London Mule

5 from 43 votes

Pretend you’re on the streets of Londontown with a gin-filled London Mule. This fragrant gin version of the classic Moscow Mule is a feast for the senses.

a london mule in a silver mug with a cucumber ribbon garnish, mint and a lime wedge.

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London Mule recipe

Last summer, my husband and I visited London and, like we do anywhere we go, visited as many cocktail bars as we could. I had one mission: Try as many gins as we could!

Gin is a flavorful, herbaceous spirit that works beautifully in so many cocktails, from the gimlet to the French 75. I didn’t love it when I was younger, but now I can appreciate the complexity of its flavor.

While gin doesn’t hail from the U.K. (it’s from Holland), it’s home to 820 gin distilleries, according to The Independent.

This mule is a spin on my gin-gin mule, only this London version is made with any gin from the Big Smoke, plus lime juice and ginger beer. The garnish features fresh cucumber, mint and lime for a delicious libation representative of Londontown.

More mule recipes: Czech MuleMezcal MuleFrench MuleChampagne MuleFrozen Mule

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Made with your favorite English gin, the London Mule is sweet and flavorful.
  • This gin cocktail has three ingredients, so it’s easy to assemble.
  • With hints of mint and cucumber, it’s a refreshing drink.
two london mules in silver mugs on gray coasters.

What is a Moscow Mule?

The London Mule is a spin on the Moscow mule, a classic cocktail. It’s an easy-to-make, three-ingredient cocktail.

It traditionally calls for vodka, lime juice and ginger beer and is usually served in a copper mug to keep the drink ice cold.

The mule is also a very versatile drink because you can make it in lots of different ways. There are so many variations to try.

  1. You can experiment with flavor. Try adding fruit flavors with juices, infused alcohol or simple syrup. The pear mule, the grapefruit mule and the yule mule are some of my favorites I’ve made.
  2. You can switch up the main spirit. That’s what we’re doing here with this gin mule. I’ve also made the Mexican Mule with tequila, the Kentucky mule with bourbon and the Swedish Mule with aquavit.
closeup of a cucumber garnish on a cocktail pick in a london mule cocktail.

Tools & glassware

For the London Mule, you don’t need a ton of special equipment. A jigger helps measure the ingredients and a citrus squeezer is ideal for getting the most out of the lime juice.

Mules are usually served in copper mugs, which keep them ice cold. They’re not a necessity, though — feel free to use a rocks glass instead if it’s what you have.

a can of gosling's ginger beer with a piece of ginger beer and a piece of ginger root on a green tea towel

Ingredients

This gin mule cocktail only calls for a few ingredients. Here’s what to grab at the grocery store:

Ginger beer

Ginger beer is a fizzy, non-alcoholic beverage made from fermented ginger. I prefer the flavor of a spicy ginger beer, which has more of a zing of ginger, but you can go sweeter here if you like. Check out my list of the best brands of ginger beer to help you decide on a spice level that’s right for you.

Ginger ale is a ginger-flavored soda and is much sweeter than ginger beer. However, you can make a mule with ginger ale if you prefer or don’t have ginger beer on hand.

Lime juice

I always recommend fresh lime juice if you have it on hand, but feel free to use a good quality lime concentrate. I use one of these citrus squeezers to get the most juice out of my limes.

You are also welcome to use lemon juice or grapefruit juice.

a hand holding a jigger pours old tom gin into a mule mug.

Gin

The base spirit of the London Mule is gin, but not just any gin. For it to be a true London Mule, you’ll need a gin from London. 

For this recipe, I used Old Tom Gin, but you could also use a London Dry Gin. Old Tom is sweeter and more full-bodied, whereas London Dry is lighter. The latter is what most people know as gin.

I also really like Hendrick’s Gin, from Scotland, which has notes of rose and cucumber, making it a perfect fit, though then it’s not a London Mule.

Spend a minute in Gin 101 to learn more about gin and the best brands of gin to use.

condensation builds on a silver mug containing a london mule.

Variations and substitutions

Plymouth Mule: Use Plymouth gin, which is from Plymouth, England.

Scottish Mule: For a Scottish version, use scotch whisky instead of gin.

Irish Mule: Use any Irish whiskey instead of gin for an Irish version.

Non-alcoholic mule: Use a zero-proof spirit such as Ritual gin alternative.

a hand pours lime juice from a jigger into a silver mug filled with ice.

How to make a London Mule

You can pull off this easy London Mule cocktail in just a few steps.

  1. First, take your copper mule mug and fill it with ice cubes. You can use crushed ice too.
  2. Pour in the gin and lime juice over the ice.
  3. If you’re using a fresh lime for juice, you can drop in the spent shell. The zest of the lime will add extra citrus bite as the drink infuses.
  4. Top with ginger beer and garnish!
ginger beer pours from a gold can into a mug to make a london mule.

Garnish the cocktail with an aromatic garnish that includes:

  • a lime wheel or lime wedge
  • a ribbon of cucumber on a cocktail pick
  • a bunch of mint sprigs.

Enjoy your gin mule with a tray of Moscow Mule cookies.

a hand adds a cucumber ribbon garnish on a cocktail pick to a silver mug.

Tips & tricks

Use the trademark copper mug or other metal mug to keep the drink ice cold.

Add the ginger beer last so that it can bubble and foam to the top.

Run a vegetable peeler down the length of a cucumber to create cucumber ribbons. Fold and spear them on a cocktail pick.

What to serve with a London Mule

Serve your London Mule with any British treats, such as Baileys chocolate chip cookiesGuinness chocolate cake or Earl Grey shortbread cookies.

For dessert, enjoy it with a Milk Tart or a Bakewell Tart.

Follow it up with another British cocktail, the Pimm’s Cup, or a classic Gin & Tonic made with London Dry Gin.

a jigger lies next to a london mule.

FAQ

What is a London Mule made of?

A London Mule is made with lime juice, ginger beer and a gin from London such as Old Tom Gin or London Dry Gin. It gets a fragrant garnish of cucumber ribbons or a cucumber spear, fresh mint and lime wedges.

What’s the difference between a Moscow Mule and a London Mule?

The Moscow mule is traditionally made with vodka. When made with a gin from London, it’s called a London Mule.

What is a Scottish Mule?

A Scottish mule is a Moscow mule made with scotch whisky instead of vodka.

More mule recipes

Because the mule is so versatile, you can make it with many different spirits to enjoy different flavors from around the world.

Smoky and smooth, the Mezcal Mule uses tasty Mexican mezcal to add flavor to this drink.

The Dark & Stormy is the name for a Caribbean mule made with rum.

Made with either jalapeño vodka or a spicy simple syrup, the Jalapeño Mule is great for summer if you like a spicy cocktail!

— Did you make this recipe? —

Please leave a ★★★★★ review or comment below.

a jigger lies next to a london mule.

London Mule

Yield: 1 cocktail
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Made with London gin, the London Mule is a delicious spin on the classic mule.
5 from 43 votes
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ingredients

  • 1 ½ ounce gin London Dry or Old Tom
  • 1 ounce lime juice approximately half of a lime
  • 4-6 ounces ginger beer
  • 1 lime wedge for garnish
  • 2 cucumber ribbons for garnish
  • mint sprigs for garnish
  • ice

instructions

  • Fill a copper mug or rocks glass with crushed ice.
  • Add gin and lime juice. (If using a fresh lime, drop in the spent shell.)
  • Top with ginger beer.
  • Garnish with a lime wedge, cucumber ribbons and fresh mint.

notes

Variations
  • Plymouth Mule: Use Plymouth gin, which is from Plymouth, England.
  • Scottish Mule: Use scotch whisky instead of gin for a Scottish version.
  • Irish Mule: Use any Irish whiskey instead of gin for an Irish version.
  • Non-alcoholic gin mule: Use a zero-proof spirit such as Ritual gin alternative.
Tips & tricks
Use the trademark copper mug or other metal mug to keep the drink ice cold.
Add the ginger beer last so that it can bubble and foam to the top.
Run a vegetable peeler down the length of a cucumber to create cucumber ribbons. Fold and spear them on a cocktail pick.

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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

nutrition information

Yield: 1 cocktail

amount per serving:

Serving: 8ounces Calories: 144kcal Carbohydrates: 12g Protein: 0.1g Fat: 0.02g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g Sodium: 9mg Potassium: 35mg Fiber: 0.1g Sugar: 11g Vitamin A: 14IU Vitamin C: 9mg Calcium: 7mg Iron: 0.3mg
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