Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule

Happy PSL season to all who celebrate! I have to admit that I absolutely love when pumpkin spice season rolls around. Now, mind you, I do show some restraint—and by that I mean I let at least two days pass after the annual menu debut before ordering my first pumpkin spice latte.

However, you can find just about any kind of pumpkin spice product these days. Personally, I like pumpkin spice where it makes sense—as opposed to pairing it with anything and everything—and bonus points if real pumpkin is also used in the recipe. With this formula in mind, a pumpkin spice Moscow mule hits all the right marks. If you love the flavors of pumpkin pie, you will love this Moscow mule variation. The zesty ginger and the tart lime are perfect partners for sweet and spicy pumpkin butter and cinnamon simple syrup.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule

• Vodka: Vodka is the neutral spirit at the base of the classic Moscow mule. It can be distilled from a variety of raw ingredients, but it is most commonly made from fermented grains such as rye, wheat or corn. Potato vodka, which has a slightly sweeter flavor, works well with the warm spices in this pumpkin spice Moscow mule.
• Ginger beer: Ginger beer has a much stronger spicy ginger flavor than ginger ale. The zesty flavor of ginger complements the sweet and mild flavor of pumpkin. Use your favorite brand or try one of our Test Kitchen’s picks for the best ginger beers.
• Lime juice: Lime juice adds acidity and a slightly sour flavor, which balances the cocktail. Use fresh-squeezed lime juice for the best flavor.
• Pumpkin butter: This cooked-down pumpkin spread has concentrated pumpkin flavor, and the added spices make it taste just like pumpkin pie. You should be able to find it in your local grocery store in the same aisle as jams and other fruit butters. Leftover pumpkin butter great for an autumn-inspired breakfast as a tasty spread for buttermilk biscuits or as a mix-in for your overnight oats.
• Cinnamon simple syrup: Simple syrup is a common ingredient used to sweeten cocktails. If you know how to make plain simple syrup, all you have to do is pick up some cinnamon sticks to make this spiced version.
• Optional garnishes: The pumpkin spice Moscow mule is garnished with a cinnamon stick, a lime wheel and ground nutmeg. For the best flavor, use freshly grated nutmeg.

Directions

Step 1: Make the cinnamon syrup

Combine the water with the granulated sugar in a large saucepan. Bring it to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved, about three to four minutes.

Reduce to a simmer and add the cinnamon sticks. Cover and continue simmering the syrup for five minutes. Then, remove the saucepan from the heat and let the cinnamon steep for at least two hours. Strain and store the syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Step 2: Shake the cocktail

Fill a cocktail shaker 3/4 full of ice. Add the vodka, cinnamon simple syrup, lime juice and pumpkin butter. Seal the shaker and shake it vigorously to combine.

Step 3: Strain the cocktail

Strain the cocktail into a copper mug filled with ice.

Top it off with ginger beer.

Step 4: Garnish the cocktail

Garnish the pumpkin spice Moscow mule with a lime wheel, cinnamon stick and freshly ground nutmeg, if desired.

Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule Variations

• Add some apple: For even more autumnal flavor, use apple cider in place of the lime juice.
• Swap the spirit: There are endless variations on Moscow mules, including versions that use a different base liquor. To make a pumpkin spice Mexican mule, use tequila in place of vodka. For a Kentucky mule, use bourbon.
• Give it more garnish: Add a sprig of rosemary, sage or thyme for a pop of color and fresh herbal flavor. Instead of fresh ground nutmeg, you could top the cocktail with a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or a whole star anise.

How to Store Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mules

This pumpkin spice Moscow mule recipe makes a single cocktail, but you can easily turn it into a batch cocktail if you want to prepare it ahead of time and store it. To make a pitcher with six servings, stir together 12 ounces of vodka, 6 ounces of cinnamon simple syrup, 3 ounces of lime juice and 6 tablespoons of pumpkin butter in a pitcher. Store the mixture in the refrigerator. Once you’re ready to serve the cocktails, top the pitcher off with 24 ounces of ginger beer and pour it into glasses filled with ice.

Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule Tips

How do you make pumpkin butter from scratch?

Making pumpkin butter from scratch only takes 20 minutes—and it will make your kitchen smell delicious! Basically, you just grab a can of pumpkin, add a few warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and reduce it on the stovetop until it’s nice and thick.

Do you need to serve a Moscow mule in a copper cup?

Moscow mules are traditionally served in a copper mug. The cocktail itself was created in 1941 at a famous Los Angeles Sunset Strip bar called the Cock ‘n Bull as a way to sell vodka and ginger beer. As the story goes, a Russian immigrant named Sophie Berezinski stopped by the bar with the goal of unloading 2000 copper mugs from her father’s copper company that she had stored in her basement. The bar owner thought the mugs would be a distinctive way to sell their new cocktail, and the rest is history.

Due to the metal’s conductive nature, a copper mug cools down quickly and efficiently pulls heat away from your hands and lips, making it seem as if the cocktail were staying colder for longer. If you don’t have copper mugs on hand, you can always serve a Moscow mule in a highball glass. To help the drink stay cold, chill the glass in the freezer for 30 minutes before making the cocktail.