Best Copper Moscow Mule Cups & Recipes to Try

Around 1941, a ginger beer producer and two Smirnoff company men invented the Moscow Mule after experiencing their peanut butter and chocolate moment in Midtown Manhattan. The history of the Moscow Mule is rich and fascinating. Today, nearly 80 years later, Moscow Mules are enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity.

A simple but versatile combination of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice, the very first Moscow Mules, like most highballs, were served in regular glasses. The now-ubiquitous copper cups are purely a product of Smirnoff's mid-century advertising campaign. A solid copper mug may not add anything to the flavor of the Moscow Mule, but it is in no way optional.

Moscow Mules are a perfect cocktail for just about any occasion. Enjoy them during a night out with friends or as a refreshing beverage by the pool. Moscow Mules are a perfect pairing not just for a delicious meal but also for your favorite album.

Here is a list of some of the finest copper Moscow Mule cups and mugs available today, along with original Moscow Mule recipes designed to complement each one.

A29's offering is a set of four copper Moscow Mule cups with an elegant, tasteful hammered copper finish. Along with the mugs themselves, this set includes complementing copper straws and a copper shot glass to help you assemble your inaugural mules!

This is the mug I picture when I think of the modern classic Moscow Mule, so here's an updated take on the classic Moscow Mule recipe:

Updated Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Tito's Vodka
• 4-6 oz Fever Tree Ginger Beer
• 1 oz fresh lime juice plus one small lime slice
• 1 small knob ginger, grated

Recipe:

1. Muddle lime slice and grated ginger in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice, vodka, and lime juice to shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
3. Strain over ice into your A29 Copper Mug.
4. Top with ginger beer, garnish with lime slice, and serve.

This Solid Copper Tumbler by Grinb is far and away the most unique mug on this list. Not content to fall in line with the other copper Moscow Mule cups, this impressive drinking mug is actually shaped like a pineapple! Grinb managed to make this tumbler functional as well as aesthetically pleasing, so don't be afraid to take this off the shelf and bring it to the pool.

This tropical tumbler makes me long for something different, so how about we switch things up a bit for this recipe:

Caribbean Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz El Dorado 12 year old rum
• 3-5 oz Gosling's Ginger Beer
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Recipe:

1. Combine rum, pineapple juice, and lime juice in a cocktail mixing glass filled with ice.
2. Stir briskly and strain over ice into Grinb Pineapple Tumbler.
3. Top with ginger beer and serve.

These Apex mugs are another classic take on copper Moscow Mule cups, this time with an impressively smooth finish. The smooth copper finish is just as classic as the hammered style, so feel free to take your pick (or grab both).

For this set of smooth and slick mugs, let's enjoy a sweet and simple variation on the Moscow Mule:

Mixed Berry Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Tito's Vodka
• 4-6 oz Fever Tree Ginger Beer
• 1 oz fresh lime juice plus two small lime slices
• As many fresh berries as you want (blueberries, raspberries, etc.)

Recipe:

1. Muddle mixed berries and 1 lime slice in a cocktail shaker.
2. Add ice, vodka, and lime juice to shaker and shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds.
3. Strain over ice into your Apex Moscow Mule Mug.
4. Top with ginger beer, garnish with the other lime slice, and serve.

Jolly Imbiber's high quality copper Moscow Mule cups are wonderfully baroque—even the shot glasses are decorated. No handles on these beauties either. This four mugs set also comes with straws and four shot glasses, so bring your friends and let everyone build their own mule!

These ornate and festive copper Moscow Mule cups make me think of the winter holiday season, so I want to give them a festive twist on the Moscow Mule. It's unwise to serve hot beverages in copper cups, but the spices in this holiday-inspired mule will hopefully warm your soul:

Spiced Holiday Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Tanqueray Gin
• 3-5 oz Q Ginger Beer
• 1 oz ginger cranberry syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup minced ginger
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 oz fresh lime juice

Recipe:

1. Combine all syrup ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer, stirring until all sugar is dissolved and let cool.
2. Combine gin, lime juice, and spiced cranberry syrup over ice in a mixing glass.
3. Stir and strain over ice into Jolly Imbiber Moscow Mule mugs.
4. Top with ginger beer and serve.

These copper Moscow Mule cups are just as well made and gorgeous as the others we've seen so far, but Sertodo gives their own unique take with a new silhouette with their solid copper mugs.

Taking inspiration from Sertodo's breaking from the pack, this Moscow Mule recipe breaks away from traditional iterations of the Moscow Mule cocktail. In fact, this is really more of a ginger whiskey sour than a mule, but I won't tell if you won't:

Ginger Bourbon Sour "Mule"

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Knob Creek bourbon
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 oz ginger syrup
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup ginger
• 1 small egg white
• 2-3 dashes Angostura bitters

Recipe:

1. Make ginger syrup by simmering syrup ingredients in a sauce pan until all sugar is dissolved and let cool.
2. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously until egg white is emulsified, about 20 seconds.
3. Add ice to shaker and shake again until chilled, 10-15 seconds.
4. Strain into a chilled Sertodo Moscow Mule mug and top with additional dash of bitters.

Old Dutch's copper Moscow Mule cups also feature the smooth silhouette. This set of four mugs is yet another simple, tasteful option for you to choose from. Since the shade of the solid copper in these mugs is a little lighter, I wanted my Moscow Mule recipe to reflect that lightness. This variation is sweet, light, and floral:

Elderflower Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Findlandia Vodka
• 1 1/2 oz St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 3 oz Fever Tree Ginger Beer
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 oz elderflower syrup (you can sub with simple syrup)

Recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail mixing glass.
2. Stir gently and strain into an Old Dutch Copper Moscow Mule Mug filled with ice.
3. Garnish with lemon peel.

These hammered copper Moscow Mule cups from Artisan's Anvil feature a larger, rounded handle than many of the other mugs on this list. This minor alteration can make a world of difference if you have big hands. A Moscow Mule isn't something you want to let go of, so these comfy handles are a welcome addition.

This next variation on the Moscow Mule recipe can be enjoyed year-round, but is especially good during the autumn months:

Spiced Apple Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Tito's Vodka
• 1 1/2 oz Woodchuck Amber Hard Cider, chilled
• 3 oz Q Ginger Beer, chilled
• 1 oz fresh lime juice

Recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients in an Artisan's Anvil Moscow Mule Mug and stir gently (no ice).
2. Garnish with lime wedge.

At first glance, I thought these Copperginger mugs were just another set of hammered copper Moscow Mule cups. A closer look, however, reveals a more artistic approach to the pure copper mug. The raised diamond pattern is just the right twist to make these mugs stand out among the rest. The copper straws and handy double-sided jigger are welcome additions as well.

The angular decorations of these copper Moscow Mule cups are an exciting twist on the classic Moscow Mule mug, so here's an exciting twist on the classic Moscow Mule recipe:

Spicy Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Stolichnoya Vodka
• 4-6 oz Q Ginger Beer
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced

Recipe:

1. Muddle 3-4 jalapeño slices in the bottom of your Copperginger Moscow Mule mug.
2. Add ice, vodka, and lime juice.
3. Top with ginger beer and garnish with jalapeño and lime slices.

For those of us who like to set ourselves apart, here's another completely different approach to the Moscow Mule mug. This 16 oz tumbler is shaped like a traditional pint glass, which ironically is a very unusual silhouette to see in solid copper. This Alchemade offering is a great choice if you want to get on the Moscow Mule train, but you aren't crazy about the traditional mug design.

Tall, skinny, copper Moscow Mule cups like this tumbler remind me of beach season, so let's make a tall, skinny, refreshing take on the classic:

Skinny Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Ketel One Vodka
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice
• 1 small knob ginger, grated
• Zest of 1 lime
• Seltzer water or club soda

Recipe:

1. Combine vodka, lime juice, lemon juice, and grated ginger over ice in a cocktail shaker.
2. Shake vigorously and strain over ice into Alchemade copper tumbler.
3. Top with seltzer water and garnish with lime zest.

This hefty 18 oz pure copper mug is a beautifully simple take on the classic design. One of my favorite copper Moscow Mule cups on this list, this is really a go anywhere, do anything vessel. I love them. You can pry these Moscow Mule mugs from my cold, lifeless fingers.

I like a big, heavy mug like this Sertodo Copper offering because it can handle anything you throw at it. This Moscow Mule variation is so rich, fruity, and delicious that you'll want a big serving of it—perfect for this 18 oz mug:

Raspberry Mule

Ingredients:

• 3 oz Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
• 2 oz Tito's Vodka
• 4-6 oz Fever Tree Ginger Beer
• 1 oz fresh lemon juice

Recipe:

1. Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail mixing glass.
2. Stir gently and strain into an 18 oz Sertodo Copper Moscow Mule Mug filled with ice.
3. Garnish with lemon peel.

These old-fashioned copper Moscow Mule mugs by Coppertisan are another fine example of copper craftsmanship. Each individual vessel is handmade, leading to small differences in the finish of each pure copper mug. In other words, in this set, you will find four unique copper Moscow Mule mugs.

Since these copper Moscow Mule cups come in a set, I wanted to do a batch recipe for you to share with your friends. But since there's so many vodka recipes on this list already, let's mix things up with some tequila:

Frozen Margarita Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Espolòn Blanco tequila
• 1/2 cup lime juice (fresh, if possible)
• 1/3 cup triple sec
• 1/3 cup ginger syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup grated ginger
• 1 lime sliced into wedges, for garnish
• Candied ginger, for garnish

Recipe:

1. Make ginger syrup by simmering water, sugar, and ginger in a sauce pan until all the sugar is melted and let cool.
2. Combine all ingredients in blender filled with ice.
3. Blend to desired consistency, adding ice as needed.
4. Distribute evenly among your Coppertisan Moscow Mule mugs and garnish with lime wedges and candied ginger.

Here it is: the original Moscow Mule mug design. If you were to sit down for mules with that Smirnoff salesman back in the 1940s or 50s, this is probably what your mug would have looked like. If the other copper Moscow Mule cups on this list are too showy for you, then consider this pure and simple take on the copper Moscow Mule mug.

I'd be comfortable serving up any number of cocktails in this pure copper mug, but it's hard to beat the classic concoction consisting simply of vodka, ginger beer, and lime. For our final recipe, this no-frills mug from ONE LIFE deserves a no-frills Moscow Mule recipe:

Simple Moscow Mule

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Smirnoff Vodka (or your choice)
• 4-6 oz Barritt's Ginger Beer (or your choice)
• 1 lime, juiced (reserve thin slice for garnish)

Recipe:

Fill your ONE LIFE Moscow Mule mug with large ice cubes and top with vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Garnish with lime slice and serve.