8. Spy Vs. Spy: Moscow Mule
WHAT IT IS: A marketing concoction designed to make Americans want to drink Vodka. Seriously. Vodka at the time had a bit of a communist aura, besides tasting like the stuff your dad poured on your cuts when mom was not around to kiss it and make it feel better.
The genius marketers at Smirnoff were actually trying to sell the stuff as “white whiskey” that you could drink on your lunch break. This worked about as well as you would expect. A fruitful meeting with purveyors of ginger beer whose product was too spicy for the palates of the time, and a buddy with a failing copper mug business resulted in the Mule, which is a juggernaut that will never stop. For whatever reason, these are the Cosmos of our day. They are ubiquitous. Probably has to do with the cute cups.
HOW TO MAKE IT: In a copper mug, squeeze a fresh lime wedge over ice, and drop it in. Add 2 oz of vodka. Top with a good ginger beer (not ginger ale).
You can amplify the flavor with fresh muddled ginger, or a little dash of Romaine De Canton or other ginger liqueur.
WHY YOU SHOULD CARE: Because kids go crazy for these things. The guy who can make a good one of these is destined to be the life of the party. And as they are essentially alco-pops, even light or occasional drinkers tend to love them. If you can’t get copper mugs, then use mason jars for the necessary hipster note. Put a bird on it. This is no harder to make than a rum and coke.
