I love easy drinks with fresh flavors, and honestly, the Cranberry Moscow Mule nails it. It’s tart cranberry juice, a squeeze of lime, and spicy ginger beer with vodka—a cool twist on the usual Moscow Mule.

If you’re after a simple, flavorful cocktail, this Cranberry Moscow Mule comes together in minutes. I’ll walk you through the steps, list out the basic ingredients, and share a few tips so you can whip one up at home.

Cranberry Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe

I stick to basic tools and ingredients for this drink. My process is all about keeping the flavors balanced and the steps simple enough for anyone to follow.

John

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Serving Size

Equipment

I usually serve it in a copper mug since it keeps the drink colder, but if I’m out of mugs, a regular glass does the trick—even if it doesn’t stay quite as chilly.
I grab a jigger or a small measuring cup for the vodka, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
A stirring spoon is enough to mix everything together.

If I’m feeling fancy and want to add fresh cranberries or mint, a muddler comes in handy, but that’s totally optional.
I keep a citrus juicer nearby for fresh lime juice, and a little paring knife for cutting lime wedges.

Ingredients

Vodka 2 oz 1/4 cup

Cranberry juice 2 oz 1/4 cup
Fresh lime juice 1/2 oz 1 Tbsp
Ginger beer 4 oz 1/2 cup

Ice As needed
Fresh cranberries A few garnish
Lime wedge or wheel 1 garnish

Mint sprig optional 1 (garnish)

Instructions

First, I fill my copper mug with ice, almost to the top.
Then I pour in the vodka, cranberry juice, and fresh lime juice, using a jigger or measuring cup to keep it all balanced.

Next, I top it off with ginger beer, pouring slow so it doesn’t foam over. I give it a gentle stir from the bottom with a spoon, just enough to mix but not kill the bubbles.
For the last step, I add my garnishes. A few fresh cranberries go in, and I set a lime wheel or wedge on the rim. Sometimes I’ll tuck in a mint sprig for a little extra brightness. I try to serve it right away, when it’s icy and fizzy.

Notes

I always taste and tweak a bit, especially if I’m using a new brand of cranberry juice or ginger beer. If it’s too sweet, I go with unsweetened cranberry juice or squeeze in more lime. If I want it fizzier, I just pour a splash more ginger beer on top.

For a mocktail, I skip the vodka and add a splash of club soda for more bubbles. If I’m making a batch for friends, I multiply the ingredients and mix everything (except the ginger beer) in a pitcher. I pour in the ginger beer just before serving so it stays bubbly.

Garnishes are totally optional, but I think they make the drink look festive. I always try to use fresh lime and real cranberries over anything artificial. For best results, keep the cocktail super cold and drink it soon after mixing—nobody likes a lukewarm mule.

Must Have Ingredients

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	Collins Candied Fruit Orange Peel Twist in Syrup For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	Collins Strawberries in Syrup For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	Collins Candied Ginger in Syrup For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	Peninsula Premium Cocktail Cherries For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	Premium Lychees in Syrup For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	Oranfit Dried Orange Slices For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	Oranfit Dried Lime Slices For Garnish	Buy On Amazon
	LAVA Premium Cocktail Rimmers Variety Pack	Buy On Amazon
	Pure Cane Simple Syrup Cocktail Mixer	Buy On Amazon
	Q GINGER BEER with Real Ginger & Organic Agave	Buy On Amazon
	Q Mixers Premium Ginger Ale	Buy On Amazon
	Q ELDERFLOWER TONIC WATER with Real Quinine & Organic Agave	Buy On Amazon
	Q Club soda with Himalayan Salt	Buy On Amazon
	WithCo Cucumber Gimlet Craft Cocktail Mixer with Mint	Buy On Amazon
	Strongwater Old Fashioned Mix- Handcrafted Old Fashioned Syrup with Bitters, Orange, Cherry, Organic Demerara Sugar	Buy On Amazon
	Bittermilk No.1 Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned Mix	Buy On Amazon
	Portland Syrups Pumpkin Spice Syrup	Buy On Amazon
	Portland Syrups Lavender Syrup	Buy On Amazon
	Portland Syrups Vanilla Syrup	Buy On Amazon
	Original Bloody Mary Mix	Buy On Amazon
	Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit	Buy On Amazon
	Professional Drink Mixer Set for Beginners	Buy On Amazon
	1 Pack 3 Tier Bar Glass Rimmer	Buy On Amazon
	Cocktail Ice Mold With Easy Fill and Release Silicone Round Ice Ball Maker	Buy On Amazon
	Stainless Steel Bar Tool For Making Garnish for Cocktails & Mocktails	Buy On Amazon

Tasting Notes

First sip? The crisp, bright taste of lime hits right away. It gives the drink a zesty, fresh start that’s hard to beat.

The cranberry juice brings in a gentle tartness, and that spicy kick from the ginger beer follows close behind. Honestly, I find the cranberry flavor pops even more as the ice melts a bit.

Vodka blends in pretty smoothly. It never overpowers the fruit, just kind of ties everything together.

I’ll sometimes add a mint sprig or a few cranberries for garnish. Those little touches add a gentle aroma and a splash of color—why not, right?

The finish is cool and a bit fizzy, which makes it super easy to enjoy. The flavors stay clean and balanced all the way through.

Substitute

When I make a Cranberry Moscow Mule, I sometimes run out of one or more ingredients.

In those cases, I reach for substitutes to keep the drink going.

Swapping Vodka:
If I don’t have vodka, I use gin or white rum.

Both work pretty well and honestly, each brings its own twist to the flavor.

Replacing Ginger Beer:
Sometimes I end up using ginger ale instead of ginger beer.

It’s less spicy, sure, but you still get that sweetness and bubbles.

Cranberry Juice Options:
When I don’t have cranberry juice, I’ll mix a little pomegranate or cherry juice with some water.

The taste isn’t exactly the same, but it keeps things fruity enough for me.

Other ideas:

Lime juice can be swapped for lemon juice if that’s all you’ve got.

Fresh cranberries look great, but honestly, frozen ones or even a few orange slices work as a garnish.

Cranberry Moscow Mule Cocktail Recipe