The Mule Story
THE MOSCOW MULE COPPER MUG STORY
Copper mules are not just something of today. We have been drinking all kinds of liquids from copper embossed mugs for centuries, and that for good reasons!
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE MOSCOW MULE
Recorded in as early as Ancient Egyptian and Ayurveda texts, the use of copper in beverage vessels has an overwhelming amount of health benefit. The human body needs copper for metabolic function as it is an essential trace element.
AYURVEDIC MEDICINE
Ayurveda, the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit, recommends the storage of water in copper vessels, and ancient Egyptians used copper vessels to keep water fresh. Scientifically stated, water stored in copper can even kill the “E-Coli” bacteria that is linked to food poisoning.
THE “OLIGODYNAMIC” EFFECT
Storage of water in copper produces what is called the “oligodynamic” effect, in layman’s terms, it removes the impurities and unwanted microbes with its positive charge, thus improving the quality of the water. Copper ionizes water and balances the pH, removing other toxins.
BENEFITS OF COPPER
One of the greatest benefits of water stored in copper vessels per Ayurveda, is the balance of all three doshas within the body, because the vessel provides a positive charge.
Our bodies do not produce copper on their own, therefore we must obtain it from our diet. Seafood, salads, and nuts for example, are good sources of copper, but they only yield the element in small doses.
ESSENTIAL TRACE ELEMENT
Copper is an essential trace mineral that our body requires for healthy metabolic function, which allows us to find balance from other things such as copper infused water.
Being an essential trace element in the body, proper balance of copper within
the body is necessary to live a healthy life. Copper regulates our Thyroid gland, allows our bodies to absorb iron more efficiently, aids in cell formation, and is the number one element responsible for producing nerve coatings, or a myelin sheath.
WEARING COPPER BENEFITS
Not only is it essential, but many health benefits have been attributed to ingestion and even wearing copper. I am certain you have seen many advertisements regarding the healing benefits of wearing copper jewelry. Though there is little scientific evidence to support, wearing copper bracelets and copper fiber infused joint support systems is suggested to improve ailments such as headaches, arthritis, and joint pain.
The healthy balance of copper within our systems benefits us in multiple ways. Aside from the sterilizing catalyst defined in the “oligodynamic” effect, some of the, but not nearly all of the beneficial remedies have been recognized as:
- Digestive aide, stimulating peristalas
- Ageing reduction, very high in anti-oxidants
- Fertility improvement
- Improvement of bone density and strength
- Anti-inflammatory
- Brain stimulation
- Regulation of body fat
- Helps wounds heal faster, aids in production of new cells
- Helps regulate blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol
- Maintains cardiovascular health
- Helps fight cancer
- Regulates thyroid
- Reduction of iron deficiency
- Anti- arthritic
MIND BODY & SOUL
The benefits of copper are endless and uncountable. A healthy mind, body and soul are the key to a happy life. Using copper to regulate our Thyroid gland, heal wounds more quickly, balance all three doshas in our bodies, or simply keep water fresh, has been in practice and documented for thousands of years. Clearly copper is an understated necessity with endless uses and needs yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
THE HISTORY OF THE MOSCOW MULE
Though not the first vodka drink introduced to the United States, the vintage Moscow Mule is no doubt the most famous one. Followings its predecessor, the Blue Monday, by little over a decade, the Moscow mule was created, or concocted, in the early nineteen forties.
Despite the name hinting at a birthing somewhere in the nether regions of Siberia, the Moscow mule was created in, of all places, Los Angeles California.
THE FAMOUS MEETING
So the story goes, in 1941 a gentleman named John Martin was in charge of a company named Heublein. Heublein Inc. was an American producer and distributor of alcoholic beverages and food throughout the 20th century. Martin had just inherited a brand of Russian vodka called Smirinoff, originating in Moscow in the mid 1860’s, and the production rights for his company.
Unfortunately, things were not going too well for the brand as Americans had not yet developed the taste of this particular Russian style high spirit. Frustrated and wondersome on how to fit the palate of his clientele, Martin wandered in to see his comrade, and the manager of one of his favorite Sunset Boulevard haunts Cock ‘n’ Bulls, Jack Morgan.
GINGER BEER & SMIRINOFF
Seemingly on the same page, Morgan was having a very difficult time selling a
beverage of his own, homemade ginger beer. Though there is speculation on how the combination of the ginger beer and Smirinoff came about. Some think the bartender that day, Wes Price, thought to combine the two seemingly unwanted beverages, shake over ice and add a slice of lime… and presto… a new mixed cocktail was born.
GINGER ALE ON STEROIDS!
If you are not familiar with ginger beer, it is a non-alcoholic beverage, similar to a ginger ale on steroids. Due to the kick of the ginger beer, the first drink was just called a “Mule”, and of course after a few rounds, with liquid ingenuity abound, the name “Moscow Mule” was inked and has lived in infamy since.
MORE COPPER MUG STORIES
The story behind the reason the Moscow Mule is served in a copper mug has quite a few variations itself. Copper has been used for thousands of years in drinking vessels for its unique ability to prolong freshness and even sterilize its contents. Let’s be honest, these drinks weren’t stored for ages or being used in surgical procedures.
The use of the copper mug for the Moscow Mule was a shear act of marketing genius born out of economic strife, and perhaps even a girlfriends’ fancy, on behalf of the drinks inventor John Martin.
THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION
An immigrant named Sophie Berezinski came to California with 2,000 copper mugs she had designed in her father’s copper shop in Russia. She carted them around L.A., trying to sell them.
Lo and behold, she found her way to the Cock ‘n’ Bulls, whose ownership was looking for something to make their drinks “stand out”. She made the acquaintance of the owners of the bar and John Martin. What better to serve a “Russian” spirit in than a beautiful, shiny, authentic copper mug from the motherland.
VODKA NOT POPULAR
In the late 1940’s, John Martin had returned from his tours in World War Two. He continued to struggle selling his vodka and other cocktails across the country. Vodka was not a very popular drink preference in that day and age as you can imagine. At this time, Martin managed to procure one of the latest inventions of the time, a Polaroid instant picture camera.
In promoting his hard to sell “Russian” spirit, amongst others (times were tough!), one of the most successful marketing ploys in boozing history was born. Martin would take his new, awe inspiring gadget out at each bar he visited to sell his vodka.
OLD FASHIONED MARKETING CREATES A BUZZ
He would then snap two pictures of the bartender holding up a bottle of his
Smirinoff vodka in one hand, the Moscow Mule in the other. Martin would leave one of his pictures at the bar, more than likely pinned behind the bar for other patrons to see, and carry the other to the next potential client at the bar down the street. The next bar was competition, and Martin’s marketing ploy worked like clockwork.
No one wanted to be the only establishment not selling the in demand beverage. Genius. His promotional savvy worked like a charm.
The sales for Smirinoff vodka tripled between 1947 and 1950, and only one year later in 1951, the sales volume had doubled again. The Moscow Mule was on the rise to the peak of the tippling mountain throughout the 50’s and 60’s.
WOODY ALLEN IS HIRED!
Famous Hollywood stars such as Woody Allen were hired for its promotion. The cocktail became very trendy amongst the silver screen elite, most of the top names of the time having their own Moscow Mule copper mug with their names etched in them displayed behind the bar for notoriety.
As the United States and Russia were in the midst of their stalemate, and McCarthyism was at its peak, the cocktail was rumored to almost being blackballed for being a “Russian” product.
THE SMIRINOFF MULE
All of the hearsay and chatter calmed, and the drink became so popular, it was rebranded as a ready-made concoction Smirinoff Mule. It even had its’ own theme song created by Killer Joe Piro, and sung by Carmen McRae! (It was absolutely terribly. Can you imagine these lyrics to Billy D. Williams style Colt 45 advertisement jingle: Stand stubborn; stop sudden; look cool. Take it off; turn it on; The Smirinoff Mule!)
But this is just an example of how popular and trend setting the Moscow Mule became. It was somewhat a gold standard of the times.
THE COCK ‘N’ BULLS CONNECTION
Another simple tale about the drink goes plainly: In 1941 at Cock ‘n’ Bulls restaurant, the head bartender had to unload the stock of Ginger beer, which was not selling at all. The owner of the bar also happened to have a basement full of “Russian” vodka no one wanted. To promote the business and clean out the basement a huge marketing campaign started in which a drink with both unwanted items were used. They called it the Moscow Mule which was made with Smirnoff and was served in copper mugs.
THE MOSCOW MULE ARRIVES
That campaign was a huge success and Moscow mule became a popular drink. That seems a bit stale. Why would celebrities and promotional companies flock to have a part of it?
The main characters all remain the same, with a few additions and subtractions here and there. We are not certain if Wes Price, the barkeep at Cock ‘n’ Bulls, thought up to mix the ingredients. We don’t know exactly where from or how the mugs got to the establishment.
THE MOSCOW MULE BECOMES A CLASSIC
Everything seems a bit fuzzy around the specific, and actual facts. All things considered, and due to lapse of time and different stories, one thing remains ultimately clear: The Moscow Mule is a classic mixed cocktail made by mixing ginger beer, vodka, (whether it be a “Russian” named brand like Smirinoff, or one made in Austin, Texas like Tito’s) lime juice, served over ice, and most imperatively, properly served in a copper mug.
THE COPPER MULE TODAY
Similar to the shine of the copper mug, the curiosity faded bit by bit over time. Now with the resurgence of vintage themed drinking establishments and the popularity of classic beverages, the Moscow Mule has regained its traction. As you can imagine there are very many variations of the classic, all unique to fit the taste of the consumer.
MAGICAL ELIXER!
The only variance that doesn’t stray from the original is the preferred utensil used to consume the magical elixir… THE MOSCOW MULE COPPER MUG! We have listed a few of the possible variations for you to try, and the best Moscow Mule mug on the market.
BEST MULE EVER
Made in the same standard of the original Russian Moscow Mule mug, the Moscow Mule Copper Mug by KaMojo will enhance your beverage experience and bring back the nostalgia of vintage Americana.
EMBOSSED-CUSTOM CRAFTED-PURE COPPER
These classic pieces are uniquely embossed and custom crafted, and are not to be forgotten. The Moscow Mule Mug by KaMojo are 100% pure copper. They are SOLID copper, there is no stainless steel lining or nickel filling. This will enable you and your guests to get the maximum copper sensation and experience. Their mugs are made with no rivets and leak proof technology that is second to none. No need to worry about staining or loss of luster. They use an invisible food grade lacquer that will make the shine last!
MOSCOW MULE RECIPES
Let’s end this on a high note with some great recipes for drinks you can fill these wonderful cups with.
MOSCOW MULE RECIPES:
ALL TO BE SERVED IN THE KAMOJO MULE 100% PURE COPPER EMBOSSED MUGS
SKINNY MULE
½ oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
2 oz. vodka
5 oz. ginger beer
Shake over ice, serve in KaMojo mug
CLASSIC
1 oz. Smirinoff vodka
4 oz. ginger beer
Slice of lime
Shake vodka and ginger beer over ice
and squeeze lime, serve in KaMojo mug,
add to rim for garnish
KENTUCKY MULE
Same preparation,
but instead of the
vodka, use whiskey.
Great replacement
for mint julep.
SUMMER MULE
1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
Fresh berries (about 4-6 per drink)
2 oz. vodka
3 oz. ginger beer
Soda water
Shake over ice, serve in KaMojo mug