A Lesson in Liquor: The History of Moscow Mule Mugs

If you’ve ever ordered yourself Moscow Mule, you’ve probably noticed that it is housed (almost) exclusively in a copper mug. A Gift Personalized decided to take a deeper look into why the ginger beer and vodka blend is paired with such a specific vessel.

While many cocktails require a certain type of glassware, such as martinis, Moscow Mules seem to be the only drink partial to copper. Copper has been known for centuries to help liquids retain their temperature, but that doesn’t explain why the metal isn’t used for more drinks, alcoholic and otherwise. As it turns out, the purpose of the mug at the inception of the Moscow Mule wasn’t scientific, but resourceful.

In 1941, three business people, who couldn’t seem to sell their products, decided to come together and cut their losses. John Martin had struggled with making a profit on his vodka because, at that time, hardly anyone in the US was drinking it. Jack Morgan’s side passion, ginger beer, began to pile up in his basement. Sophie Berezinski’s house was cluttered with upwards of 2,000 copper mugs, imprinted with a mule she designed, that she schlepped along with her when immigrating from Russia. At the Cock ‘n’ Bull pub in Hollywood, these three spent hours coming up with the perfect recipe for the lively libation we know today as the Moscow Mule.

      Originally known as the Smirnoff Mule, the drink was an instant success in bars all around southern California. As word spread, the Moscow Mule became one of the most popular drinks of the 50s and 60s. Though the drink itself began to lose a bit of traction two decades after it was invented, the ginger-infused concoction put Smirnoff on the map, making it one of the most popular brands of Vodka, ever.

      Liquor enthusiasts everywhere have upheld the tradition of serving Moscow Mules in the iconic copper mug for over 75 years, and we hope that never stops. Because of its rich history, a personalized Moscow Mule mug from A Gift Personalized is the perfect gift for any cocktail connoisseur!