Kombucha Moscow Mules
Moscow mules made with ginger kombucha instead of ginger beer! If you love kombucha, you'll love kombucha Moscow mules. Just add vodka and lime.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 29, 2024
Drumroll, please. I got Cookie’s DNA test results back yesterday! This funny mutt of mine is half schipperke (called it!) and half mixed medley. The mixed side includes dachshund and Australian koolie, which explains the rest. Cookie is a smart, ornery schipperke with a koolie’s spots and herding habits, topped off with floppy dachshund ears.
My imagination is running wild. How did this creature come to be? I see her mother as an elegant, purebred black schipperke living in a posh Tulsa suburb. Her dad? The handsome, spotted, charming gentleman next door. The Don Draper of dachshunds, if you will.
Six years ago, on a warm spring evening, they snuck off to share a plate of spaghetti and watch the sun set. One thing led to another and now I’m sharing the couch with their clown daughter. It was all meant to be.
I made these kombucha cocktails last night under Cookie’s supervision. She loves cauliflower, but shows no interest in kombucha. I can see why. Kombucha is a fermented tea flavored with fruit juice. It has some spunk to it, which I love, but it’s not for everyone. The fermentation process makes it slightly carbonated and adds a trace amount of alcohol. It’s relatively low in calories, about 80 per 16-ounce bottle.
GT’s Kombucha is the brand I’m most familiar with. Their gingerberry flavor is my favorite, followed by ginger and strawberry. I buy it at health food stores for three to four dollars per bottle (one bottle is enough for about three cocktails), but you can make your own kombucha if you’re feeling adventurous.
I’d been curious about kombucha cocktails for a while, but it wasn’t until Jeanine posted her ginger kombucha cocktails that I decided to try it already. The other night, I poured some vodka and ginger kombucha over ice and topped it off with a big squeeze of lime. It tasted similar to a classic Moscow mule, just less sugary. Sold! Then I tried it with gingerberry, which I liked even better. My male taste tester preferred the regular ginger flavor.
I’m sure that Moscow mule traditionalists are grumbling at the substitution, but hey, sometimes mixes are better than the originals. You can serve your kombucha Moscow mules in fancy copper mugs if you want to make these seem more proper. Either way, they’re super simple drinks for warm summer nights.
Kombucha Moscow Mules
Moscow mules made with ginger kombucha instead of ginger beer! If you love kombucha, you’ll love kombucha Moscow mules. Just add vodka and lime.
Ingredients
- 1 part vodka
- 3 parts kombucha (ginger or gingerberry)
- ½ lime, juiced
Instructions
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in 1 part vodka (say, 1.5 ounces) and top it off with 3 parts kombucha (so 4.5 ounces).
- Add a generous squeeze of lime and an optional lime wheel for garnish.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Love and Lemons.
Change it up: Replace the vodka with pretty much any other basic liquor.
If you love this recipe: You’ll also love my ginger beer concentrate.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
I think I just died and went to heaven. No, seriously, last night I had 2 Mules. They’re my favorite cocktail. I’m a kombucha lover. You just made my weekend.
The Don Draper of dachshunds…hahaha. I need to try kombucha as cocktail! Very cool.
i should totally get a dog dna test for my dog. she’s supposedly a jack russel/pug but i think there is more to it!
i also love the large ice cubes in the drinks!
Your dog sounds adorable! I think the DNA test was totally worth it, just to settle my own curiosity!
this is brilliant! i cannot wait to try it out ASAP.
How great that you now know more about your dog’s DNA. And those cocktails are looking amazing!
Wow – when I was growing up our neighbours raised schipperkes and I haven’t seen one since. Your drinks are lovely looking, but I can’t get my head around kombucha. Perhaps in time…
Love the flavors in this so much!
You would somehow make the healthiest but tastiest cocktail I’ve ever heard of :)
Kombucha would be pretty nice in a mule. I like my mules very ginger-y and very lime-y and kombucha adds enough sour funkiness that it would play well with the vodka. Agree that its definitely a bit of an acquired taste but once you start liking fermented foods – kefir, kombucha, kimchi – you like them all and they are so good for your digestive system and immune system. Almost enough to make up for any damage the vodka does haha ;)
The Don Draper of dachshunds –> lol you are hilarious! As for the kombucha, sign me right up. I love GTs and anything ginger is just fine by me! 2 other brands I love are Rise and Tonica, both Canadian. You’ve just reminded me that I haven’t had one in far too long!
What a sweet mix. Mutts are the best, in my opinion. :) I’ve never had a moscow mule, but it sounds like something I would totally go for. Those big ice cubs are ultra chic looking too!
Cookie is a winner, that’s for sure! Moscow mules are so refreshing. Hope you’ll order one sometime!
Love the idea of using Kombucha here. It’s like a healthy cocktail! I’m all over it. Give Cookie a pat from Henry. Happy you got her DNA test results. Very cool!
Hi Kate! I’m the rando on Instagram who suggested the Wisdom Panel! I’m so glad you finally got the results – what an interesting mix Cookie is! It’s funny, though, once you get the results, it’s like looking at your dog through brand new eyes, as you try to match certain behaviors/traits to their ancestry! Anyway, have a great weekend (I’ll actually be in KC to visit my parents this weekend, so if we bump into each other, I’ll be sure to say hi)!
Bri, thank you for suggesting Wisdom Panel! It’s so fun to finally know what kinds of dogs made Cookie who she is. I can totally see each of them. I was out of town this weekend visiting my parents, but I hope you had a great time in KC!
beautiful photos friend! And what a funny story about Cookie’s DNA! Such a loving pet owner, you are. Gorgeous drinks – must try especially since I love kombucha!
Great dog. Love the spots.
This cocktail looks interesting! But you should definitely make your own kombucha. It is a cinch to make and my husband has been doing it for years. The link makes it sound complicated but really all you do is make some sweetened tea, cool, add your starter (I guess they call it a scoby; my husband always called it a “mushroom”) and let it sit and ferment for about a week. Then stick it in the fridge and use as desired. $3-$4 a bottle is highway robbery.
I have started drinking it lately just to see. My husband swears by it. I am not sure you get the health benefits if you mix it with vodka, though! LOL
Annie, you’re right, I should totally make my own! It’s about time. I used to work at a raw/vegan restaurant and they had big jugs of it with scobies floating around inside. Not sure about the health benefits with vodka, either, but the cocktails are tasty!
I’ve been drinking these for awhile now and was wondering if anyone else had tried. GT’s is the best brand to use for the cocktail. I prefer the strawberry and citrus varieties with my vodka. I would not recommend homemade kombucha with this cocktail. I’ve made my own off and on for years and have tried many other homemade kombuchas. None of them are close to the taste and flavor of GT’s. Call it highway robbery if you want, but it’s worth it to me.
Thanks for sharing your expertise, Michael! I’ve always wondered about making my own but I’m pretty content sipping on GT’s every now and then.
OMG yes I make something similar with my kombucha, sometimes with gin, so good!
LOVE that you got the DNA test done for Cookie, sooo fun, I just love that they ca do that. <3
Oh I bet your gin version is great! Dog DNA tests are so cool.
This is so fascinating! There is nothing I love more than my own pup and I love reading about Cookie so much! Such a beautiful dog :)
Great idea about using the kombucha with the vodka. I imagine these go down very easily!!! :) Yum!
She is a real CUTIE!!!! :* And these cocktails are exactly what I need to celebrate!!!!!! Just perfect! <3 Have a great weekend!
I really want to try DNA testing for my dog! She’s mostly black lab (got her from the humane society) but there’s definitely a lot more than that. She’s got black spots on her tongue (chow chow), a super skinny and long face (greyhoundish) but SUPER powerful legs and a lot of energy (almost like a terrier or an Australian shepherd). It would be so interesting to find out what she’s really made of!
http://youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26
Wow, your dog sounds so cool, Ella! I grew up with a purebred black lab. They are the sweetest. Cookie has spots on the roof of her mouth!
Your love for your pup is amazing! You are amazing!!!! My hubby and I live off 90% of your recipes! We are going on a huge camping trip in a few days… I can already tell this will be a huge hit!!! Thank you for sharing!!!! :)
:D Thank you, Rachel! I’m so glad you both enjoy my recipes so much. Seriously, you make my work worthwhile. Have a blast on your camping trip!
Love this! I’m on a huge kombucha kick, and I just picked up some new local vodka…hmm…
I did a doggie DNA test on my Max a few years ago – 1/4 Alaskan Malamute, 1/4 Samoyed, 1/4 Golden Retriever, and 1/4 “mixed medley”! So much fun!
I bet Max is gorgeous! That DNA test was totally worth the money. Mystery solved!
So cool to now know what Cookie is! We sometimes wonder what Maki is… but she’s just totally a mutt and probably a million different things. Definitely boxer, probably some ridgeback and pit.
Love this drink. Looks so incredibly refreshing.
I saw Maki on Instagram yesterday and I can definitely see those breeds! Cookie makes so much sense to me now that I can see those different breeds in her. She’s still one of a kind, though!
So interesting to hear about Cookie’s DNA test, I loved seeing your post on Insta too! Doggie genetics are pretty fascinating :) She’s a gorgeous little clown dog and I adore your retelling of her ‘history’. Spaghetti dates ftw! As for this kombucha cocktail… just yum. I’ve never tried it (kombucha) before but I’m definitely sold on the value of fermented foods. Adding the benefits to a cheeky cocktail? Even better xx
Thanks, Laura! Just heard from another commenter who lives in Australia and hasn’t seen kombucha… hope kombucha makes its way over to you soon!
What beautiful photos… And what a lovely romantic story about how cookie’s parents met. I’m sure you’re absolutely correct!
These photos are stunning! I love the colors so much.
Thanks, Quinn!
So glad that you got Cookie’s results back. I can definitely see her as the mix of an elegant lady and a dapper bad boy. They made a cute puppy together for sure :)
I’ve never tried kombucha or a Moscow Mule! I will have to rectify this as soon as I figure out where to buy kombucha in Australia. Perhaps my local health food store can help me out. I just won’t let them in on the slightly less healthy but rather more fun reason for purchasing it…
How funny… my mutt’s DNA test came back part schipperke also! (along with whippet and yorkie in his case) I’m going to imagine that our dogs are distantly related now :)
And of course, good lookin’ mules! Thanks for the recipe.
How interesting! I want to meet other schipperke mixes now. Cookie is one of a kind but she does seem to possess quite a few schipperke traits! She’s so ornery.
I’m a big fan of this sort of detox-retox cocktail – I’ve not tried kombucha in boozy applications (yet!) but absolutely love this idea.
I’m kind of obsessed with kombucha moscow mules!! Lovely photos!
love kombucha cocktails! I’ll have to try the gingerberry one :)
Those are my favorite flavors also! anything gingery+kombucha is just the best. And of course, vodka could only make it better.
Glad you got some useful results from your Cookie’s DNA test. Love the story too. My Cookie’s test came back as half jack Russell (which I knew) a possible dot of standard poodle (which is crazy) and the other half unidentified (still convinced it’s monkey).
Love the idea of a kombucha cocktail. ….can’t wait till summer comes around here!
Your Cookie sounds like an interesting mix! Cookie’s mutt side also included a little bit of bullmastiff, wirehaired griffon and westie, but I’m skeptical of those!
Cool idea! I love that you used kombucha for an interesting twist. I can’t wait to make this cocktail.
Definitely trying these!!
Love the Mule/Booch combo! Two of my faves:)
Ive been stuck for recipes kate. I am a vegetarian who loves too so I can’t wait to make your vegetable soup
Can not wait to make these! A New Year’s Eve treat for sure! Your Cookie is adorable. We had a schipperke for fourteen years. She was the most amazing creature and what a personality! I can only imagine that combined with the dachshund and Australian koolie! That’s one very special, one-of-a-kind dog you have! Thanks for the recipe!
These look good!
Let me know what you think!
After a long week, this cocktail was just what I needed. I’ve had some ginger kombucha in my fridge for awhile and I’m happy to be putting it to good use tonight! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Sarah!
Love kombucha mules! I use either Health-Ade lemon-ginger, Kevita Ginger or GTS Gingerade (basically whichever is on special at the grocery).
Thanks for your review, Ramona!
When I googled “moscow mule using ginger kombucha,” I was so excited to see that cookieandkate had a recipe! Didn’t even bother looking at the others :) Sounds delicious! I’ll probably top it up with club soda to stretch it.
Is anybody else having issues with carbonation? I’ve even tried using 1/5 ratio without the lime and I STILL can’t keep the carbonation. It’s not like my kombucha is flat… With a lack of carbonation it just tastes uselessly sour. I think that I should try buying a soda stream and then shake the whole drink, kombucha and all, so it’s super cold and then artificially carbonate the cocktail with said soda stream. That would be quite the show in a bar.