How to Make a Gin Gin Mule (Moscow Mule with Gin)

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Floral and zesty with a bit of zing, the Gin Gin Mule is a perfect summertime drink. This twist on a classic Moscow Mule calls for gin instead of vodka. Makes 1 drink.

Loving this unique take on a Moscow Mule? Be sure to check out Dark and Stormy (Rum Moscow Mule), Mexican Mule, Irish Mule and Kentucky Mule, too!

Two copper mugs garnished with lime rounds and mint are shown in a brown serving tray holding Gin Gin Mules

The Year of the (Moscow) Mule rolls on, this time with a refreshing summery drink highlighting GIN!

Enter… the Gin Gin Mule.

This cocktail was originally created by Audrey Saunders of New York City’s Pegu Club and is a nod to both the Moscow Mule and a mojito.

What does this mean? The original recipe uses gin instead of vodka, like you would in a regular ‘ol Moscow Mule. It also calls for muddled mint. However, I decided to stay closer to a Moscow Mule by forgoing the muddled mint. (If you want to do that, though, have at it!)

Fun fact: We call this gin and ginger beer drink a Gin Gin Mule because it includes gin, the liqueur, and gin in the form of ginger beer. 🙂

Obviously, this gin cocktail is wonderfully refreshing and light. Combined with the zingy ginger beer and the zesty tartness of the lime juice, the floral notes of the gin really sing.

Looking for some more gin recipes? Check out my Gin recipe index.

A bottle of Hendrick's gin sits with a bottle of ginger beer, lime juice and simple syrup in a brown serving platter

What you’ll need to make a Gin Gin Mule

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Copper mugs
Citrus juicer or a citrus reamer
A stainless steel angled measuring cup or a jigger for measuring

In addition to these tools, you’re going to need a few ingredients to make this gin and ginger beer drink:

Ginger beer—this isn’t the same as ginger ale, nor is it a beer flavored with ginger. It’s a nonalcoholic drink that you can find in most stores in the drink aisle with other carbonated beverages.
Gin—a London dry is preferable for this recipe, though a blend like Hendricks is also OK
Simple syrup—you can make your own simple syrup or you can purchase a bottle from the store
Lime juice—squeeze it yourself or purchase the cold-pressed lime juice from the refrigerated section of the grocery store. The shelf-stable bottled lime juice just doesn’t taste the same.
Ice, fresh mint and lime rounds for serving

Collage showing how to make a moscow mule with gin

How to make a Gin Gin Moscow Mule

First and foremost, place your ice into a copper mug (or the cocktail glass of your choosing.)

Measure out the gin, ginger beer and simple syrup with a measuring cup or a jigger.

Squeeze in the lime juice, and stir with a cocktail spoon.

Garnish with a sprig of mint and a round of lime, and enjoy immediately.

Overhead close up of a mule mug holding a Gin Gin Mule on top of a blue striped towel on a brown serving platter

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—mules are wonderful party drinks!

Why? They require few ingredients and are incredibly easy to prepare partially in advance. They are also simple enough for guests to put together on their own if given the option.

If you’re going to host a summer gathering where you serve these Gin Gin Mules, I suggest turning a surface of your kitchen or outdoor area into a “Mule Bar.”

How do you make a mule bar?

Set out measuring tools for your guests on the Mule Bar. If you’re feeling fancy, get out large mason jars for the gin, lime juice and simple syrup.
Purchase simple syrup—or make yours well in advance, and keep cool in the fridge until it’s go-time.
One to two hours before the party, squeeze the limes and get that juice ready. (You can also purchase freshly squeezed lime juice in the refrigerated section of your grocery.) Please note that if you juice the limes earlier, the juice will become more potent.
Place your mint in a mason jar of water. Guests can pluck their garnish from the bunch!
Slice the lime rounds, too! Place them in a bowl.
Print out the ingredients and measurements, and place them in a frame (or in a place on the bar where spilled ingredients won’t bother them.)

Two Gin Gin Mules in copper mugs on a marble surface sit next to a blue striped towel, lime rounds and mint leaves

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this Moscow Mule a gin drink?

We are swapping out vodka, the traditional alcohol of a mule, for another spirit: gin.

Is there a specific brand of gin I should use?

No, there isn’t a specific brand that needs to be used in this cocktail. We used Hendrick’s Gin because that’s what we had on hand, and it was really great.

If you don’t know your gin, I’d reach out to someone at your local liquor store who’s knowledgeable and who can help you choose a bottle. (This is what I do whenever I visit the liquor store and don’t feel confident in my ability to choose a good bottle.)

I think it’s important that you don’t purchase a bottom shelf bottle of gin because you taste the gin in this drink and obviously, we want it to taste good.

I will say: a dry gin would be better here, if you’re going to the store. Hendrick’s worked because of its cucumber and rose notes, but gins, by and large, have so many different flavors that some would not work when paired with the ginger beer.

What is London dry gin?

OK. So this style of gin originated in England, but it’s produced around the world. (It’s not like champagne where it can only come from London. #themoreyouknow)

Dry gin has no added artificial flavorings, meaning the flavors you get in the gin are all natural from the botanicals used during the steeping process. Some of these dry gins are steeped with citrus peels or other botanicals.

If you’re interested in learning about different types of gin, I enjoyed this article from Bon Appetit.

Can I make this into a pitcher drink?

You sure can! To make a pitcher that serves six, combine 24 oz. ginger beer, 12 oz. gin, 6 oz. simple syrup and 3 oz. lime juice in a pitcher. Pour over ice in mule glasses and garnish with mint.

What is the best brand of ginger beer?

Our family really likes Sprouts’ brand ginger beer, as well as Fever Tree. Be forewarned if you purchase the Fever Tree that it is extremely spicy and that it could be overwhelming for some.

Is ginger beer alcoholic?

Read the label of your ginger beer to confirm, but generally speaking, it is not. Technically, there are trace amounts of alcohol in ginger beer due to how it’s brewed, but the levels are similar to that of kombucha.

Two full copper mugs garnished with lime and mint sit wrapped in a blue striped towel

Quick tips for making a Gin Gin Mule

If making a batch of mules, prep your ingredients before you start mixing ‘em.
Always use fresh lime juice because it adds beautiful acidity to this cocktail.
If you don’t know your gin, ask for help at your liquor store to choose the perfect one. Tell the person helping you that you’re making a Gin Gin Mule.
Turn it into a pitcher drink! Quadruple the recipe (or multiply it by six) to turn this festive mule into a Gin-Gin Mule Pitcher.

1 drink

Gin-Gin Mule

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Floral and zesty with a bit of zing, the Gin Gin Mule is a perfect summertime drink. This twist on a classic Moscow Mule calls for gin instead of vodka.

Ingredients

4 oz. ginger beer
2 oz. gin (London dry preferred, though a blend like Hendricks is also OK)
1 oz. simple syrup
½ oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed (about ½ a lime)
Ice, for serving
Fresh mint, for garnish
Lime rounds, for garnish

Instructions

Place your ice into a copper mug (or the cocktail glass of your choosing.)
In a copper mug (or your favorite cocktail glass), measure out the ginger beer, gin, simple syrup and lime juice.
Add ice, and stir with a cocktail spoon.
Garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime round. Enjoy immediately!

Notes

We found that the gin gets lost if you use less gin in this cocktail, so don’t use less! 🙂

Is there a specific brand of gin I should use in this drink?

No, there isn’t a specific brand! I used Hendricks, which is technically a blended gin, because that's what we had on hand, but any gin that's on the drier end of the scale would be great. (Dry gins are considered this because there are no artificial flavors added to them. So while they might have citrus or licorice notes, these are naturally occurring from the botanicals used in the brewing and steeping process.)

If you don’t know your gin, I’d reach out to someone at your local liquor store who’s knowledgeable and who can help you choose a bottle. This is what I do whenever I visit the liquor store and don’t feel confident in my ability to choose a good bottle.

That said, it’s important that you don’t to purchase a bottom shelf bottle of gin because you taste the gin in this drink and obviously, we want it to taste good.

Can I make this into a pitcher drink?

You sure can!

To make a pitcher that serves six, use the following: