A classic Mule cocktail consists of three key ingredients: base spirit, citrus, and spicy ginger beer. And while almost everybody knows the famous Moscow Mule, there are other lesser-known representatives of this group.
The Glasgow Mule is one of these Mule cocktails not based on the classic spirit, Vodka. A twist invented by Damon Boelte while working at farm-to-table restaurant Prime Meats in Brooklyn, NYC. - Not in Scotland, as the name would suggest.
His creation is one of the more refined twists and asks for ingredients like Scotch, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer and balances the spice with sweet notes of elderflower liqueur. For extra depth, he added a dash of Angostura bitters.
How to make a Glasgow Mule
Mixing a Glasgow Mule is very similar to making a standard Moscow Mule. However, instead of serving the drink in a copper Mule mug, you can use a Collins glass. -That's also the way Boelte served the cocktail at Prime Meats.
The list of ingredients may be a bit longer than for the Moscow Mule, but the steps are the same: Put ice into your Mule mug or Collins glass, then add all ingredients except the chilled ginger beer.
Stir the mix and add some more ice before topping up with ice-cold ginger beer.
The secret of the Glasgow Mule lies in the complex and unexpected flavor combination of Scotch Whisky with elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and spicy ginger beer.
Ingredients
To make sure you'll get the most out of this drink, you should use quality ingredients. For the elderflower liqueur, the best choice is St. Germain. St. Germain is an elderflower liqueur named after the fashionable quarter of St-Germain-des-Près located in Paris.
Elderflowers are the tiny white flowers of the elderberry plant. In Europe, it's common to produce a rich, floral, and fragrant syrup from the elderflowers. But for the Glasgow Mule, you need liqueur.
You will find that there's a whole variety of elderflower liqueur on the market. But none is comparable to the version of St. Germain. Their liqueur is made with fresh and handpicked elderflowers.
The taste is hard to describe and there's nothing that's comparable to it. It's sweet, floral, and has some slightly fruity notes, too. Best to try it for yourself.
The lime juice should be freshly squeezed and the ginger beer fresh and bubbly - we like to use Bundaberg. As for the Scotch Whisky, you definitely want to go with a blended one.
And last but not least, a few drops of Angostura bitters make the drink complete.
Which Scotch Whisky?
When you read Scotch Whisky, you inevitably think directly of the smoky and peaty Single Malts that Scotland is famous for. But that's not what you should use in a great Glasgow Mule.
This Mule variation lives from its balance and complexity. Therefore it's best to use a blended Scotch that is not too overpowering.
Opt for a Whisky that is only slightly smoky and brings in some spice and vanilla notes.
An Isle Of Skye 8 Year Old, for example, works fantastic in a Glasgow Mule. The blend includes malt Whiskies from the isle of Skye and Speyside.
Before bottling, the final blend rests and ages in oak barrels. The Isle Of Skye 8 Year Old is a superb Whisky from Scotland that also is enjoyable neat or on the rocks.
More Mule cocktails
Mule cocktails are refreshing and perfect for hot summer days. Here are some delicious riffs you have to try:
- Aussie Mule
- Gin-Gin Mule - A modern classic at NYC's Pegu club
- or check out our post about the best Mule cocktails!
Equipment
- 1 Jigger
- 1 Mule mug
Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Blended Scotch Whisky
- 0.75 oz Lemon juice
- 0.5 oz St. Germain
- 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- 4 oz Ginger Beer
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except for the ginger beer into a Collins glass or mule mug filled with ice.1.5 oz Blended Scotch Whisky, 0.75 oz Lemon juice, 0.5 oz St. Germain, 1 dash Angostura Bitters
- Use a bar spoon and stir the mix until everything is well-combined.4 oz Ginger Beer
- Top with ice-cold ginger beer and add garnish optionally.