The weather here in San Francisco is just now starting to feel summery. It’s a bit strange but while everywhere else is blazingly hot during the summer months, the city is covered in a thick layer of fog. It’s only when things start to cool down everywhere else that the warm sunshine returns. Having been gone the last few weekends, the hubs and I enjoyed some time relaxing in the neighborhood. We slept in, sipped on massive lattes, did a few things around the house and walked to a wonderful dinner on Saturday night.
Before heading to the restaurant I whipped up two Moscow Mules, our new favorite pre-dinner date cocktail that I recently discovered at a restaurant here in the city. I chilled our favorite mason jar mugs, picked some fresh mint form our herb garden, and cracked open a cold ginger beer -a tangy, carbonated relative of root beer. The original recipe always seems a bit too sweet for my taste so I add a few splashes of seltzer to our mugs which seems to make it just right. This Moscow Mule might even rival the mojito in my book.
Here’s how I make mine:
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice + lime wedge
- 1/2 cup chilled ginger beer
- 1/4 cup seltzer
- 4-6 mint leaves, muddled
- chilled glass
Combine mint, lime juice and vodka in chilled glass. Add ginger beer, seltzer, stir and garnish with lime wedge.
P.S. My other favorite, homemade mixed drink
Cocktails: What’s your current fav? Are Moscow Mules a thing where you live too?
I discovered them in Arizona and I love them!
Yay! I wonder if they have them at our favorite spot…!
Oh a drink that rivals a mojito??! It can’t be true! I do love a good Moscow Mule… they’re the perfect transition from a summer cocktail to a fall drink :)
I had a Moscow Mule in a bar in SOMA recently and have been anxious ever since to recreate them at home! I like your suggestion of the seltzer, since I don’t love overly sweet cocktails, either.
Which restaurant did you try Saturday that ended up being good?
We went to Firefly on 24th Street – ever been? Great atmosphere & phenomenal food. I highly recommend!
Haven’t been! Thanks for the suggestion–I love trying new places that come with good recommendations!
You have to make your Moscow Mule’s in a copper mug! It tastes completely different.. and better :)
I love any reason to own more copper so I guess that needs to happen! Thanks for the recommendation. :)
YUM! I recently made Dark ‘n’ Stormies, which I think is just another name for a Moscow Mule (not 100% sure). I like the idea of adding seltzer because they’re a tad sweet for me, too. Which ginger beer do you buy?
This last time I got Reed’s – think I may have found it at Trader Joe’s. :)
I had a Moscow Mule at a grad party this summer. They are so good! I hadn’t heard of them before that, and I am so glad I had a chance to try one. Usually I love a good mojito. That was my drink of the summer
I’ve never heard of one of these before, (I live near Chicago) but I’m not much of a cocktail drinker. I prefer craft beer or wine. I’m getting really excited for all the pumpkin beers to start hitting the shelves. My favorite time of the year!
I’m with you, as far as beer goes pumpkin is one of my favorites too!