Last updated on September 11th, 2021

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This Mango Mule is a sweet summery twist on the classic Moscow Mule. Infused with the tropical taste of mango, warming ginger beer and zingy lime, this cocktail is the perfect refreshing drink on a warm evening.

What is it?

This cocktail is a variation of the traditional Moscow Mule, which is a type of buck cocktail. A buck is a cocktail that consists of ginger beer, a citrus juice such as lemon or lime and a spirit. This mango mule simply adds some pureed fresh mango to the cocktail to give it a fresh and fruity flavour. As with the original Moscow Mule recipe, it uses lime juice and vodka along with ginger beer.

The name ‘Buck’ comes from the addition of alcohol to the non-alcoholic cocktail the ‘Horses’ Neck‘ which would then theoretically cause the horse to buck.

While most people are familiar with the classic Moscow Mule, there are dozens of varieties of mule drinks. Try a Mexican Mule, with a kick of tequila, a Jamaican Mule with spiced rum or this festive Cranberry Mistletoe Mule, perfect for the Christmas season.

Should I make it with Ginger Beer or Ginger Ale?

The base of this cocktail, the Moscow Mule uses ginger beer. Ginger beer is stronger and fierier than ginger ale, which is sweeter and milder. Therefore it adds a lot more flavour to the cocktail than would ginger ale, so I don’t recommend you substitute it.

What spirit should I use?

Vodka is the staple in a Moscow Mule, and since it’s pretty much tasteless, it really lets the flavours of the ginger beer, lime and sweet mango sing. However, since this drink is non-traditional, feel free to experiment with other flavours and spirits. A few great ideas to try are:

• Spiced rum – to add a little more spice to cut through the sweetness of the mango
• Earthy tequila for a fun kick
• Gin – for extra citrussy flavour

Do I need to use fresh mango?

I strongly recommend using fresh mango as it’s the best way to get the purest and freshest taste. However, you can substitute if you prefer.

Mango juice – you will likely need more juice to achieve the same intensity of mango flavour. Therefore, the cocktail will be more diluted – you may or may not prefer that. Additionally, mango juices vary from brand to brand, so they can add extra sugars or sweeteners.

Mango Syrup – you will need less than if you use juice, but it does have a lot of added sugar.

How do I cut a fresh mango?

Many people are perturbed by what to do with a whole mango, or end up losing a huge amount of juicy flesh by not preparing it in the right way. But fear not, if you follow a few basic principles you’ll soon be cutting mangos like a pro:

1. Cut the ‘cheeks’ of the mango first. Hold the mango upright on a chopping board so the length is facing upwards.
2. Use a large knife to slice a big disk from either side of the fattest parts, around halfway between the edge and the centre of the mango on each side. If you hit the stone, then move the knife outwards a little and try slicing again.
3. Score the inside of each cheek with a knife, both length and widthways. Flip the cheek outwards and use a knife to cut along the skin to remove the chunks. For a recipe such as this, where you are going to puree the mango, you can also just scoop it out with a spoon.
4. Cut the remaining two sides of flesh from the mango and run a knife under the skin, close to the flesh, to reveal a further two hunks of juicy fruit.

Can I make it in advance?

This cocktail is extremely simple so it takes only a minute or two to pull together, no shaking involved. You can make it a couple of hours in advance, but don’t add the ice until you are ready to serve. You will also need to stir the drink before serving to prevent any separation of the ingredients.

If you want to make these for a gathering or party then you can prepare the pureed mango and lime juice first and keep it refrigerated and assemble one whenever you need to serve a drink.

You could also make a mule station for a party. Keep the lime juice separate from the mango so guests can make a traditional Moscow Mule or a Mango Mule with the available ingredients.

Ingredients

For a full list of ingredients with weights and measurements jump to the printable recipe card.

• Fresh mango flesh
• Lime juice
• Vodka
• Ginger beer
• Ice
• Mint leaves, to garnish (optional)

Equipment

Copper mugs (optional)

How to make it

For more detailed steps, with recipe tips, jump to the printable recipe card.

1. Place the mango, lime juice and vodka in a blender or food processor. Blitz until you have an even consistency.
2. Pour into a glass filled with ice and top with the ginger beer. Stir to mix.
3. Crown the glass with more ice to fill and garnish with the mint leaves.

Looking for more great cocktail recipes? Try:

• Simple mango daiquiri
• Easiest ever mojito
• Mistletoe cranberry mule
• Pornstar martini

Products that work well for this recipe:

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Moscow Mule Gift Set

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Moscow Mule Mugs

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