Mistletoe Mules

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These mistletoe mules (or Christmas Moscow mules) are a delightful holiday cocktail recipe for Christmastime! A simple riff on a Moscow mule, made with cranberry juice and orange bitters.

We know the holidays can be crazy, and even more so when you are hosting. With Christmas time and family gatherings right around the corner, it’s time to really start planning your holiday feast – and no feast is complete without a festive cocktail. This year, make these mistletoe mules for an easy cocktail that everyone will love! They’re the perfect Christmas spin on a Moscow mule for your guests to sip on as dinner is served and everyone waits for those permanently late guests to arrive.

What This Recipe Entails

Our mistletoe mule cocktail is a riff on a classic moscow mule recipe that is ready for the Christmas season. Made with cranberry juice and orange bitters and garnished with fresh rosemary and frozen cranberries, this cocktail even looks like a little bit of mistletoe!

• Prep time: 3 minutes

We love adding a fresh rosemary sprig and frozen cranberries as a garnish. It makes the drink feel extra Christmasy and adds that fresh smell of rosemary that brings this drink to the next level. 

How To Make A Mistletoe Mule

Step 1 – Gather your ingredients

• Vodka – No need for anything fancy here. We like Smirnoff for the balance of quality and price.
• Ginger beer – We prefer either Gosling’s (if you prefer more bubbles) or Fever Tree (if you prefer less bubbles).
• Cranberry juice – Alternatively you can go with a cran-raspberry juice for a little added sweetness. 
• Orange bitters – Fee Brothers are our go to for classic bitter flavors. 
• Garnish – Fresh rosemary and frozen cranberries add aroma that compliments the drink well. Plus they make it look a little like mistletoe!

This Christmas take on a Moscow mule is very simple. Since it is basically just a Moscow mule, but with cranberry juice instead of lime juice, plus orange bitters, it doesn’t get much easier than this holiday cocktail. With the addition of frozen cranberries and fresh rosemary, this mistletoe mule will become one of your go to Christmas drink recipes!

Step 2 – Choose the proper glass

Here are some of our favorite glass choices:

• Copper mug – Can’t go wrong with a classic.
• Rocks glass – Simple, easy, and everyone has one.
• Crystal wine glass – Fancy and Christmasy.

Step 3 – Make your drink

1. Fill the glass with crushed ice. Presentation is key – crushed ice adds a fun wintery feeling to the cocktail.
2. Add all ingredients and stir. No special order or complicated steps necessary!
3. Garnish with fresh rosemary and frozen cranberries. This step is super important for both presentation and aroma.

While it can be easy to see garnishes as just a fun presentation, they can also be used to enhance or change the flavor of a drink. The bright and herby whiff of fresh rosemary before every sip adds to the complexity and balance of the cocktail. The frozen cranberries on the other hand, are really just for fun, because how can it be a mistletoe mule without the mistletoe?