Name: Cranberry Moscow Mule
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 4-6 rosemary springs, 1-2 inches long, washed; ice; 2 shots vodka, ice cold; 4 shots unsweetened cranberry juice; 1 12 ounce ginger ale, I used Cock and Bull but find your favorite; fresh cranberries

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Let’s switch up your favorite Moscow Mule for a Christmas Moscow Mule! Don’t drink Moscow Mules? What are you waiting for? They’re deliciously refreshing and this version is the perfect Christmas Cocktail recipe!

The Cranberry Moscow Mule features a good spicy ginger ale, unsweetened cranberry juice, ice cold vodka, and fresh rosemary sprigs.

No Lime Moscow Mule?

YES! I know the iconic mules leans heavily on the lime for its flavor kick. This Cranberry Moscow Mule gets its kick from unsweetened cranberry juice and a little floral lift from the fresh rosemary.

Refreshing Moscow Mules with cranberry juice, vodka, and ginger ale. No lime mules!

You might be tempted to skip the rosemary for this Christmas cocktail because who has fresh rosemary this time of the year? But I urge you grab a little pot of rosemary for your kitchen window sill OR grab a packet of fresh rosemary from the produce section because it elevates this Christmas Cocktail!

Those little packs of fresh rosemary last a long time in the fridge. And you’ll have enough for the entire Christmas season! And while a Cranberry Moscow Mule will taste ok without the rosemary it will taste AMAZING with it.

How to Use the Fresh Rosemary in a Moscow Mule?

Muddling the rosemary for a christmas cocktail.

I use it as a garnish on top of the drink so every sip gives you the essence right at your nose. But I also add a chunk to the mug and muddle it. THEN add the ice so it gets a chance to gently flavor the entire drink.

Ice over the muddled rosemary for the christmas cocktail.

Unsweetened Cranberry Juice?

I know you might be shuddering at the thought of that juice but when you’re using it to replace snappy fresh citrus kick of lime it works so perfectly!

You can try sweetened cranberry juice, it changes the way the drink tastes but it will work.

Unsweetened cranberry juice in christmas cocktails.

What Kind of Ginger Ale Goes in a Moscow Mule?

Oh my gosh! There’s no end to the variety of ginger ales out there. We’ve tried SO many to find the one we actually prefer. We’ve tried ginger beers too, they work great!

To find the perfect ginger ale takes a little work. You’ve got to go the single soda area of your store and pick out a few of them and give them a try.

Our favorite ginger ale for these Cranberry Moscow Mule is Cock and Bull. They are spicy hot, and I don’t care for them alone, but in a drink, they taste amazing. But again, it’s a personal decision.

Can I use Sugar-Free Ginger Ale in a Moscow Mule??

You can TOTALLY use a sugar-free ginger in moscow mules! When we were trying to find our preferred soda we went through a phase of sugar-free ginger ales. In the end we decided they were too sweet.

Two cranberry moscow mules, a fresh Christmas cocktail

Do I need a Copper Mug for Moscow Mules?

NO! I mean they look great in a copper mug but you don’t NEED them. The one thing a copper mug does is grab the chill of the ice and drink, and keep the whole thing icy cold. Which is REALLY nice, especially with a mule!

You can use any glass or mug you happen to have on hand. We have these vintage mugs my father in law gave us. Believe it or not, I found some on Ebay, under Color Craft Copper Mugs. But you can really find the iconic Moscow Mule copper mugs anywhere!

Other Christmas Faves You Might Have Missed:

2 drinks