A good seasonal cocktail is always a welcome discovery, especially when it comes recommended by a friend who knows his way around a cocktail shaker.

We recently enjoyed dinner at the home of our friends Steve B and Michael S. When Michael offered me a selection of cocktails, he mentioned that his specialty for the season was a Maple Bourbon Mule. That was all I needed to hear. I knew exactly what I wanted, and I was certainly glad I took his recommendation.

This is a lovely fall cocktail. Bourbon brings a bit of warmth and spice, while ginger beer adds a refreshing, slightly peppery kick. A touch of maple syrup rounds everything out with just the right amount of sweetness, and fresh lemon juice provides a bright, citrusy balance. The result is a cocktail that’s both refreshing and perfectly suited to cooler weather.

For those curious about the mule label, this family of cocktails traditionally combines a base spirit, citrus juice and ginger beer. The best-known version is the Moscow Mule, made with vodka and lime juice. Swap the vodka for bourbon, add maple syrup and use lemon in place of lime, and you have a delicious seasonal variation. And while mules are traditionally served in copper mugs, a rocks glass works just as well.

A few tips for making this cocktail. First, use ginger beer rather than ginger ale. Ginger beer has a more pronounced ginger flavor that stands up beautifully to the bourbon. I particularly like Q Light Ginger Beer, but any good-quality ginger beer will work.

Second, don’t skip the cocktail shaker. Maple syrup is thicker than most cocktail ingredients, so I recommend combining the bourbon, maple syrup and lemon juice in a shaker and stirring before adding ice. Give everything a good shake, strain into an ice-filled copper mug or rocks glass, and top with ginger beer.

Many thanks to Michael S for introducing me to this wonderful fall cocktail. I suspect it will be making regular appearances at our house this season.

Maple Bourbon Mule

A seasonal twist on the mule

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Course Drink

Servings 1

Ingredients

1-1/2 ounces bourbon
1/2 maple syrup
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice ~ 1/2 lemon
4 to 6 ounces of good quality ginger beer
Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions

Add bourbon, maple syrup and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Stir to dissolve the maple syrup.
Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously for 10–15 seconds.
Strain into a copper mug (or rocks glass) filled with ice.
Top with ginger beer and stir.
Garnish with a lemon wedge.