A few days ago I decided to meander down the nature trail behind our house to pick some blackberries to add to a Moscow Mule, a cocktail made with vodka, fresh lime juice, and ginger beer. My blackberry search, however, was almost a bust. Being vertically challenged (I’m almost 5’2″), most of the purple-y ripe fruit was out of my reach so I was only able to forage about one cup of ripe berries — just enough for one really great cocktail and a few berries for eating on the way home! The Blackberry Moscow Mule was summery, tangy, and very refreshing

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The cocktail starts by muddling blackberries. It sounds sort of violent but really it’s just smashing blackberries in a glass. If you don’t have a muddler (the tool used for muddling), just use a long fork or spoon to do said smashing.

We like Ketel One Vodka. Use the brand you like.

There are lots of ginger beer brands out there, but we like the Cock’n Bull brand. Ginger beer is different than ginger ale, so be sure to specifically buy ginger beer. It has a stronger, more gingery kick than ginger ale.

I also like to add a splash of triple sec to my Moscow Mule. Husband likes his more lime-y so he usually skips the triple sec. Go by what tastes good to you. If you want your mule sweeter, add more ginger beer or triple sec. More tangy? Add more lime and/or less ginger beer. You can also use less vodka if you prefer. The quantities are really just a starting point to figure out what you like.

While the copper mug is the traditional way of serving a Moscow Mule AND helps keep the drink ice-cold AND looks like you take your mule making seriously, the cocktail can also be served in a highball glass (yawn). You can freeze your copper mug or glass until frosty but we usually don’t bother with that. Serve the mule over ice and garnish with a lime wedge, mint, blackberries and those little sippy cocktail straws. Enjoy!

Blackberry Moscow Mule

1/3 cup of fresh blackberries, plus a few for garnish
4 to 6 ounces of ginger beer (not ginger ale)
2 ounces of vodka
1 to 1/2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice
Splash of triple sec (optional)
Sprig of mint and lime wedge for garnish

Muddle the blackberries in your copper mug or glass. Add the ginger beer, vodka and lime juice, and stir gently. Fill mug or glass with ice cubes and garnish with more blackberries, mint sprig and lime wedge. Makes 1 cocktail.