Moscow mule
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
The Moscow Mule is a classic highball cocktail, traditionally served in a copper mug, featuring a crisp, effervescent blend of vodka, spicy ginger beer, and a bright squeeze of lime juice. Its taste is a refreshing balance of sharp citrus, sweet-spicy ginger, and clean spirit, with a light, bubbly texture. Nutritionally, it's a low-calorie, sugar-containing alcoholic beverage with negligible protein or fat.
Calorie split: 0% protein · 100% carbs · 0% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its perfectly balanced, refreshing flavor profile that's both spicy and citrusy, making it a crowd-pleasing choice. Its iconic presentation in a copper mug and its status as a versatile, easy-to-mix classic add to its enduring cultural appeal.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary concern is the sugar content from the ginger beer, which can cause blood-sugar spikes, and the alcohol itself. To counteract this, opt for a diet or low-sugar ginger beer, practice portion control, and avoid drinking on an empty stomach.
Key benefits
- Low in calories compared to many cocktails
- Contains no fat or protein
- Ginger beer may offer mild digestive comfort
- The copper mug is said to keep the drink colder for longer
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The drink was popularized in the 1940s as a marketing collaboration between a vodka distributor, a ginger beer company, and a copper mug manufacturer, effectively creating a viral cocktail trend decades before social media.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 83.1 g |
| Energy | 91.0 kcal |
| Protein | 0.00 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.01 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 8.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 8.7 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 2.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.14 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 1.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 1.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 1.0 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 5.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.05 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.02 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.00 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.00 mg |
| Niacin | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.00 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 8.3 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.00 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is a Moscow Mule gluten-free?
The vodka and ginger beer are typically gluten-free, but always check labels for specific brands, as some vodkas are distilled from gluten-containing grains.
Why is it served in a copper mug?
Tradition and marketing! The copper conducts cold, making the mug feel icy, and it's believed to enhance the drink's aroma and keep it chilled longer.
Can I make a non-alcoholic version?
Yes, simply omit the vodka and use extra ginger beer and lime juice for a refreshing 'Virgin Moscow Mule' or 'Nojito'.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.91 kcal/g · 0% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 8.7 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 5.00 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.