featured 33609

Texas Mule Cocktail Recipe: How to Make the Classic Southern Mule

Get ready to sip the best Texas Mule cocktail—served in a glass or a copper mug. This refreshing drink combines reposado tequila, spicy ginger beer, bright lime, and a touch of peach schnapps for a summery Texas twist.

Perfect for porch sittin’ or a backyard barbecue, it’s easy to make, delightful to share, and ideal for hot afternoons.

This recipe is intended for people 21 and older. Please drink responsibly.

Closeup of a Texas mule cocktail with a fresh basil garnish.

Save this recipe by clicking the heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.

🗝️ Key takeaways

  • Easy: A simple cocktail with bold, zesty flavors.
  • Batch friendly: Mix a pitcher for parties or make single servings for a relaxed evening.
  • Shake it up: Vigorous shaking adds air and lift to the flavors—don’t be shy!

A Moscow Mule made with tequila is often called a Mexican Mule; adding peach schnapps gives it a sweet, summery character. This Texas Mule is spicy, sweet, and tangy—ginger beer and a dash of hot sauce add a lively bite that tingles the lips. Make a pitcher because it will disappear fast!

🧾 Ingredients

Below is a quick overview—full measurements and printable instructions are in the recipe card.

Labeled ingredients for this recipe.

📖 Variations

  1. Omit the hot sauce for a milder cocktail.
  2. Add jalapeño slices to float for extra heat.
  3. Boost the peach character with fresh peach slices in the glass.

🤫 Marye’s secret for zhuzhing it up

Grate fresh ginger into the bottom of the shaker and muddle it with the basil for extra ginger intensity. Strain before serving.

zhuzh: to make something more interesting or attractive

🍴 Equipment

  1. Highball glass or copper mug
  2. Jigger or measuring tool
  3. Stirring spoon and cocktail shaker
Overhead view of a moscow mule made with tequila.

Marye’s Tip o’ the day

Shaking your cocktail traps small bubbles of oxygen that add flavor and sparkle. Cover tightly and shake vigorously for best results.

💭 Things to know

  1. Crushed ice keeps the cocktail extra cold, though regular ice cubes work fine.
  2. Garnish with basil, lime, peach slice, or jalapeño—use what looks and tastes good to you.
  3. In a pinch, ginger beer and tequila are tasty together on their own.
  4. Ginger ale can substitute for ginger beer if needed.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

Have other questions? Ask in the comments.

What is a tequila mule?

A mule made with tequila is often called a Mexican Mule. It typically combines tequila, ginger beer, and lime or another citrus component.

Which ginger beer is best?

Choice depends on your ginger preference. Some popular options include Reed’s Jamaican Extra Ginger, Bundaberg, and Fever-Tree.

Do copper cups keep drinks colder?

Copper mugs are traditional and stylish; any cooling advantage is minimal, but they do add a fun presentation.

A Mexican mule made with tequila on a table.

📚 Related recipes

  • A glass with filled with peach whiskey mule cocktail.
    Peach Whiskey Mule
  • A cocktail on a dark background with title text overlay for Pinterest.
    Durango Cocktail
  • Closeup of a mango tequila sunrise garnished with an orange and a cherry.
    Mango Tequila Sunrise
  • Closeup of the grapefruit tequila sour cocktail in a glass.
    Grapefruit Tequila Sour

📞 The last word

I love peach flavors in summer, and this Texas Mule is full of bright, refreshing goodness. Invite it to your next weekend gathering and see what everyone thinks.

Adjust the servings in the recipe card to scale the ingredients up or down as needed.

If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rate it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

Overhead view of a tequila and ginger ale cocktail.

Texas Mule Cocktail

4.64 from 11 votes
Whether you call it a Texas Mule or a Mexican Mule, this sweet and spicy tequila and ginger beer cocktail is a delicious twist on the classic Moscow Mule.
Course Cocktail
Cuisine American – Southern
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Total Time: 3 minutes
Servings:1
Calories:323
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 2 sprigs basil (or mint)
  • 2 ounces reposado tequila
  • 1 ounce peach schnapps
  • 1 ounce simple syrup
  • ½ ounce lime juice
  • 2 dashes hot sauce
  • 4 ounces ginger beer, or to fill glass
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Muddle the basil leaves in the bottom of a shaker.
  2. Add tequila, peach schnapps, simple syrup, lime juice, and hot sauce.
  3. Add ice and shake vigorously for about a minute.
  4. Fill an on-the-rocks glass with ice.
  5. Strain the tequila mixture into the glass.
  6. Top with ginger beer.
  7. Garnish with additional basil leaves (or lime, peach slice, or jalapeño).

Notes

Expert Tip: Grate fresh ginger into the shaker and muddle it with the basil for extra ginger flavor. Strain before serving.

  • For more heat, garnish with jalapeño slices.
  • Crushed ice keeps the cocktail colder, but regular cubes work fine.
  • Ginger ale can be used if ginger beer isn’t available.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 323 kcal |
Carbohydrates:39 g |
Protein:1 g

Nutrition information is estimated. If using for medical reasons, verify with your own calculator.

First published 6/10/2016. Last updated 6/27/24 for improved clarity and readability.

Overhead view of a tequila and ginger ale cocktail.

Don’t lose this recipe!

Recipe Title

Pin it to your favorite board to keep it handy.