The Tennessee Mule is a great variation of the classic Moscow Mule. In this post, we reveal the top 7 Tennessee Mule recipes on the internet. Let's get started! 

Introduction

The Tennessee Mule is a variation of the Moscow Mule. It’s a cocktail made by mixing Tennessee whiskey with ginger beer and lime juice. The main difference between the Tennessee Mule and the original Moscow Mule is that the former has whiskey instead of vodka. While there are many types of whiskeys available, this Mule specifically uses Tennessee whiskey.

History of the Tennessee Mule

Since the inception of the Moscow Mule in 1941, there have been many variations of the classic drink. Some cocktails have added ingredients to the original recipe, which consists of ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice. Others switch the vodka for other types of alcohol, including rum, gin, and whiskey. 

These variations of the Tennessee Mule provide you with a variety of flavor profiles, catering to different tastes. If you love whiskey, then you should try this version of the original Mule and experiment with the top Tennessee Mule recipes below.

7 Top Tennessee Mule Recipes 

Classic Tennessee Mule Recipe

For this recipe, you only need three ingredients. The resulting flavor will depend on the kind of whiskey you choose, whether spicy or fruity. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces whiskey 
• 4 ounces ginger beer
• 1 splash lime juice 

Instructions:

1. Fill a cocktail glass with ice, then add the whiskey and ginger beer. 
2. Add lime juice and stir. 
3. Serve. 

Lemonade Tennessee Mule

Because whiskey has some heat to it, it can be a bit tricky to use as a refreshing drink during the summer to help you recover from the heat. However, this recipe uses lemonade to make it more suitable. This cocktail can also be ideal if you want to make a drink with low alcohol content because you’ll be using more lemonade relative to whiskey. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Tennessee whiskey 
• 2 ounces ginger ale
• 6 ounces lemonade 
• 2 lime wedges 

Instructions:

1. In a shaker, mix the whiskey, ginger ale, and lemonade. 
2. Use one lime wedge to squeeze lime juice into the mixture, then shake well. 
3. Pour the mixture into a copper mug over ice. 
4. Garnish the drink with the remaining lime wedge. 

Mint Tennessee Mule

If you’re a fan of herbal hints in your mixed drinks, then this recipe is for you. It uses fresh mint that’s meant to introduce a lingering cooling effect once you take a sip. Always use fresh mint to get the most out of its flavor and aroma. The mint should also be muddled to release its essences, which have been shown to improve gut health, for instance, by treating the symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces ginger beer
• 2 ounces Tennessee whiskey 
• 5 fresh mint leaves 
• 2 lime wedges 

Instructions:

1. Muddle the mint leaves and one lime wedge in a mason jar, then pour into a glass filled with ice. 
2. Pour in the whiskey. 
3. Add ginger beer and stir. 
4. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

Lemon Tennessee Mule

This recipe might be a bit similar to the lemonade Tennessee Mule, but it uses lemon zest instead of lemonade. Studies have proven that lemon zest contains antibacterial properties that protect against dental caries and periodontitis, so here’s to better oral health. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces whiskey 
• 6 ounces ginger beer 
• 1 piece lemon zest
• 6 ounces of ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes then pour in the whiskey. 
2. Add ginger beer and stir gently. 
3. Squeeze in the lemon zest. 
4. Dip the zest in the glass to garnish, and also to enhance both flavor and taste. 

Horsefeather Tennessee Mule

For this recipe, you’ll use herbal and spicy bitters to add flavor to your cocktail. With just four ingredients, this is another easy-to-make Mule recipe that you should try. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces Tennessee whiskey 
• 4 ounces ginger beer 
• 4 dashes bitters 
• Ice
• Lime wedge

Instructions:

1. Put ice in a highball glass. 
2. Add ginger beer, whiskey, and bitters into the glass. 
3. Squeeze the lime wedge into the mixture, then stir. 
4. Serve immediately. 

Cranberry Tennessee Mule

This cranberry cocktail is an ideal choice for the holidays. The mix of sweet and tarty cranberry juice, whiskey, and spicy ginger ale produces a refreshing drink. It's not only tasty but also healthy as cranberry juice has been proven to aid in the prevention of urinary tract infections. 

Prep Time:  4 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces whiskey 
• 4 ounces ginger ale
• 2 ounces cranberry juice, chilled 
• ½ ounce fresh lime juice 
• 4 ice cubes 
• Lime wedge 

Instructions:

1. Pour cranberry juice, whiskey, and lime juice into a tall highball glass. 
2. Top up with ginger ale and ice cubes. 
3. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve. 

Blackberry Tennessee Mule

If you like a fruity cocktail, here’s a blackberry, antioxidant-packed Tennessee Mule recipe for you. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces ginger beer
• 2 ounces whiskey 
• 4 fresh blackberries 
• Lime wedge 
• Ice

Instructions:

1. In a mason jar, muddle the blackberries and lime wedge. 
2. Add whiskey and top off with ginger beer. 
3. Serve in a highball glass. 

How to Choose Whiskey for Your Cocktail

There are many types of whiskeys from different brands, which might make choosing one as a beginner a relatively daunting task. However, for this particular cocktail, you’ll only be looking at a specific kind of whiskey— Tennessee whiskey.

As the name word suggests, Tennessee whisky is whiskey made in the state of Tennessee in the United States of America. Besides the location of the whiskey, the method of production used also distinguishes it from bourbon, scotch, or other kinds of spirits.

Firstly, this is a straight whiskey that is distilled from fermented cereal grain mash. After distillation, it’s aged in charred barrels for at least two years. While this is a common process for all straight spirits around the world, Tennessee whiskey undergoes an additional step before the aging process. This is referred to as the Lincoln County process. Basically, this process involves passing the distilled spirit through charcoal. This step is meant to strip the alcohol of any harsh flavorings. As a result, once aged, Tennessee whiskey is smooth to drink.

Thus, when making a Tennessee mule, it’s necessary to look for this type of whiskey. Otherwise, you may be making a Mule cocktail that isn’t a Tennessee Mule. In order to qualify  as a Tennessee whiskey, the spirit must be made within the state of Tennessee and undergo the Lincoln County process.

In order to help you choose the right Tennessee whiskey, you can consider the leading brands. These include Jack Daniel’s, George Dickel, Clayton James, and Rollins Tennessee Whiskey. Jack Daniel’s is the leading American whiskey in terms of worldwide sales. It’s produced at Jack Daniel distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, which was founded in 1875. 

George Dickel is a Tennessee whiskey with 8 whiskies under its brand name. These include Old No. 8 Brand, Superior No. 12, and George Dickel Rye Whisky. It’s distilled in Cascade Hollow, Tennessee. 

Rollins Tennessee whiskey is produced using local ingredients, filtered with sweet maple charcoal, and aged in charred American white oak barrels. This gives it hints of spicy and vanilla flavors. 

Tennessee whiskey from the Clayton James brand is copper pot distilled from fermented wheat, white corn, and malted barley. The distillers use the Lincoln County process at their Tenn South Distillery and produce small-batch spirits. 

In addition, here are some other factors to consider when looking for the perfect whiskey:

Single Malt vs. Blended Whiskey 

In whiskey making, there are two main categories: single malt and blended. Single malt whiskey is made with malt from a single distillery. Although it may contain spirit from different batches or barrels, a single malt whiskey originates from the same distillation plant. Single malt has a certain flavor profile that’s distinct to a certain distillery. 

Blended whiskeys, on the other hand, are a mixture of malts from different distilleries. Instead of creating a distinct flavor, they usually have a more varied taste and are smoother. 

Length of the Aging Process

Whiskey is aged after being distilled, usually for a number of years. The longer the aging period, the more refined and rich its flavor is bound to be. The aging process is necessary to get rid of any harsh flavors that are present after fermentation of the cereal mash. This aging process happens through evaporation, since changes in temperature and humidity may cause some of the compounds to seep through the barrels’ wood. In addition, organic compounds such as tannin and vanillin are released from the wood, which mix with the liquor and give it its unique flavors. 

Taste

Different whiskeys from various places have varying tastes. The taste will depend on the type of grain used for fermentation, the barrel used for aging, and the processes involved during distillation and aging. Common flavor types that you may come across include spicy and fruity.

How to Serve the Tennessee Mule

Whether you serve your Tennessee Mule cocktail on ice or not is up to you. If you choose to use ice, you should remember that the quality of ice will determine the final taste of your drink. Whether you use crushed or cubed ice also matters. Using big ice cubes in your mixed drink allows it to cool down, without adding too much water. At the same time, big ice cubes will offer a level of dilution that brings out the full aroma and taste of your drink. Besides, large ice cubes don’t melt quickly, which gives you ample time to drink your cocktail at your preferred pace.

Crushed or pebble ice is a great option in warmer climates, as it gives a more consistent chill. However, with crushed ice, you should be careful not to use too much, as it may leave you with a watery drink. When serving your cocktail, ensure that your ice doesn’t float, as that’s an indication that you’ve poured in too much beverage and too little ice.

Enjoy Experimenting with the Tennessee Mule 

In addition to these top 7 Tennessee Mule recipes, you can try a bunch of other varieties at home, since there’s always room for invention when it comes to the Mule. As long as you use high-quality whiskey, ginger beer, and fresh fruit or herbs, and ensure the right proportions, you can rest assured that you’ll likely put together a good variation of the Tennessee Mule. 

Did You Enjoy This Article?

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this article, you might also like the following articles: Best London Mule Recipes and Best Montana Mule Recipe

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