According to the general history of the non-traditional cocktail drink, the Moscow Mule was created sometime in 1941 in New York City, just before World War II kicked into high gear for the U.S. With a combination of lime juice, ginger beer, and premium vodka, the simple drink mix came took off soon after its inception. It became a standby at hotels and bars across the city within a short amount of time. Drank like coffee in a copper mug, the concoction combines the coolness of ice in a metallic container, which only enhances the cold temperature. Add in the vodka for the base and the carbonation of ginger beer; the drink is a fizzy package of enjoyment with a kick. It’s finished with a lime wedge or spiral for a garnish.
However, that early popularity didn’t necessarily keep the drink at the top of the charts, so to speak. As people came back from World War II and settled in with the first of suburbia and American life in the 1950s, things moved on to other ideas.
Watch this video to get a glimpse of it’s story:
A Good Idea Buried in Time
So, the Moscow Mule floated around. Older generations remembered the drink was oftentimes served in the afternoon for sipping and genteel chats, particularly on warm days and for outdoor sitting. But it was no longer called for in the evening parlors and nightclubs.
Fast forward a few decades later, Oprah Winfrey has become extremely established now she’s in her stride. Her shows are extremely popular, and she moves into lifestyle recommendations and starts detailing her favorite things that she enjoys. Lo and behold, the Moscow Mule makes a return.
The Power of the Right Suggestion
To understand the power of Oprah Winfrey’s suggestions, one has to be familiar with her shows. Winfrey began by competing on the bruising Chicago networks. By the time she began to appear on an afternoon talk show on national networks, she had already cut her teeth for years, but many felt she was still a wild risk in a TV field that was already dominated by serious players like the Donahue show, for example.
As Oprah’s success became her brand, her followers expanded exponentially. And they also became a captive market for her advice, opinions, and suggestions about what to try. It didn’t hurt that Oprah also became extremely famous for her lavish gifts to her audiences, especially on the holidays. And, in the midst of that massive popularity tidal wave, Oprah began pitching the Moscow Mule.
Give It a Try, You’ll Agree Too
Today, the Moscow Mule is a well-known favorite again, and on hot days people are still sipping it on their balconies. However, the Moscow Mule drink is also a popular demand in bars and nightclubs as well. It stands out, offers a different spin on a cocktail, and it’s a discussion starter. That’s a win-win definitely, and it’s also a good reason why everyone should try a Moscow Mule themselves too.
Karen works for a big hedge fund, she’s awesome with numbers and loves what she does, but above all – she loves traveling. Whenever she’s on the road, she tries to get into the gritty tiny details of every location she explores.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram