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Christmas Moscow Mule

A festive twist on the classic Moscow mule with tart cranberry juice, vodka, and spicy ginger beer, garnished with sparkly sugared cranberries and rosemary for a beautiful holiday presentation.
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Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 1 cocktail
Course: Cocktail, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 175
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz vodka
  • 1 oz cranberry juice or black cherry cranberry juice
  • 4 oz ginger beer
  • ice
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar for simple syrup
  • 1/2 cup water for simple syrup
  • 1/3 cup granulated white sugar for coating garnishes and rimming glass
  • fresh cranberries for garnish
  • fresh rosemary for garnish

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • Wire cooling rack
  • Glass or copper mug
  • Plate for sugar
  • Cocktail shaker (optional)

Method
 

  1. Make the simple syrup by combining 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  2. Coat the fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs in the cooled simple syrup, then place them on a wire cooling rack to dry for about 1 hour.
  3. Once dried, toss the cranberries and rosemary in 1/3 cup granulated sugar to coat completely. Reserve remaining sugar on a plate for rimming the glass.
  4. Swipe the rim of your glass or copper mug with simple syrup, then dip into the reserved sugar to create a sugar rim.
  5. Fill the glass with ice.
  6. Add 2 oz vodka and 1 oz cranberry juice to the glass. (Alternative: shake vodka and cranberry juice with ice in a cocktail shaker for 20-30 seconds, then strain into the ice-filled glass.)
  7. Top with 4 oz ginger beer, pouring gently to preserve carbonation.
  8. Garnish with sugared cranberries and a sprig of sugared rosemary. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a mocktail version, simply omit the vodka. For kids, use ginger ale instead of ginger beer as it can be spicy. Sugared garnishes can be made several hours ahead and stored at room temperature. The drink is best made fresh due to carbonation.