The Moscow Mule, a delicious vodka number is arguably one of the most well-known classic cocktails full of zingy ginger beer notes which cut through the subtle flavours of the spirit. As mixology cultures have evolved over time, numerous ingredients have been swapped or added to classic cocktail recipes to give them a refreshing twist. Whisky and ginger beer is one such take on the classic vodka pairing to introduce a new combination of flavours which are just as zesty and refreshing. Whisky mule or whisky and ginger beer brings together the sharp and spicy taste of ginger with the rich smokiness of the spirit, that topped with ice becomes a rather rejuvenating drink on a warm day.

With origins in 18th century England, non-alcoholic ginger beer has a distinct flavour profile, it is brewed using ginger, sugar and water to produce a rather spicy and sometimes even pungent and sharp drink. Through centuries, as cocktail cultures have developed, it has become a favourite mixer for its spunky flavour which tapers down the bitterness of whisky or elevates the subtle notes of vodka.

There are different kinds of whisky mules named aptly after the whisky which is used in their preparations. The Tennessee mule then uses whisky from Tennessee whereas the Kentucky mule is popular for adding bourbon to the recipe. A spot of Johnnie Walker Red Label blended with a long pour of ginger beer is a Scottish variant of the cocktail mix. The story goes that a drink similar to the whisky mule called Scottish Lassie originated in the American south during the 1870s and was made with the addition of lime juice to the mule concoction. This drink became widely popular when the Broadway star Mayme Taylor ordered it at a bar in Rochester, New York. 

To make a classic Red And Ginger, you can do away with the lime juice and simply use a lime wedge garnish for tangy and zesty citrusy hints. Make Red and ginger in a tall, highball glass with generous proportions of ice cubes to enjoy a refreshing quencher during warm weather. The smooth, blended Scotch whisky has a slightly fruity and spicy finish with notes of butterscotch and vanilla which imbue it with an aromatic, honey-like profile laced with a smoky finish. This blend is nicely complimented by zesty ginger beer, which contains a proportionate quantity of sugar that cuts through the whisky’s bitterness.

You can serve this simple cocktail at any house party you host during the festive season. Read on below for a recipe to make the Red And Ginger: