For years my go-to drink had been a Moscow Mule. Anytime I went out for dinner, happy hour, the club, girls night out, or celebratory drinks I always ordered a Moscow Mule. It’s refreshing, tasty, and pretty predictable. Until one day last year a friend and I went out for happy hour and switched it up and ordered a Kentucky Mule. GAME CHANGER for me!! The sweetness won me over and I’m happy to share that I’m forever a changed woman and a Blood Orange Kentucky Mule is my new thing.

So for those of you who are unfamiliar with all of this mule talk, just know this…

Moscow Mule = Vodka, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer

Kentucky Mule = Bourbon (preferably Kentucky bourbon), fresh lime juice, ginger beer

With Valentines and Galentines Day approaching it just makes perfect sense to celebrate the day of love and friendship with one of the most refreshing cocktails around. It’s also citrus season, so any way I can incorporate beautiful citrusy fruits especially blood oranges into my recipes, I’m down! So as the name implies this is a Kentucky Mule which means it’s common to use Kentucky bourbon but you can absolutely use whisky if that’s your preference.

Preference

Some popular bourbon brands are Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Evan Williams, and Bulliet. For this recipe I used Jim Beam because I like how smooth it is. If I choose to use whisky my go-to is Jack Daniels which then makes it a Tennessee Mule but we won’t confuse things too much. When it comes to drinks I also say stick to what you know and like.

Copper mug or glass?

Traditionally, mules of any kind are served in a copper mug for temperature and experience. The copper mugs also help to enhance the taste. As for me, I opted for a glass to show off the beautiful orange gradient, which in my opinion, is a complete show stopper. But if I’m honest, when I’m home enjoying a Blood Orange Kentucky Mule or Tennessee Mule I always use my copper mug; it’s a nice chill vibe.

Ginger beer or Ginger-ale…

We are using ginger beer. You can find this at your local grocery store but please do not confuse it with ginger-ale because you will have a totally different experience. Ginger beer is a lot more spicier and more robust than ginger-ale.

How to make a Blood Orange Kentucky Mule

Step 1

Slice a large blood orange in half and squeeze the juice from the entire orange into a copper mug or glass. Doing this first helps to create the orange gradient look as pictured. Add in the cubed ice and freshly squeezed lime juice. Pour in the bourbon or whiskey and top the drink off with the ginger beer. Give the drink a quick stir and garnish with blood orange slices and limes. Cheers!