Let's get lucky with this festive Irish mule! Made with fresh mint, lime juice, Irish whiskey and spicy ginger beer, this mule cocktail recipe makes for one crowd-pleasing, refreshing sipper. It's perfect for St. Patrick's Day or any casual evening on the patio when you need a cooling drink. Sláinte!
Why You Need to Make This Cocktail
St. Patrick's Day calls for a good Irish whiskey cocktail. My Jameson old fashioned, Irish whiskey smash and Baileys Irish coffee martini are a few favorites, and now we can add this Irish mule to our St. Patrick's Day cocktail menu.
As a twist on the classic Moscow mule cocktail, an Irish mule, also known as a Dublin mule, replaces vodka with Irish whiskey, which is an incredibly smooth liquor that imparts notes of fruit, caramel and oak. This makes for an even more complex, flavorful cocktail that everyone will love.
Plus, mule cocktails are as easy as it gets when it comes to mixology, which is great if you're hosting a St. Patrick's Day party. You don't have to mess with any fussy ingredients or preparation steps. Sure, we lightly muddle some mint, but this just takes a few twists of the wrist.
With its crowd-pleasing flavors and ease of preparation, this Irish mule is truly the perfect party cocktail.
Bonus: If you love this Jameson mule, make sure you also try my London mule and Kentucky mule!
Ingredients
Obviously, the most important ingredient here is our Irish whiskey. While you can certainly use your favorite, Jameson Irish Whiskey is the most popular distillery for this liquor and my go-to.
Also, please note that mules call for ginger beer, not ginger ale. Both are delicious, but ginger beer has a distinctive flavor and spicier kick you won't get with ginger ale.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Now let's start mixing. We grab our copper mug, add fresh lime juice and mint leaves, and lightly muddle (photo 1).
Our mint leaves are delicate, so we don't need rip them apart. Just a few twists is enough to release the oils to flavor our drink.
Step 2: After muddling, we add the most important ingredient -- our Irish whiskey (photo 2).
Step 3: From here, we add a handful of ice and give it a quick stir to chill our whiskey and lime juice.
Step 4: Now we pour in our ginger beer and give it another stir to combine (photo 4).
For the finishing touch, we garnish with a mint sprig and sip the night away.
Recipe FAQs
Irish whiskey has such strict standards that it has its own legal definition. According to the Irish Whiskey Act of 1980, this liquor must be distilled in Ireland from a mash of cereals, including malted barley. Conversely, American whiskey can include a variety of grain mashes, such as rye, wheat and corn.
In addition to its specific grain bill, Irish whiskey must age in wooden barrels for at least three years. Irish whiskey is also triple distilled, which makes for a silky smooth finish. You can't deny the passion Irish people have for their whiskey.
I love serving any mule cocktail in a copper mug. Thanks to the copper, our drink stays insulated for an extra cold and refreshing sipper. And look at that lovely presentation -- it's a nice touch.
That said, if you don't have a copper mug, you can still serve this cocktail. While not traditional, an old fashioned glass will hold this drink just fine. I don't want you to miss out just because you don't have the classic copper mug.
You might wonder if this is a particularly stiff drink with ginger beer, but ginger beer is nonalcoholic. It’s carbonated like beer to give us those refreshing, delightful bubbles, but it’s only here to give us that spicy ginger kick.
In fact, if you’d like a nonalcoholic Irish mule, simply leave out the whiskey. Muddle the lime and mint and add the ginger beer, and you’ll have one tasty mocktail.
Expert Tips
- Pick limes that feel plump with some give when you press into them. If they’re hard as a rock, that’s a sign they’re dried out.
- Before juicing the lime, firmly roll it on the countertop under the palm of your hand. This helps release the juices.
- Want to enjoy a fruity spin? Muddle some fruit of your choice with the mint.
- Don't have a muddler? You can use a wooden spoon to get the same effect. That said, if you enjoy making cocktails at home, it's worth picking up a proper muddler.
- Before adding the fresh mint garnish, place the sprig in the palm of one hand and quickly clap your other hand on top. This releases the oil to make for a more fragrant drinking experience.
- If possible, chill the ginger beer before serving. This will keep your drink ultra refreshing and prevent too much ice dilution.
Perfect Pairing
To keep with the Irish spirit, let's enjoy this cocktail with some festive recipes. With the spicy ginger, you will love this Irish whiskey cocktail with my slow cooker Guinness corned beef, which simmers with a medley of of warm spices and seasonings. My Guinness lamb stew is also a wonderful option.
You will also love this Irish cocktail with my Irish whiskey chocolate cake with Baileys mousse. Chocolate is wonderful with ginger, and you already have the matching whiskey flavors.
When you need a refreshing cocktail that's perfect for St. Patrick's Day or just a night on the patio, I hope you try this easy Irish mule. One sip and you will fall in love -- promise.
Cheers!
Love Mule Cocktails?
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📖 Recipe
Irish Mule
Equipment
- Muddler
- Cocktail stirring spoon
- Jigger or small measuring cup
- Citrus juicer
Ingredients
- 8-10 fresh mint leaves
- ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice about ½ lime
- 2 ounces Irish whiskey
- Ice
- 6 ounces ginger beer chilled
- Fresh mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
- Add mint leaves and lime juice to a copper mug. Lightly muddle the mint leaves to release their oil. A few twists should do.
- Pour in the Irish whiskey with a handful of ice. Stir to chill the whiskey and lime juice.
- Add the ginger beer and lightly stir to combine. If needed, add more ice.
- Place a fresh sprig of mint in the palm of your hand and quickly clap your other hand on top. This releases the fragrance. Garnish the drink with the mint. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pick limes that feel plump with some give when you press into them. If they’re hard as a rock, that’s a sign they’re dried out.
- Before juicing the lime, firmly roll it on the countertop under the palm of your hand. This helps release the juices.
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
My husband will love this Irish Mule for sure! It looks really tasty and satisfying!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I hope it was a hit!
Veronika says
Such a lovely and refreshing drink! I love trying new cocktails, going to try this one next week 😉
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Hope you love it, Veronika! I bet you will.
Beth says
Such a lovely drink with the lime and mint together. Nice to know you don't have to have the mule glasses, but they'd be a fun addition to the beverage cabinet. And we're finally getting to the sort of weather to appreciate a mule!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
They definitely make for such a pretty presentation, and they're great when it's super hot in the summer! On some of the really hot summer days, I've even served other drinks in them because they keep them so cold.
Eva says
I can totally see how Jameson works fine in this mix! It's so smooth it really works wonders in cocktails!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Totally! It's so perfect here.
Leslie says
I cannot believe how EASY this recipe is! So perfect to whip up on a whim!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Right?! It's always good to have a super easy cocktail recipe ready to go.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
OMGosh these look amazing! These are perfect for St. Patrick's day.. or because it's Friday! It's so light and refreshing! Thank you so much for sharing!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You're so welcome, Lori!
Heidy says
Good Morning!
Your recipe looks refreshing, and I am betting this would go over well with my friends and family! A must-make recipe for sure. Have a wonderful day, and I will come back to let you know how it turns out.
P.S. I'm looking forward to checking out your other blog posts to see what I can dig up.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks, Heidy! I hope you loved it.
Silvia says
So refreshing and with the right amount of mint. I love the addition of the ginger beer and I appreciated the suggestion of the brand of Irish whiskey I don't have too much knowledge of it.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I'm glad that was helpful!
Veronika Sykorova says
Made this cocktail for st. Patrick's day, it was really good! So refreshing.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Happy that you enjoyed it!
Heather says
A mule is one of my favorite cocktails! But never thought to try with whiskey! Can’t wait to sip this down 🙂
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
The ginger and whiskey were made for each other!
Allyssa says
Looks so refreshing! This is so perfect! Thanks for sharing this very cool irish mule! love it!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You're so welcome!