How to make a Pumpkin Spice Mule (Pumpkin Spice Drink)

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Singing with warming spices, the Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule is a spicy, crisp drink. This twist on a classic cocktail gets fall flavors from homemade pumpkin spice syrup. Makes 1 drink.

Love unique Moscow Mules? Don’t miss Dark and Stormy (Rum Moscow Mule), Apple Pie Moscow Mule and Gin Gin Mule!

Three Pumpkin Mules, garnished with cinnamon sticks and lime wedges, surrounded by limes, pumpkin and a jigger on marble

Hooray, hooray! It’s time September’s Moscow Mule, and I’m really pumped to share this one.

Real talk: Pumpkin flavored recipes have not always been my jam. While I love most of the fall flavors in pumpkin pie spice, I dislike nutmeg.

Which is why we’re making our own pumpkin spice syrup for this cocktail so that I could omit it and bring it all the other warming spices we know and love and associate with the fall. 😉

If you’re on the lookout for a new favorite fall drink, THIS IS IT.

Why I love this recipe:

This Pumpkin Mule is the stuff dreams are made of—sugar, spice, everything nice. Which includes vodka and ginger beer.

It’s a delicious Pumpkin Spice cocktail to sip that mixes up easy and quick.

This pumpkin drink just requires four ingredients, and once you make that homemade pumpkin simple syrup, you can make spiced mules all fall long!

More Moscow Mule recipes: Raspberry Moscow Mule | Blood Orange Mocktail Mule | Strawberry Moscow Mule | Irish Mule | Cranberry Moscow Mule (Yule Mule)

Looking for some more fall recipes? Check out my Fall Recipe Index.

Ginger beer, vodka, pumpkin spice syrup and lime juice on marble before the cocktail is mixed

What you’ll need to make this recipe:

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Copper mugs or any other glasses you’d like to serve your Pumpkin Spice Mule in
Citrus juicer or a citrus reamer
A jigger or a mini stainless steel angled measuring cup

Let’s talk ingredients!

In addition to the tools above, you’re going to need some ingredients to make this recipe, too! Chances are, you might already have some of them in your fridge or pantry. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full measurements and instructions.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Pumpkin Spice Syrup—I made mine at home, but you can purchase it from the store, too. It gets flavor from pumpkin puree, a cinnamon stick, sugar and a few other spices. You can use it to make homemade Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, too!
Ginger beer—this is going to add the bubbles! You could use ginger ale if you don’t have ginger beer, but I really like the ginger kick that the ginger beer provides.
Vodka—a good drinking vodka that hasn’t been infused or flavored.
Lime—we need this for its juice. You can also purchase the freshly squeezed stuff in a jar in the refrigerated section of your grocery

A jar of Pumpkin Spice Syrup sits on marble with a cinnamon stick and pumpkin puree behind it

How to make a Pumpkin Spice Mule

Scoop ice into your glass of choosing—a copper mug looks pretty, though I like these smaller glasses that I used to showcase the ombre look of this drink!

Measure in the ginger beer, lime juice and vodka, and stir.

Top with the pumpkin simple syrup to create the ombre look.

Stir with a cocktail spoon.

Garnish with a lime wedge, and enjoy immediately.

How to make this into a Pitcher Mule:

To make a pitcher for six, combine the following in a pitcher.

18 oz. ginger beer
9 oz. vodka
3 oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
4 ½ oz. pumpkin spice syrup

Serve over ice with a lime wedge garnish.

If you’re going to mix this drink in advance, mix the vodka, lime juice and syrup. Stir them together and chill. Right before you’re ready to serve, pour in the ginger beer so it’s nice and bubbly.

Ginger beer pours into a glass from a gold jigger

Vodka is poured into a glass of ginger beer

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again—mules are fun party drinks! They require few ingredients and are easy to prep.

They are also simple for guests to put together on their own if given the option.

If you’re going to host a gameday get together, serve these festive twists on classic mules on a “Mule Bar” in your kitchen. This is a fun way to transform a space in your home and make it fun—for both you and guests.

How do you make a mule bar? Here’s what you do…

Set out measuring tools. If you’re feeling fancy (and I advise to always feel fancy!), use large mason jars to hold the vodka, lime juice and pumpkin spice syrup. Add labels so guests know which is which.
One to two hours before the party, squeeze the limes. You can also purchase freshly squeezed lime juice in the refrigerated section at the grocery. Don’t purchase the shelf-stable stuff—we want this as fresh as possible!
Quarter the limes in advance. Keep ‘em in a food storage container in the fridge. On the Mule Bar, 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.)

A glass of Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule on marble, before garnishes are added

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make this Fall Moscow Mule stronger?

If you don’t think this drink is strong enough for you, add additional vodka by the ½ oz. until it tastes strong enough.

This drink is really bitter. Can I add extra sweetener?

If you find this drink not sweet enough, add extra pumpkin simple syrup by the ¼ oz. The Pumpkin Spice Syrup is really strong, so you could possibly overwhelm the drink with spices, so sip and decide what works best for you.

Also, if it’s not sweet enough, you could add a splash of ginger ale for sweetness and to not overwhelm the flavor balance.

Can I mix a Pumpkin Spice Mule in advance and store it for later?

You can… to an extent. However, if you add the ginger beer and store it in the fridge, the ginger beer will go flat.

If you want to mix this early, mix the vodka, lime juice and pumpkin spice syrup and chill. Top with ginger beer when it’s time to serve.

Do I have to make my own pumpkin spice syrup? Could I use the kind from the store?

If that makes making this vodka cocktail easier on you, do that.

Is there a specific brand of vodka I should use?

Nope—use whatever vodka you’ve got on hand. I recommend using a brand that’s not the bottom shelf vodka since you’re going to taste it in this drink, but you do you.

Our favorite brand is Tito’s because #texasforever.

What is the best brand of ginger beer?

Our family really likes Sprouts’ brand ginger beer, as well as Fever Tree. Fever Treeis spicy and that it could be overwhelming for some.

Is ginger beer alcoholic?

Look at the label of your ginger beer, but generally speaking, it is not. That said, there are trace amounts of alcohol in ginger beer due to how it’s brewed. The levels are similar to that of kombucha.

Overhead of three Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mules on a wooden serving dish next to to limes, a jigger and a bowl of pumpkin puree

Quick tips for making a Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule

Make your pumpkin spice syrup early. It keeps in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, so put it together, and let it hang out.
Always use fresh lime juice! It makes a HUGE difference.
Turn it into a pitcher drink! Use your math skills to turn this mule into a pitcher.

A singular glass of Pumpkin Spice Mule on marble with a bowl of pumpkin puree behind it

Other pumpkin cocktails to mix:

1 drink

Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Singing with warming spices, the Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule is a spicy, crisp drink. This twist on a classic cocktail gets fall flavors from homemade pumpkin spice syrup.

Ingredients

Pumpkin Spice Syrup (Makes 16 ½ oz. servings)

½ cup water
½ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie spice)
1 cinnamon stick
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ginger allspice
¼ teaspoon ground cloves

Pumpkin Spice Mule

3 oz. ginger beer
½ oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 ½ oz. vodka
¾ oz. pumpkin spice syrup
Ice, for serving
Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions

Make the Pumpkin Spice Syrup

Mix water and sugar together in a small saucepan.
Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat. Continually stir/swirl the ingredients as they cook until the sugar has dissolved.
Remove from the heat.
Stir in the pumpkin puree, cinnamon stick, ginger, allspice and cloves.
Steep the ingredients for 30 minutes to 1 hour, then remove the cinnamon stick (or leave it in for stronger flavor.)
Transfer to a mason jar, and let cool completely before transferring to the refrigerator.

Make the Pumpkin Spice Mule

Add ice to a glass or copper mug.
Pour in the ginger beer.
Add the lime juice and vodka. Stir.
Top with pumpkin simple syrup.
Stir with a cocktail spoon, then add a lime wedge, and enjoy immediately.

Notes

If you like your drinks a little stronger, use 3 ½ oz. of ginger beer instead of 4 to give your drink a little more of a punch!

To make a 6-drink pitcher, combine the following:

18 oz. ginger beer
9 oz. vodka
3 oz. lime juice, freshly squeezed
4 ½ oz. pumpkin spice syrup

Serve over ice in glasses with a lime wedge garnish.

If you want to mix your pitcher early, add the vodka, lime juice and pumpkin spice syrup. Chill in the fridge, then top with the ginger beer when about to serve.