In this article, we reveal the top 5 French Moscow Mule recipes, as well as everything you need to know about this delicious cocktail. Let's get started!

Introduction

The ability to bring people together is a powerful feature of cocktails, and the magic lies in their details. Just as humans are endlessly unique with different tastes and lifestyles, our drinks should reflect just that...our uniqueness. We believe this take on the classic Moscow Moscow is an amazing option for any type of taste, lifestyle, and gathering.

What is the French Mule?

If you're looking to switch things up a bit, we have a drink that you will love. The French Mule is essentially the same as its cousin, the Moscow Mule, but with cognac rather than vodka. Cognac has a smooth texture with notes of caramel, vanilla, and pear, unlike vodka which has subtler flavors. Like other variations of the Moscow Mule, the French Mule is extremely versatile, and you can customize it to better fit your taste and lifestyle. Not only is it multifaceted, but it can also be prepared in a few minutes. All these features make it a worldwide hit for every occasion, year-round.

The History of Cognac

Are you asking yourself if the French Mule is in fact from France? The answer is yes...well, partly. What gives this Mule its name is the cognac used as the heart and soul of this cocktail. The word “cognac” comes from Cognac, France, which is the city in the French wine region where this liquor is made. This liquor's production process is similar to that of wine, and it's matured in oak barrels for long periods. Producers use a local grape called Ugni Blanc as part of the production process. 

Although cognac’s flavors vary significantly depending on the soil in which its grapes are grown, experts have described its flavor as having notes of vanilla, cinnamon, toffee, vine flower, and spices, to mention a few. They also described its smell as heady and smooth in texture.

History of the French Mule

As unique as the variations of Moscow Mules are, they all find common ground in their humble beginnings. The classic Moscow Mule was invented at the Cock n' Bull pub in Los Angeles, California in 1941. Throughout its rise to popularity, bartenders around the world started experimenting with different flavors and liquors. Eventually, cognac was substituted for vodka, and the rest is history. 

How is it Served?

For Every Occasion

The beauty of the Moscow Mule is its ability to fit any occasion. Do you have a holiday party planned? The Cranberry Mule is perfect for that. Hosting a summer event? There's the Jamaican Mule to consider. Cocktail party? Why not try the French Mule. This is a convenient privilege you don’t get with other cocktails. The French Mule specifically is great year-round, and is as comfortable at a simple happy hour with a friend or at a big party with hundreds of people. Regardless of the setting, the French Mule will not disappoint.

Appetizers

Appetizers are always a great idea when hosting, but we all know that certain food/cocktail pairings are encouraged over others to maximize flavor. Each of these appetizers enhances each sip of the French Mule for an overall amazing experience.  

Cheese

Strong cheeses such as roquefort and aged parmesan complement the rich flavors of the French Mule. Parmesan canapés are also a fun and easy option to serve with this cocktail.

Seafood 

Seafood is a tasty option as an appetizer. The cognac and ginger beer's zingy flavors make for a great pairing with seafood. Dishes like an oyster tray, salmon croquettes, or grilled fish kebabs serve as a perfect combination to the French Mule.

Mushroom

The umami notes of mushrooms work perfectly with the nutty flavours of cognac and the zest of limes and ginger beer. Incorporating a dish such as wild mushroom risotto to the menu is a great addition.

Chocolate

When a French Moscow Mule couples with chocolate, it creates the perfect dessert. Cognac has always been known as an after-dinner drink, so naturally it suits chocolate desserts amazingly.

Recipes

Classic French Mule

Conventional does not mean boring in this classic French Mule recipe. This is probably the most popular variation of the French Mule due to its simplicity. 

Ingredients:

• 2 oz cognac
• ½ oz lime juice
•  4 oz ginger beer

Instructions:

1. Put cognac and lime juice into a glass.
2. Add ice and ginger beer.
3. Stir and add lime slices as garnish.
   

Syrup & Bitters French Mule

This recipe is an exotic twist on the original. The concentrated herbal flavors of the bitters couple well with the spicy flavors of the cinnamon notes in the syrup, all of which is tied together nicely with cognac and ginger beer. This variation is truly one of a kind.

Ingredients:

• 2 shots of cognac
• 1 shot of sugarcane syrup
• 1 shot of freshly squeezed lime juice
• 3 dashes of any aromatic bitter
• Ginger beer

Instructions:

1. Mix the cognac, sugarcane syrup, freshly squeezed lime and aromatic bitters in a glass.
2. Fill up a glass with ice and strain the mix into it.
3. Top off the glass with ginger beer and stir.

The Cognac & Vodka French Mule

This variation of the French Mule will remind you of the original Moscow Mule, because vodka is used as one of its ingredients in addition to cognac.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz of vodka
• 2 oz of cognac
• Juice of 1/2 a lime
• Juice of 1/2 an orange
• 12 oz of ginger beer 
• 1 wedge lime
• 1 slice orange

Instructions:

1. Fill a cup 1/2 way with ice.
2. Fill the cup with vodka, cognac, orange, and lime juice. 
3. Stir to mix.
4. Fill with ginger beer.
5. Top it off with garnishes of lime and orange slices.

The Absinthe French Mule

This highly alcoholic take on the French Mule is a fun recipe full of botanical notes. The extra step will make all the difference in the final product.

Ingredients:

• 1 oz cognac
• 1/8 oz absinthe infusion
• 4 oz of ginger beer

Instructions:

1. Rinse your glass or mug with absinthe and pour out any extra liquid, then put your glass in the freezer for 30 minutes.
2. Add cognac and ginger beer to the frozen glass and stir.
3. Fill glass with ice.
4. Garnish as you'd like.

Ginger Mint Simple Syrup French Mule

This fresh, minty variation of the French Mule is perfect for hot summer days. Not only is this recipe refreshing, but it also serves up to 10 people. If you're hosting a bigger crowd, then the measurements in this recipe will be of help. 

Ingredients:

• 24 oz cognac
• 6 oz fresh lime juice (6 limes)
• 6 oz ginger-mint simple syrup 
• 32 oz ginger beer
• Fresh mint for garnish

Instructions:

1. Mix the vodka, syrup and lime juice in a pitcher.
2. Chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
3. Add the ginger beer just before serving.
4. Serve into ice-filled glasses.
   

How to make the simple syrup:

1. Mix light brown sugar, water, peeled and chopped fresh ginger, and sprigs of fresh mint into a saucepan. 
2. Bring to a simmer and stir to dissolve sugar. 
3. Remove from heat and let it completely cool down.
4. Strain mint and ginger.

How to Make it Spicy

Some days you just want that extra zing in your drink to spice up your day. You can do just that with some fun add-ons. It's as simple as adding a few extra components to the cocktail like these ones:

• Jalapeno slices as garnish. 
• Replace regular ginger beer with spicy ginger beer.
• Add a splash of hot sauce to the mule.
• Add chili salt on the rim of the glass or in it.

Low Calorie Options

If drinking a lot of calories weighs heavily on your conscience, there are a few ways you can go about making the French Mule diet-friendly. Here are some options for you:

• You can always decrease the cognac amount by half. Use more vodka and only a little cognac for taste.
• Use diet ginger beer instead of regular ginger beer.
• Use freshly squeezed juice instead of store bought juice.
• Use sweetener instead of real sugar or syrups.

How to Make it a Mocktail

You shouldn't have to sacrifice flavor when it comes to non-alcoholic cocktails. There are many ways to enjoy a rich, flavorful, yet non-alcoholic drink. The most common way of doing so with the French Mule is to substitute cognac with orange juice concentrate or apricot, peach, or pear juice. You may not notice the difference, but if you do it will still be delicious!

Conclusion

The French Moscow Mule is a fun twist on a classic. The cognac's rich flavors are a great companion to the other ingredients, and its ability to adjust to any occasion makes entertaining a lot easier. It can easily be customized by adding different garnishes that best suit your taste and lifestyle. This Mule retains its essence even as a mocktail, and it can easily be transformed into a spicy drink. It perfectly fits any type of occasion year-round, whether it's a big party or a simple happy hour. This cocktail won’t disappoint. Enjoy!

Did You Enjoy This Article?

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the following articles: Top 7 Rum Mule Recipes and Top 6 Gin-Gin and Gin Mule Recipes

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