Spiced Cranberry Mule

The Moscow Mule gets a holiday makeover in this Spiced Cranberry Mule, which trades the usual lime-and-ginger simplicity for more seasonal flair. The cranberry liqueur brings a tart sweetness that plays beautifully with the spicy ginger beer, while a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg adds warmth without overwhelming the drink. If you have copper mugs, this is the time to use them – they keep the drink icy cold and look festive on any table.

This is one of those drinks that feels fancy but requires almost no effort. You’re just building everything right in the mug over ice, no shaking or straining required. The spices make it feel appropriate for cool weather and holiday gatherings, but it’s refreshing enough that you could serve it year-round if you wanted to. Make a few of these when friends drop by, and they’ll think you’ve been taking bartending classes. The truth is just good ingredients and a two-minute assembly time.

Make Spiced Cranberry Mules For a Crowd

Mix the vodka, cranberry liqueur, lime juice, and spices in a pitcher or large jar. For example, if you’re making enough for eight servings, combine 16 oz of vodka, 8 oz of cranberry liqueur, 4 oz of fresh lime juice, and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon or nutmeg. Stir well and refrigerate until party time.

When guests arrive, fill glasses or mugs with ice, pour about 3.5 oz of your pre-mixed base into each glass, and top with ginger beer. Give it a quick stir and add your garnishes. This way, you’re not measuring and mixing individual drinks all night, but you still get that fresh, fizzy quality that makes a mule what it is.

The batched base can be kept in the refrigerator for several hours without any problem. Just give it a good stir before using, since the spices might settle. You can also set up a self-serve station with the pitcher of base, bottles of ginger beer, ice, and garnishes so guests can make their own.

Ingredients for Spiced Cranberry Mules

Vodka – Standard mid-range vodka is perfect.

Cranberry liqueur – Homemade or purchased both work.

Lime juice – Fresh is important here. The lime cuts through the sweetness and spice.

Ginger beer – This is different from ginger ale. Ginger beer has a stronger, spicier kick. Look for brands like Fever-Tree or Q Mixers, but store brands work just as well.

Cinnamon or nutmeg – Ground spices from your pantry. Use whichever you prefer or have on hand.

Homemade Cranberry Liqueur

Depending on how soon you need it, you can make your own cranberry liqueur. It’s super simple to make; you just need four weeks for the flavor to meld. Here’s the recipe we use for our Cranberry Liqueur. And not for nothing, bottles of it make great holiday gifts!

Other Holiday Cocktails

Looking for more festive drinks to round out your holiday menu? Try the Harvest Cranberry Sangria for a make-ahead option that serves a crowd and features the same cranberry liqueur, or shake up a Holiday Cosmo when you want something quick and elegant. The Cranberry French 75 brings champagne into the mix for celebrations, while the Spiced Pomegranate Cocktail offers a different fruit flavor that’s just as seasonal. The Winter Sangria gives you another big-batch option for entertaining with a completely different flavor profile that doesn’t use cranberry. Each of these cocktails brings something different to the table, so you can mix and match based on what your guests enjoy and how much time you want to spend behind the bar.

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