A London mule is a spin on the popular Moscow mule cocktail. Here the partnership of gin and ginger beer marries with zesty lime juice to create an easy-to-make, bubbly, citrussy and fiery drink alternatively known as a gin buck or foghorn cocktail.
If you enjoy twists on classic cocktails you'll appreciate a gin espresso martini too.
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If you are looking for an easy cocktail that's ready in mere minutes and is likely to make your party guests sit up and take notice, the London Mule is it. This is a riff on the ever-popular Moscow mule that simply replaces vodka with gin, but to great effect.
If you have copper mule glasses then that's fantastic, but don't be put off if you haven't got them as this drink looks equally stunning in a highball.
What is a London Mule?
A London mule, also known as a gin buck or a foghorn cocktail, is a drink made from gin and ginger beer mixed with lime. As it contains just 3 ingredients and it is made directly in the glass it is served in, it is quick and easy to prepare.
This gin and ginger beer cocktail is one of many spin-offs from the classic Moscow mule, which features vodka instead of gin. Adding gin alters the base flavour of the cocktail as gin typically has a juniper lead flavour profile with a range of other enticing botanicals such as herbs, flowers, spices or citrus fruit.
The original London mule cocktail was made with Old Tom gin, which is a touch sweeter than the average London Dry gin. But don't worry, the Foghorn cocktail is not lip-puckeringly sweet. It's just a fine blend of punchy alcohol, fiery ginger soda and tangy citrus. There's an underlying sweetness, but it's far from overpowering. It's also fine to use your favourite London Dry gin instead of Old Tom gin.
Why you'll enjoy this gin and ginger beer drink
- It's a great variation on a classic cocktail.
- The gin adds so much more complexity to the flavour of this drink than vodka does.
- This cocktail is incredibly easy to make.
- There's no need for fancy bar equipment such as a cocktail shaker - it's made in the glass it is served in.
- It will surprise your guests, especially if you introduce it as the Foghorn cocktail or the gin buck.
Did you know that you can also use ginger beer to make a fiery snowball cocktail? It makes a lovely change from the classic version.
Ingredients notes
Gin: traditionally, the gin buck cocktail was made with Old Tom gin. It's billed as being sweeter than London Dry gin, but it's still not what I'd call particularly sweet.
Don't feel that you have to get a bottle in just for this drink though - your favourite London Dry gin will work well here too. Avoid using flavoured gins or liqueur gins as these are an entirely different breed of gins.
Ginger beer: It's essential to pick the best quality ginger beer that your budget allows. Go for one that you know has a fiery heat, as it's a signature element of this London mule cocktail. I enjoy Fentimens, Fever Tree and Bundeberg.
Sometimes mule and buck cocktail recipes call for ginger ale in place of ginger beer. Ginger ale has a tendency to be sweeter and less bold in flavour than ginger beer, so my preference is for the latter.
Lime juice: use freshly squeezed lime juice. Look for limes that are large and a little squishy. If they are small and hard then they will be difficult to extract juice from.
How to make a London mule
- Pour freshly squeezed lime juice and the gin into your serving glass.
- Fill the glass with ice, adding several wedges of lime as you do so.
- Pour in the ginger beer.
- Optional: stir briefly.
- Garnish with another wedge of lime and a sprig of mint (optional) and serve immediately.
Expert tips
- Ensure that you use plenty of ice. Fill the glass to the top.
- Also, use ginger beer that has been well-chilled to ensure that the drink is pleasingly cold at the point of serving and that it doesn't get diluted too much if the ice cubes need to do all the chilling.
- It's not essential to stir this drink. If you do stir, do so gently as the ginger beer is fizzy. If you do not stir, expect the drink to be slightly stronger towards the bottom.
Frequently asked questions
There's no reason to stop you from making this gin buck cocktail with alcoholic ginger beer. It would be quite a potent drink, slightly different from the traditional blend of gin and ginger beer, but worth an adventure for anybody liking punchy drinks on the alcohol front.
Because ginger beer is carbonated, this drink is best prepared and served on demand. Part of the charm of a gin buck is its effervescent nature. This would be missing if it were prepared in advance.
Technically, you could make a pitcher of this gin and ginger beer cocktail ready for pouring into glasses at a party. However, again, I do not recommend it. There are two issues. First, the jug will sit, waiting to be poured, causing those lovely bubbles from the ginger beer to dissipate over time. Worse than that, the drink (and those bubbles) will get diluted with the ice that is in the jug before being poured over more ice in the serving glass. It will result in an inferior version of this drink.
As a workaround, try mixing up the lime juice and gin and decanting it into a bottle ready to use later. Store it in the fridge and shake gently to remix the two ingredients before pouring the cocktails on demand.
When the ice-cold cocktail hits the mug, it is kept refreshingly cold because copper conducts the temperature of the liquid and ice. Moreover, in the Moscow mule, when the vodka comes into contact with the copper oxidisation occurs which is said to enhance the flavour of the drink.
It is not essential to serve the London mule in a copper mug though.
Serving suggestions
I was recently asked what I like to eat when I drink cocktails and, truthfully, I rarely eat anything. That's because I've never seriously thought about pairing cocktails and food. So, when writing up this gin and ginger beer drink, I decided to do a little investigation and I have the following food suggestions to nibble on whilst you sip this London mule cocktail:
- Fish and chips - white fish, crispy batter, plenty of carbs with a sprinkling of sea salt, a few sips of fiery gin and ginger beer... that all sounds pretty good to me.
- Cheese - cheddar and goat's cheese are fine contenders for pairing with ginger beer. Try loading some onto crackers or thin rounds of baguette that have been lightly toasted.
- Cured meats - salty and fatty slices are the order of the day - chorizo, prosciutto or salami are all great options.
- Spicy food - fiery ginger beer is a natural for serving with spice-laden cuisines such as Mexican, Indian and Thai.
Mule cocktail variations
The gin buck is just one of many twists on the Moscow mule. Here are a few more of my favourites:
- Mexican Mule - you guessed it, there's tequila on the loose.
- Dead Man's Mule - this one is rather adventurous, featuring absinthe and cinnamon schnapps. Perhaps not for the faint-hearted.
- New Orleans Mule - featuring whisky and coffee liqueur this one sounds tempting.
- French Mule - with Cognac and Angostura bitters this is another intriguing venture in the world of buck cocktails.
More sparkling cocktails to try
Have you made this gin and ginger beer Foghorn cocktail? Please leave a rating or comment to let me know what you thought of it - I love hearing from my readers.
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London Mule (aka Gin Buck or Foghorn Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 40 ml Gin either Old Tom or London Dry
- 20 ml Lime juice
- 120 ml Ginger beer
- 4 Lime wedges garnish
- Mint sprig (optional) garnish
Instructions
- Squeeze 20ml of juice from a lime and pour it into a copper mug or highball glass, then add the gin.
- Fill the glass with ice cubes, layering a few lime wedges in as you do so.
- Pour in the ginger beer.
- Optional: stir gently (it will fizz if you stir too vigorously)
- Garnish with a lime wedge (and mint sprig if desired) and serve immediately
Notes
- Ensure that you use plenty of ice. Fill the glass to the top.
- Also, use ginger beer that has been well-chilled to ensure that the drink is pleasingly cold at the point of serving and that it doesn't get diluted too much if the ice cubes need to do all the chilling.
- It's not essential to stir this drink. If you do stir, do so gently as the ginger beer is fizzy. If you do not stir, expect the drink to be slightly stronger towards the bottom.
- If you prefer a sweeter and less spicy drink then swap the ginger beer for ginger ale.
- As ginger beer is carbonated, this cocktail is best served on demand rather than it being made in advance.
Jane Coupland says
i hope you enjoy this twist on the classic mule cocktail - gin is a lovely addition.