Categories: Food & Wine

Oprah’s Moscow Mules

Oprah’s Moscow Mule Drink
It’s her favorite camp side happy hour drink – Oprah’s Moscow Mule. At this moment, ginger beer manufacturers are thanking Oprah Winfrey for featuring the unusual tangy soft drink popular in the Caribbean as a key ingredient in Oprah’s Moscow Mule recipe.

As Featured on Oprah & Gayle’s Big Yosemite Camping Adventure
On Friday, October 29th’s episode Oprah and Gayle responded to African American National Park Service Ranger Shelton with his observation that few African Americans visit America’s National Parks. Ranger Shelton wrote to Oprah in his hope to share America’s greatest treasures with more people.

Shameless Plug For Coleman Pop-up Camper
Before Oprah got to her camp site to prepare her now signature camp side cocktails — Moscow Mules, she and Gayle had to set up camp first. 6 hours from the time they entered the park to their site, they then had to set up camp. Even though they had crew standing by Oprah & Gayle struggled through the set-up of their pop-up camper which came with two separate sleeping areas, a bathroom/shower and dining area. But total set up time was less than 23 minutes.

Oprah’s Teeth As Lime Juicer
So once the camp site is set up and a fire is crackling, it’s time for Oprah and Gayle to kick back with cocktails. Somehow, Oprah’s production crew remembers to pack exotic ingredients like ginger beer, mint and limes but no juicer. So Oprah who could never be confused with Martha Stewart decides to do it the low brow way. She just takes the lime in her mouth and squeezes the juice out by the force of her mandibles. “Ewwww” says Gayle. Kind of unhygenic but hey, we’re in the woods and like a trooper, Oprah improvises. O.K., so Oprah’s lips don’t seem to touch the juice so, I guess it’s kind of O.K. Hey — it’s camping.

Oprah’s Moscow Mule Drink Recipe Ingredients
As posted on Oprah.com and adapted to serve 4 people

4 ounces vodka
4 teaspoons sugar syrup
Fresh lime juice
2 cups ginger beer
4 sprigs fresh mint
4 slices of lime

How to Make Oprah’s Moscow Mule
Pour vodka over ice. Add simple sugar syrup and lime juice then fill with ginger beer and stir. Serve into glasses garnished with mint sprigs and lime slice.

Alternative To Squeeze Limes With Your Lips
One alternative to squeezing limes to maximize their juice is to cut up a lime into quarters and to “muddle” them in a glass by squishing them down until all their juices are released. If you don’t have sugar syrup you can also put raw sugar or regular sugar at the bottom of the glass before you put in the lime and the granulated sugar will help muddle the lime.

Fancy Schmantzy Copper Mugs
On Oprah’s Yosemite show, she presented her neighbors with Moscow Mules served in copper mugs which would probably help keep the drink chilled but you can use any glasses with ice to serve the drink. Cheers.