What’s the best mezcal for a Mezcal Mule? Tess Rose answers your burning questions and provides a simple recipe for a killer ginger syrup.
When you think of a Mezcal Mule, which comes to mind first: an animal pulling a tahona or a refreshing drink? All puns aside, the gingery and bright classic cocktail is an ideal format to highlight mezcal flavor profiles; the slight smokiness and caramelized earthy flavors of roasted agave add depth to spicy ginger and zesty citrus. The result is a mezcal drink that is both light and refreshing, while being full of flavor. Ginger is one of the tried and true flavors that will work with agave spirits in almost any context, which also makes this pairing a fertile starting point for creative ideas to put your own spin on this updated classic.
Choosing a spirit for your mezcal mule
For the ideal mezcal mule, I recommend using a mezcal that’s designed for mixed drinks. While it certainly wouldn’t be bad, using a highly complex mezcal in this recipe would overcomplicate the flavor profile of this straightforward sipper, which gets part of its charm from its refreshingly simple balance. (You would also run the risk of overshadowing the nuance of a spirit that may be best enjoyed on its own.)
After tasting through a few different cocktail mezcal options, the Convite Esencial made from espadín and proofed down to 38% ABV was the favorite. The notes of this classic artisanal mezcal are clean, with a mild and rounded profile that meshes seamlessly with the other punchy flavors in this drink. Another option that could work well in this drink is Ilegal Reposado, or other relatively low ABV mezcals that are cocktail focused. (A standard ABV for most spirits is 40%, though we typically associate artisanal mezcal with higher alcohol. In Mexico 38% ABV is typical, especially when the spirit is primarily used for mixing.)
Using a lower alcohol spirit leaves room to play with the mixer options. There are some well-made ginger liqueurs that could come into play, though I prefer to stick with a spicy ginger beer with tight bubbles. Some ginger beers are lightly alcoholic, which you can get away with when using a 38% abv spirit, but after testing out a few, the best balance of refreshing and crushable was made from non-alcoholic ginger beers such as Reeds or Fever Tree. Making your own ginger syrup and using club soda or seltzer is another option. (See recipe for ginger syrup below.) Another way to level up this simple drink is to build it in a chilled and frosty copper mug–bonus points for crushed or pebble ice.
Mezcal Mule recipe
Ingredients
- 2 oz Convite Mezcal or Ilegal Mezcal (I prefer the reposado Ilegal for this drink)
- 1 oz fresh squeezed lime juice
- 4 oz ginger beer
- Lime wedge and candied ginger for garnish
Method
Add ingredients to a chilled copper mug over ice, stir and enjoy.
To make a ginger syrup:
Combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan with fresh grated ginger and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Let the ginger steep in the sugar until cool, then strain off and store in the fridge for up to 10 days. Adjust to your taste for strength, but start with a ratio of 2 tablespoon grated and packed fresh ginger for each cup of sugar.
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