The classic Moscow Mule travels to Italy with this amaro upgrade.
About the cocktail
Are you the proud owner of a copper mug? Chances are you’ve used it for a gingery, limey Moscow Mule once or twice. You might also look at that gleaming bronze mug occasionally and wish you had more excuses to use it. Well, let us give you one: the Monte Mule. Then again, your favourite glass works just as well, as you can see here. The original Moscow Mule mixes ginger beer, lime juice and vodka in that shiny Mule mug, topped up with ice. And no, you don’t have to use a copper mug for these recipes, but it is the Mule tradition. The Monte Mule follows the same formula as the original, except it adds everyone’s favourite bittersweet Italian liqueur – amaro – for a deeper, spicier, more complex flavour. Amaro is made by steeping all manner of herbs, barks, leaves and citrus fruits in a neutral spirit with sugar, and it all works beautifully with the spicy warmth of ginger beer and zingy lime. The original version of the Monte Mule (which comes via Justin Kaderabek of Chicago restaurant Monteverde) uses both vodka and amaro, but our cocktail team has tweaked things slightly and left the vodka out. This little omission really dials up the refreshment – and keeps the alcohol level reasonably low – which should make this an ideal cocktail for sunkissed afternoons.
Ingredients :
50mL amaro 20mL lime juice 100mL ginger beer Garnish: mint sprig and orange wedge Glass: copper mug or glass mug
Method
Add lime juice, amaro and ginger beer to mug or glass Add ice and stir gently Garnish with mint sprig and orange wedge
Dan’s top tips
Amaro is having a real moment right now, so any excuse to use it more is fine by us. Amaro is really a category of bittersweet liqueurs, and every producer has their own style and recipe. We used Amaro Montenegro, which has flavours like bitter herbs and citrus peel, but you can use whichever amaro you like best. Just keep in mind that some are sweeter or drier than Montenegro, so you may wish to add sugar syrup or use a drier ginger beer to compensate. Speaking of ginger beer, that one’s up to you, too. We prefer the cloudier, spicier styles, but the drier, softer versions will let the amaro shine through more. In the end, if you have a favourite ginger beer, that’s probably a good place to start. And, remembering the original Monte Mule recipe, you can absolutely use vodka, too. Just keep in mind that you’ll substantially bump up the alcohol content if you do.
How do you make a Monte Mule?
To make a Monte Mule, add lime juice, amaro and ginger beer to a glass and top up with ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and orange.
Can you use any amaro for this cocktail?
Yes! If you have a favourite amaro, now is the time to use it. Otherwise, Amaro Montenegro works really well.
- What does the Monte Mule taste like?
A Monte Mule tastes gingery, with zesty lime and plenty of bittersweet complexity from the amaro.
