release their juices.
• Add the lime juice, vodka, and ginger beer to the shaker.
• Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
• Strain the mixture into a Moscow Mule mug (or a regular glass if you don't have one).
• Fill the glasses with crushed ice.
• Garnish with extra blackberries, mint leaves, and lime wedge, and serve immediately.

Alternatively, you can make your favorite Moscow mule using our healthy cocktail & mocktail mix. Our mix makes it incredibly easy to enjoy this classic cocktail.  But it doesn’t stop there; including our mix into your mocktail or cocktail helps support your mental clarity, relaxation, and overall well-being.

Our product contains adaptogens, nootropics, and other natural ingredients to help you manage stress, improve focus, and enhance your mood. 

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1-2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 4oz club soda
• 1 Pax Moscow Mule for focus and relaxation
• 4–6 ounces of non-alcoholic ginger beer
• Plenty of crushed ice
• Fresh mint and 2 lime wedges for garnish

Instructions

• In a shaker, muddle the blackberries to release their juices.
• Add the club soda, non-alcoholic ginger beer, 1 Pax Moscow Mule, and lime juice to the shaker.
• Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds.
• Strain the mixture into a Moscow Mule mug (or a regular glass if you don't have one).
• Add ice.
• Garnish with extra blackberries, mint leaves, and lime wedge, and enjoy your drink.

Garnish ideas for Blackberry Moscow Mule

There are many creative ways to garnish your Moscow cocktail. Here are some interesting ones.

• Fresh blackberries skewered on a cocktail pick add a fun, fruity touch.
• A sprig of fresh mint not only looks appealing but also complements the tartness of the drink.
• Rather than lime, you could try lemon juice to make it feel a bit more fancy and French.
• Lime wheels or wedges for an extra splash of color and flavor.

Serving suggestions

This sweet and tart cocktail pairs well with light appetizers like goat cheese crostini, fresh salads, or grilled seafood. It’s ideal for summer parties, brunch, or any occasion where a refreshing cocktail is a must.

You may also like: Perfect Pairings: How to Match Cocktails and Mocktails with Your Meals.

Origin of the Moscow Mule

The Moscow Mule is among the world's most popular and recognizable cocktails. Its global presence seems to be without borders, but only a few people know much about its history and origins. 

In fact, most of the Moscow Mule's history is left to guesses and speculation, which is why there are a few different theories.

Let's do a quick review of some of these theories:

The Sophie theory

This theory suggests that its history begins with a Russian woman named Sophie Berezinski, who immigrated to the United States in 1941 with 2,000 pure copper mugs.

Sophie's father owned the Moscow Copper Co. in Russia, and she designed the original copper-made mugs herself. Despite their limited resources, they decided to sell the mugs in the USA.

Sophie's husband, who came with her to the USA, threatened to throw them out if she couldn't find a buyer. Not ready to abandon her goal, Sophie walked through Los Angeles.

She approached every bar, lounge, and restaurant to convince establishment owners to invest in the mugs. It was on this day that Sophie walked into a pub dubbed Cock ‘n' Bull in Ocean Park, California, and met with future partners to create the Moscow mule.

The West Coast theory

The West Coast Theory revolves around two characters, Jack Morgan and John G. Martin, who are in Los Angeles around the same time our protagonist, Sophie, is busy figuring out how to sell her copper mugs.

Jack Morgan is the owner of the aforementioned Cock ’n Bull pub in Ocean Park. His dream was to give the world an original, American-made ginger beer, and he was drowning in product throughout 1941.

John G. Martin, on the other hand, was the head of Heublein & Brothers. He had recently made the bold decision to purchase an entire distillery, leaving him with an unfathomable quantity of vodka and nowhere to put it.

Conveniently, Jack and John were longtime friends who found refuge in sitting together inside Jack's pub, drinking cold beer and mocking each other's failed business efforts. It just so happened that as they were doing this, on the day, Sophie Berezinski knocked on their door, offering to sell 2,000 copper mugs.

They created a Moscow Mule cocktail using these surpluses, which became an instant hit. This event can be said to be the beginning of the Moscow Mule's history. One man had a surplus of ginger beer, another had a surplus of vodka, and one woman had a plethora of copper mugs.

It is said that the Moscow Mule was first ever served to a celebrity named Broderick Crawford. After that, it spread like wildfire.  

Some historian's versions of this theory don't account for the existence of Sophie Berezinski. Instead, they argue that the Moscow Mule was actually created by Jack Morgan's girlfriend, Osalene Schmitt, who inherited a copper goods business and later designed and made copper mugs herself pushing them into the bar and pub industries through the Cock ’n Bull.

The Moscow Mule cocktail spread across America quickly, indicating that the duo had access to a local manufacturer of copper mugs rather than just the 2,000 that Sophie brought along.

The Big Apple theory

Around the time Sophie was settling down in the United States with her husband and 2,000 copper mugs, George Sinclair reported that the Moscow Mule had been born on the other side of the country: in Manhattan, New York.

The Big Apple theory suggests that the cocktail was actually born inside New York's Chatham Hotel in 1941 with Jack Morgan, John Martin, and Rudolph Kunett, and the story goes like this:

Like in the previous theory, Jack Morgan is still trying to sell his surplus American ginger beer to anyone who will listen.

While in New York, Jack and his close friend John Martin were seated at the bar inside of the Chatham Hotel. John Martin, the owner of Heublein & Brothers, is also sitting on a surplus of vodka due to his recent investment in a distillery.

They are joined by another friend, a man named Rudolph Kunett. Rudolph is the president of Pierre Smirnoff, the vodka division recently obtained by John Martin.

The two pondered about their spirit business and joked about combining the vodka with their friend Jack's homemade ginger beer. Then, they instructed the hotel bartender to mix up the solution, requested lime juice, and threw that. Ice was added, and the Moscow cocktail was born.

Of course, this story needs to account for how the cocktail came to be traditionally served in copper mugs. If Osalene Schmitt had really inherited her copper factory around the same period, it would make sense that Jack might have later proposed that they use her mugs as a serving vessel.

A 2007 theory disproved this theory, with Jack Morgan's head bartender, Wes Price, claiming the creation was a way to eliminate unsold inventory in the Los Angeles bar's cellar. Price argued that he was the one who mixed the first Moscow Mule and served it to the actor Broderick Crawford; after that, it spread like wildfire.

That said, Sophie seems to have a leg in each theory, and the name 'Moscow Mule' suggests a Russian origin in the mix. 

FAQs

Here are answers to some common questions about the Blackberry Moscow Mule: 

Can I use ginger ale instead of ginger beer?

If you can’t find spicy ginger beer, ginger ale can be an alternative. Just know that ginger ale will not give the same spicy kick and is much sweeter than ginger beer.

Can I make this without muddling?

Yes, you can; however, muddling will help release more of the blackberries' flavor.

What other fruits can I use in this recipe?

For a different flavor profile, you can use other fruits like raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, or another seasonal fruit of choice.

Is there a non-alcoholic version of the Blackberry Moscow Mule?

Yes! For a refreshing Moscow mule mocktail, simply replace the vodka with sparkling water or club soda.

Takeaway: The Blackberry Moscow Mule recipe is a bold and fruity twist on a classic

There’s nothing better than an ice-cold Moscow Mule on a hot day. Infusing blackberry into this classic gives it an exciting twist of fruity taste.

For a more mindful but refreshing twist on this classic, Drink Pax Moscow Mule Cocktail and Mocktail Mix can ease the process and offer health benefits.