This blood orange Mule is a fun winter citrus twist on a classic cocktail. The sweet tart orange juice blends perfectly with smooth, clean vodka, zesty lime, and bubbly ginger beer for a refreshing sip. Don’t forget the classic mint topper too for an herbal finish!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A vibrant twist on a classic. Blood orange adds a beautiful ruby color and a deeper citrus flavor to the traditional Moscow Mule
- Sweet, tart, and spicy balance. The sweet-tart blood orange pairs perfectly with zesty lime and the spicy kick of ginger beer
- Incredibly refreshing. The bright citrus and fizzy ginger beer make this cocktail crisp and easy to sip!
- Simple ingredients. You only need a few ingredients to create a cocktail that feels elevated and special!
- Naturally eye-catching. The rich blood orange color makes this drink as beautiful as it is delicious
- Perfect for winter citrus season. Blood oranges shine in the colder months, making this mule a great cocktail option for the winter and holiday season
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Ingredients List
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- 3 ounces blood orange ginger beer (such as Fever Tree)
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
Ingredient Tips and Substitutions
- Plain vodka is completely fine, but you can also use a blood orange flavored vodka (such as Effen) if you have it!
- When oranges are out of season, you can also use a bottled blood orange juice instead
- Fresh lime juice is truly best for flavor, but you can use bottled in a pinch. You can also substitute lemon juice, though this is not “true” to a Mule recipe
- If you don’t have blood orange ginger beer, plain ginger beer is completely fine (I just like the added flavor). You can also use ginger ale for a sweeter, less ginger-forward option, or a lime sparkling water to reduce sweetness in the drink
Step By Step Instructions
- Fill a copper mug (or similar) with crushed ice
- Pour in the vodka, blood orange juice, and lime juice, and stir to combine
- Top with the ginger beer (pour slowly so as to not overflow the glass)
- Garnish with a blood orange slice, sprig of fresh mint, and/or a lime wedge if desired (all optional) and enjoy!
Pairing Suggestions
Appetizers
- Shrimp cocktail: Bright citrus flavors pair beautifully with chilled seafood
- Crispy calamari: The refreshing mule helps cut through the richness of fried seafood. Try my Air Fryer Frozen Calamari for a quick and easy option!
- Prosciutto and melon: Sweet, salty, and refreshing alongside the citrus cocktail
- Goat cheese crostini: Tangy cheese balances the sweet-tart blood orange
Main Course
- Grilled chicken: Light, savory flavors let the cocktail shine
- Pork tenderloin: The sweet citrus complements the richness of pork
- Fish tacos: Citrus and ginger work perfectly with fresh seafood!
- Roasted salmon: Rich salmon pairs nicely with the mule’s bright acidity. Try my Air Fryer Pesto Salmon!
Side Dishes
- Arugula salad with citrus vinaigrette: Peppery greens and bright dressing echo the drink’s flavors
- Avocado salad: Creamy avocado balances the ginger spice!
- Citrus fruit salad: A fresh option that highlights the blood orange notes
Desserts
- Dark chocolate desserts: Blood orange and chocolate are a classic flavor match
- Almond cake: Nutty, delicate flavors complement the citrus beautifully!
- Orange or lemon shortbread: Light cookies that won’t overpower the drink
Recipe FAQs
What Alcohol Pairs Well With Blood Orange?
Blood orange pairs well with several spirits, especially vodka, gin, tequila, and bourbon. Vodka keeps cocktails light and citrus-forward, while gin adds botanical complexity. Tequila brings a bright, slightly earthy note, and bourbon complements the deeper sweetness of blood orange.
What Is A Moscow Mule Made Of?
A classic Moscow Mule is made with vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. It’s typically served over ice in a copper mug and garnished with a lime wedge. The combination creates a refreshing cocktail that’s crisp, citrusy, and slightly spicy.
What Flavors Pair Well With Blood Orange?
Blood orange pairs beautifully with flavors like ginger, honey, vanilla, chocolate, and warm spices such as cinnamon and clove. It also works well with herbs like rosemary and thyme, as well as other citrus fruits like lemon and lime.
Tips For the Best Blood Orange Mule
- Mule mugs can vary in size. For very large mugs, you may want to add 1 ½ – 2x the base ingredients to balance the amount of ginger beer needed to fill it
- Adjust sweetness by tweaking the carbonated element. Use ginger ale (or add a little simple syrup) for a sweeter option, or cut sweetness with orange or lime flavored seltzer
- Strength can be tweaked by adding more or less vodka (if it’s too strong, thin with more blood orange juice or ginger beer). As written, it’s well balanced and not too boozy
Serving and Presentation
- Serve in a copper mug. Traditional Moscow Mules are served in copper mugs, which keep the drink extra cold and enhance the refreshing experience. However, if you want the deep ruby hue to stand out, serve in a clear glass mule mug instead of copper
- Add an herb garnish. A small sprig of rosemary, mint, or thyme adds aroma and makes the drink feel extra elegant (and can be adjusted to complement the season or occasion)
- For parties, scale and mix the vodka, blood orange juice, and lime juice a few hours ahead and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Add ice and ginger beer to individual glasses when serving for maximum freshness!
More Blood Orange Cocktails
- Blood Orange Martini
- Blood Orange Cranberry Mojito
Final Thoughts
This blood orange mule is such a fun winter seasonal twist on a classic cocktail! The fruity berry and citrus tang of blood oranges pairs perfectly with smooth vodka, tart lime juice, and zingy bubbly ginger beer for a refreshing, well-rounded sip.
It’s best served cold in a signature copper mug, and perfect for any winter occasion, when the oranges are in season. You can even adjust the garnishes to make it suitable for the holidays, but I like it as a bright cocktail for those cold winter days.
Looking for more great sips for this seasonal produce? Check out all of my Blood Orange Cocktails for a variety of different drink styles to suit any taste. Cheers!
Blood Orange Moscow Mule
Equipment
- Copper Mule mu (or similar)
- Spoon (cutlery; for stirring)
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice
- ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- 3 ounces blood orange ginger beer (such as Fever Tree)
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- Fill a copper mug (or similar) with crushed ice, then pour in the vodka, blood orange juice, and lime juice, and stir to combine2 ounces vodka, 2 ounces fresh blood orange juice, Crushed ice, ½ ounce fresh lime juice
- Top with the ginger beer (pour slowly so as to not overflow the glass)3 ounces blood orange ginger beer
- Garnish with a blood orange wheel, sprig of fresh mint, and/or a lime wedge if desired, and enjoy!
Notes
- Plain or blood orange flavored vodka are both good choices
- Fresh lime juice is truly best for flavor, but you can use bottled in a pinch
- If you don’t have blood orange ginger beer, plain ginger beer is fine too, or ginger ale for a sweeter drink overall
- Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand and flavor of ingredients, any swaps or garnishes added, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Nutrition
