• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Trending Now: Simple One Pan Meals!
  • About
  • Lifestyle
  • Favorite Products
  • Contact

Mad About Food

Easy Healthy Whole Food Recipes

  • Recipe Index
  • Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Dessert
    • Snack
    • Cocktails
    • Sauces, Dips, and Dressings
  • Protein
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Turkey
    • Meatless
  • Method
    • Instant Pot
    • Air Fryer
    • Grilling
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • One Pan Meal
  • Dietary
    • Gluten Free
    • Dairy Free
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
    • Egg Free
    • Nut Free

Trending:

30 Minute Meals

Instant Pot

Air Fryer

One Pan

Meal Prep

Breakfast

Sauces, Dips and Dressings

Home Blog Recipes

Cranberry Kentucky Mule

print comments
Share
Share on:
6653 shares
Jump to Recipe
By: MadelinePosted: 01/15/2021Updated: 11/20/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Use this Cranberry Kentucky Mule recipe to make a delicious cranberry Moscow mule at home with bourbon instead of vodka. Top your bourbon mule with a piece of candied ginger for an extra fancy at home cocktail.

side view of cranberry Kentucky mule drinks in whisky glasses with a cadied ginger garnish

Mix up a cranberry mule for date night or a dinner party at home

I came up with the idea for a Cranberry Kentucky Mule because I really like bourbon and Amy really likes Moscow mules. I wanted us to have a drink that we could both enjoy together on dates nights at home!

With the beautiful red hue of the 100% cranberry juice, this Kentucky mule recipe is a perfect Valentines Day or Christmas cocktail. Even if you aren’t a bourbon fan yet, I think this bourbon mule will change your mind.

three quarter view of a hand grabbing a cranberry moscow mule in a glass

What kitchen tools will I need to make this Kentucky mule recipe?

  • Small sauce pan for simmering cranberry juice
  • Double sided cocktail jigger for measuring bourbon
  • Sharp knife and cutting board for cutting and peeling fresh ginger

How can I make a restaurant style cranberry Moscow mule at home?

One thing I miss about spending time in bars and restaurants is being served a fancy cocktail. Recently I realized that I can make some super fancy cocktails at home with just a few extra items.

  • Silicone crushed ice trays – I can use these silicone trays to make bar quality crushed ice at home in my freezer.
  • Candied ginger to garnish – Bars have the best garnishes! I chose candied ginger to add to this cranberry Kentucky mule to really bring out the ginger in the ginger beer.
  • Whiskey glasses – since I am using bourbon for this Moscow mule I thought it would be fun to serve it in a whiskey glass.
Overhead view of ingredients for a Kentucky mule recipe

What ingredients will I need to make this bourbon mule?

  • Cranberry juice – I like to use 100% unsweetened cranberry juice for this recipe
  • Fresh ginger
  • Bourbon whiskey – you can use rye whiskey for this drink if you prefer
  • Ginger beer – you can use any style you like but I usually buy one with a natural ginger flavor
Step by step assemble of a cranberry Kentucky mule

Let’s make a Cranberry Kentucky Mule!

Step 1: Simmer the cranberry juice with ginger to reduce

To begin, smash nub of ginger with the back of your knife. Add ginger to a small sauce pot with the cranberry juice. Heat over high heat until the mixture boils.

Reduce to a simmer (low heat) and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, allow the juice to cool, and pour reduced cranberry juice through a strainer to strain out the ginger.

Step 2: Assemble the bourbon mule

Then, fill two whiskey glasses with ice. Pour half of the reduced cranberry juice into each glass.

Pour 1.5oz of bourbon into each glass. Fill each glass to the top with ginger beer.

Step 3: Garnish and serve

Gently stir each cocktail with a spoon and garnish with candied ginger, if desired, and serve!

Side view of cranberry mules in glasses on coasters

Serve these delicious appetizers with your Kentucky Mule recipe!

  • Trader Joe’s Holiday Cheese Board
  • Creamy White Bean Hummus
  • Classic Cold Crab Dip

You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!

Image for pinning cranberry kentucky mule on pinterest
Recipe

Cranberry Kentucky Mule

★★★★★ 5 from 2 reviews

Bourbon mule made with ginger beer and cranberry juice!

Recipe By: Madeline
Prep: 5 minutesCook: 25 minutesTotal: 30 minutes
Print Pin it Rate recipe Save recipe
Servings: 2 servings 1x

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cranberry juice (100% cranberry juice)
  • 2 inch nub peeled fresh ginger
  • 3 oz bourbon whiskey
  • 12 oz can or bottle of ginger beer
  • Candied ginger to garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Smash nub of ginger with the back of your knife. Add ginger to a small sauce pot with the cranberry juice. Heat over high heat until the mixture boils. Reduce to a simmer (low heat) and simmer gently for 20 minutes. Remove the pan from heat, allow the juice to cool, and pour reduced cranberry juice through a strainer to strain out the ginger.
  2. Fill two whiskey glasses with ice. Pour half of the reduced cranberry juice into each glass. Pour 1.5oz of bourbon into each glass. Fill each glass to the top with ginger beer.
  3. Gently stir each cocktail with a spoon and garnish with candied ginger, if desired, and serve!
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Did you make my

Cranberry Kentucky Mule?

Rate recipe Share on Insta Save recipe

I appreciate your reviews SO much! Mention @mad_about_food and hashtag your photo with #madaboutfood

6653 shares
  • Facebook
  • Email

Related Recipes

  • White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
  • Leprechaun Snack Mix
  • Holiday Almond Cookies
  • Three quarter view of kale quinoa salad on a plate with salad in a serving bowl behind it
    Kale Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Previous Post
Short Rib Ragu
Next Post
Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

About Madeline

Hi, I'm Madeline! I am so excited to share my healthy and approachable recipes with you. Here you will find simple, comforting recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast and let's get cooking!

Learn More

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Eve says

    Posted on 12/1 at 3:28 pm

    I made this for my family gathering the night before thanksgiving and it was a big hit! (especially for our guests that thought they didn’t like cocktails). I love that the prep-work for the cranberry/ginger syrup is so easy, as I find so many cocktail recipes have very complicated syrup prep work or require odd ingredients that have no other use. I made a big batch of the syrup in advance so serving made-to-order drinks was very easy. I’ll definitely be making this again during the holiday season!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Madeline says

      Posted on 12/2 at 2:17 pm

      I’m glad you loved it Eve! Thanks!

      Reply
  2. Kathy says

    Posted on 11/20 at 8:17 pm

    This is a great drink to prep ahead for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The cranberry and ginger taste great together. They are strong flavors and do cover up the taste of alcohol which I prefer but my husband likes to taste it so he doubled the bourbon and it was perfect. I used vodka instead of bourbon in mine and it was exactly what I was hoping for.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Madeline says

      Posted on 11/21 at 2:06 pm

      Great to hear, Kathy! Glad you can customize it to both your and your husband’s liking!

      Reply
  3. Ellie Lintal says

    Posted on 12/23 at 11:48 am

    I made these for some friends last night. They are not bourbon drinkers but loved these. I am preparing a batch of cranberry syrup now to make again for Christmas week. How long will the syrup keep in the refrigerator?

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • Madeline says

      Posted on 12/23 at 12:00 pm

      Merry Christmas, Ellie! The syrup would probably be best used within two weeks so if you prep today, it should be good for all of Christmas week.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi, I'm Madeline! I am so excited to share my healthy and approachable recipes with you. Here you will find simple, comforting recipes that the whole family will enjoy. Turn on your favorite playlist or podcast and let's get cooking!

Read More

Popular Posts

Whole30 BLT Chicken Salad

Blueberry Coconut Chia Seed Pudding

Ground Beef Baked Tacos

No Bread Turkey Club

Grab my

Top 5 Tips for Simplifying Meal Time!

Sign me up!

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Join me and 145k friends on instagram

"This is my third time making this recipe and it’s a fave for meal prepping! So delicious, quick and easy ☺️" - Jessica

Get Recipe

"This was so simple and delicious!! Worked late and still quickly put together a great meal." - Dana

Get Recipe

"So good! Not only was this incredibly easy to make, the flavor was perfect. I will definitely make this again and again!" - Mandy

Get Recipe
@mad_about_food
Back to Top

Courses

Dinners

Breakfasts

Desserts

Dips & Sauces

Popular

Instant Pot

Air Fryer

Meal Prep

Chicken Recipes

Back to Top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
© 2023 Mad About Food
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
6653 shares