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Two copper mugs filled with ice, garnished with lime slices and fresh mint, sit on scattered ice cubes. Nearby are mint leaves, a halved lime, ginger root, and a cocktail shaker—perfect for a refreshing Moscow mule mocktail.
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4.86 from 21 votes

Virgin Moscow Mule Mocktail (6 Variations!)

An easy Moscow Mule mocktail is made with ginger beer, lime juice, mint, and soda water for a crisp, refreshing drink that tastes just like the original - minus the alcohol. Discover 6 delicious variations of this virgin Moscow Mule, from fruity strawberry and peach to cozy fall and spicy jalapeno twists.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 1
Calories: 105kcal
Author: Natalie Battaglia

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 oz ginger beer - light or diet can be used for lower sugar option
  • ½ oz lime juice
  • 8-10 mint leaves
  • A splash of apple cider vinegar or 1 oz non-alc vodka completely optional - works great without!
  • Optional garnishes: lime wheels + mint
  • For variations, see 'Notes' section below
Metric - US

Instructions

  • Clap the mint leaves together in your hands a few times to release the oils, then place them in your mug/glass.
  • Add the lime juice and press very gently several times with a muddler. You just want to gently bruise the mint - over muddling can make the mint taste bitter.
  • Fill your glass with ice and top with the ginger beer, then add the apple cider vinegar or non-alcoholic vodka (if using).
  • Add your optional garnishes and serve.

Video

Notes

Variations
  • Fall/Holiday inspired: Add 2 oz apple cider and stir, then add some optional pomegranate arils.
  • Spicy: Muddle 1-2 slices jalapeno with the mint if you prefer a spicy moscow mule.
  • Thanksgiving/Christmas: Add 2 oz pomegranate juice or cranberry for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
  • Summer: Add 2 oz peach puree during peach season for a summer vibe.
  • Spring: Add 2 strawberries or 8 blueberries and muddle with the mint for a berry twist.
Alcohol-free vodka: I LOVE this virgin mule even without the alcohol-free vodka, so don't worry if you can't locate one. They can be tricky to find! Another option is adding a splash of apple cider vinegar or bitters to give the mocktail the bite that's missing from the alcohol. Apple cider vinegar is a by-product of alcohol so works really well.
Sugar/sweetener: I found this sweet enough and didn't need to add any sweetener to it. Ginger beer is usually very sweet. If you're a sweet tooth, feel free to add your choice of sweetener.

Nutrition

Serving: 300ml | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.9g | Sugar: 2.9g