Juneteenth celebrations honor freedom and community through shared traditions. The Juneteenth Mule cocktail brings a festive spirit to gatherings while commemorating this important holiday.

This refreshing twist on the classic Moscow Mule combines ginger beer, lime juice, and vodka with additions of strawberry and blueberry to represent the colors of freedom.

The drink serves as both a delicious beverage and a conversation starter about the historical importance of Juneteenth. Its bright flavors and symbolic colors make it perfect for summer celebrations.

The simple recipe lets hosts prepare it quickly, so there’s more time for friends and family. No need to fuss around for hours in the kitchen.

Juneteenth Mule Cocktail Recipe

This festive cocktail mixes traditional mule ingredients with red, black, and green elements to honor Juneteenth and African American heritage.

John

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Serving Size

Equipment

Copper mule mug (traditional but any glass works)

Jigger or measuring tool (1 oz and 2 oz sides)
Bar spoon: For mixing.
Knife and cutting board

Ice bucket
Citrus juicer or reamer

Ingredients

2 oz vodka can substitute bourbon for a southern twist

4 oz ginger beer
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
5-6 fresh blackberries

2-3 fresh strawberries sliced
Fresh mint leaves
2 watermelon cubes

1/2 oz simple syrup
Ice cubes

Instructions

Muddle blackberries, strawberries, watermelon, and mint leaves with simple syrup in the bottom of your mug.

Fill the mug with ice cubes.
Pour vodka and fresh lime juice over the ice.
Top with ginger beer and stir gently with a bar spoon.

Garnish with extra mint sprigs, strawberry slices, and blackberries on a cocktail pick.
The muddled fruit gives the drink its vibrant colors and flavors. Stirring gently keeps the ginger beer fizzy while blending everything together.

Notes

This recipe makes one drink, but you can scale it up for a crowd. If you want a non-alcoholic version, just swap vodka for more ginger beer or a splash of sparkling water.

Leftover fruit? Pop it in the fridge for up to three days. Simple syrup’s easy—just mix equal parts sugar and water, heat until dissolved, then let it cool down.

If you like more spice, go for a ginger beer with extra kick or toss in a thin slice of fresh ginger. This drink really pairs well with barbecue and pretty much any classic Juneteenth dish.

Must Have Ingredients

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	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
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	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

The Juneteenth Mule cocktail brings a bright, refreshing flavor with a nice blend of sweet and tangy notes. Ginger beer gives it a spicy kick that plays off the smoothness of the vodka.

First sips? You’ll notice the zingy lime, which adds a tart freshness. Strawberry and watermelon create a sweet, fruity base that nods to traditional red drinks of Juneteenth.

Flavor Components:

Front: Sweet strawberry and watermelon
Middle: Zesty lime and ginger spice
Finish: Clean vodka with a subtle warming sensation

The drink shows off a vibrant red color and a fizzy texture from the ginger beer. Ice keeps it perfectly chilled—just what you want on a hot summer day.

If you’re not big on sweetness, try adding more lime for extra tartness. Ginger heat is easy to tweak too, depending on which ginger beer you pick—some bring more fire than others.

When it’s made right, the cocktail should feel balanced, not too sweet or too boozy. Fruit flavors should pop, but not drown out everything else.

Substitute

If you can’t find Jamaican ginger beer for your Juneteenth Mule cocktail, don’t worry—there are a few good alternatives out there.

Regular ginger beer works just fine as a replacement. Honestly, I’d go for brands with a bold ginger kick if you want that classic taste.

Ginger ale is another option, though it’s definitely sweeter and not as spicy as ginger beer. If you want more heat, toss in a dash of ginger juice or maybe a slice of fresh ginger—works like a charm.

For a non-alcoholic version, just skip the vodka and pour in extra ginger beer. Suddenly, you’ve got a refreshing mocktail that anyone can sip.

Common Substitutions:

Spirits: Swap vodka for bourbon or rum.

Citrus: Lemon instead of lime? Totally fine.
Sweetener: Honey or agave can stand in for simple syrup.
Garnish: Orange slices instead of lime—why not?

If ginger isn’t your thing, try using citrus soda with a dash of cinnamon or even allspice. It’s different, but honestly, the flavors still play well together.

For something with less sugar, mix soda water with just a bit of ginger syrup or maybe even ginger tea. It’s lighter, but still packs a little punch.

Juneteenth Mule Cocktail Recipe