While there’s a lot to love about the original mule cocktail, variety is the spice of life. So there’s good reason to expand your recipe collection to include a variety of copper mug drinks. With only a few simple ingredients and a liquor cabinet full of booze from around the world, getting adventurous with the mule drink is like being a jet-setter in your own home bar. Since the original vodka mule was cleverly named to pay tribute to the spirit’s homeland, Russia, creating various new names following the same idea is equally as fun. From the tequila infused Mexican Mule, to the gin soaked London Mule, here are the best tasting drinks served in copper mugs this side of Moscow!

The crystal blue waters of Antigua and the Bahamas always remind me of one thing: rum! The Caribbean Mule takes the spirit of the islands, combined with the traditional ginger beer. White rum tastes great, but you can also use spiced rum, coconut rum, or even pineapple flavored rum. The sweetness gets a kick from the ginger flavors, and the lime juice is always a good mixer in rum cocktails.

When you are passing through Louisville, it’s a crime not to stop and taste the bourbon. With the Kentucky Mule, you mix in authentic bourbon such as Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, or Pappy Van Winkle’s if you can find it, for a semi-sweet southern treat.

You might never guess how great gin & ginger beer taste together. The sharp flavor of ginger root in the beer, blended with the bright botanicals of the gin create the perfect combination for the London Mule. Reach for the top shelf on this one, and use something like Tanqueray 10 or Hayman’s Reserve.

To tell the truth, I really don’t care for a Long Island Iced Tea. It’s hard to get the right balance of flavor from all those liquors, and most bartenders will serve you something that tastes vaguely like a margarita you dumped into an old Big Gulp cup from your backseat. The Long Island Mule, however, works much better. You use ginger ale as a mixer, which still gives you that mule drink flavor, but with a smooth sweet finish. With all this booze going in, you’ll need some big copper mugs.

The Mexican Mule is probably the most popular drink in a copper cup since his Russian cousin. It uses the same ingredients as the classic mule cocktail, but with tequila instead of vodka. Patrón is always a go-to option when it comes to tequila, but we especially loved the Mexican Mule made with El Jimador.

You can head out to the porch for a relaxing afternoon sipping fresh sweet tea, or you can spice things up with a Southern Mule. With the unique twist of Sweet Tea vodka, and refreshing lemon juice instead of the usual lime, this recipe boasts the most charm and hospitality of all the copper mug drinks.

Hailing from the other well known leader in American whiskey, the Tennessee Mule has a distinct flavor all its own. Jack Daniel’s has the most recognizable flavor on all the sour mash whiskeys from The Volunteer State, but George Dickel No. 12 will give you even bolder flavor.