A Kentucky Mule keeps the build simple: bourbon, ginger beer, and fresh lime over ice. It’s a bourbon twist on the Moscow Mule, with a smoother, richer taste. We keep the recipe clean, no muddled fruit, so the whiskey takes center stage. Serve it in a chilled copper mug for a crisp, aromatic sip, or in a sturdy rocks glass for a more casual feel.
At Bardstown Bourbon Company, we offer estate-distilled Origin Series Bourbon and Wheated Bottled-in-Bond, alongside blends crafted with intent, so you can choose the profile that fits your Mule. This approach makes the Bourbon Mule a dependable house pour year-round and one of the easiest bourbon cocktails to master.
Classic Kentucky Mule Recipe (Bardstown style)
Here’s a clean, repeatable Kentucky Mule recipe that highlights the whiskey first and lets the ginger lift:
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bardstown Wheated Bottled-in-Bond
- ½ oz fresh lime juice
- 4–6 oz premium ginger beer
- Ice (crushed for quick chill; large cubes for slower dilution)
- Garnish: expressed lime wheel; optional mint sprig
Method
Use a copper mug when possible. Copper conducts heat quickly, keeping the drink colder while intensifying the flavor of the ginger and citrus. Add bourbon and lime to an ice-filled copper mug or rocks glass. Top slowly with ginger beer to preserve bubbles. Give one or two gentle stirs. Garnish and serve.
That’s your foundation; from here, adjust lime, ginger beer, or a touch of syrup to suit the expression in your glass.
How Bardstown Expressions Shape Your Mule
Each Bardstown expression brings its own character to a Mule, changing both texture and finish:
- Wheated Bottled-in-Bond: 100 proof with a softer mid-palate. Creamier texture, gentle vanilla, rounded finish that pairs naturally with ginger. For a mixed crowd, Wheated Bottled-in-Bond is the most universally liked pour.
- Origin Series Bourbon (36% high-rye mash bill): Classic caramel and baking spice with livelier rye lift and a clean pepper snap. Use a drier ginger beer to keep the drink crisp from start to finish.
Fine-Tune with Syrups and Bitters
A classic Mule doesn’t require a sweetener, but small adjustments help match the whiskey’s profile.
Simple Syrups
- 1:1 simple: clean sweetness; keeps the drink linear.
- Demerara: light molasses depth that echoes oak and vanilla, great with Origin Series Bourbon.
- Honey: soft, floral lift that flatters High Wheat.
Ginger syrup (¼ oz): extends warmth and length without pushing sweetness too far.
Bitters (2 dashes)
- Orange bitters: brighten citrus and highlight vanilla.
- Barrel-aged bitters: reinforce oak and spice.
- Chocolate bitters: deepen cocoa and cherry tones for more depth.
Host Like a Pro: Batch the Bourbon Mule Cocktail
Batching turns the Mule into an easy service for a crowd while keeping the drink lively.
- Pre-mix bourbon and lime in a chilled pitcher (8 parts bourbon to 2 parts lime).
- Pour to order over fresh ice; top with cold ginger beer to protect carbonation.
- Offer a flight: set out Wheated Bottled-in-Bond and Bourbon so guests can discover their preferred build.
- Keep the garnish simple: one lime wheel; mint only when fresh.
Handled this way, every glass stays crisp and balanced, ideal for summer bourbon drinks outside or a slow evening indoors.
Pro Tips for Consistency
Small checks keep each pour steady at home or for a crowd.
- Use dense, clear ice for slower melt and a cleaner texture.
- Pour ginger beer down a bar spoon to protect bubbles.
- Too sweet? Choose a drier ginger beer or add a touch more lime.
- Too strong? Lengthen with ginger beer or a splash of soda water.
Keep brief notes on your ginger beer brand, ice type, lime measure, and any bitters; repeating those choices makes this Kentucky Mule recipe your signature easy bourbon cocktail.
Where We Stand
We’re whiskey-first: for us, grain, barrel, and time lead every decision. We explore new flavor paths when they add dimension, not noise. Finishes deepen character; blends are crafted with intent for balanced profiles. We’re known for great whiskey and for exploring flavors that push bourbon’s boundaries. In cocktails, specs stay lean, so the whiskey leads. Taste across our range to see the difference in the glass.
Finish in the Glass
Start with Wheated Bottled-in-Bond for a smooth, balanced Kentucky Mule recipe. Then sip through our estate-distilled lineup: Bourbon and Wheated Bottled-in-Bond, to find your ideal match. We also craft blends we’re proud of; different paths to the same goal: carefully made whiskey that rewards exploration.
Build the Mule, taste each whiskey neat, then explore the Bardstown Bourbon Company lineup.