Last Updated on December 8, 2021 by Kimberly Stroh

I love traditional mule cocktails, but a twist on the classic is never a bad idea either. For fall, I developed this delicious Bourbon Apple Cider Mule Cocktail recipe that’s so refreshing. It’s easy to make and you don’t have to be an expert bartender to create it. It has fresh apple cider, bourbon, lime and ginger beer. Garnish and serve in beautiful copper mule glasses for the ultimate drink.

Recipe intended for ages 21+ – enjoy responsibly.

Living in Atlanta means that our falls stay warm until late October. Even though it’s still warm out, I love to celebrate the seasonal flavors that I cherish. Apple is definitely one of them. Every year, our family heads to North Georgia to pick apples. We always grab a few gallons of fresh apple cider too. It’s crisp and refreshing – worth the bit of sugar in it.

Cider is a great base for drinks and it’s best for this Bourbon Apple Cider Mule if you can get the fresh stuff. However, you can substitute a great grocery store apple cider if you’re out (which is what I did in this version for photography purposes).

Looking for more great fall cocktail recipes? Here are some of my favorites to serve:

• Pumpkin Spice Margarita Recipe
• Autumn Whiskey Punch Recipe
• Pumpkin Coquito Recipe

Refreshing Bourbon Apple Cider Mule Cocktail

If you don’t already own copper mule mugs, they’re a must-have for your home bar. They keep your drink cold and I love the traditional hammered copper look. Copper is very good at keeping the proper temperature, so when an ice cold mule is poured inside, the glass actually takes on that temperature and keeps the drink frosty cold for even longer than a normal glass.

Use Fresh Lime Juice vs. Store Bought

I always tell people that if you’re in a pinch, you can use store-bought lime juice that’s in the produce section vs. juicing your own from fresh limes. I just think the fresh lime juice adds so much more zing to cocktails. It adds a better tart flavor that you don’t get from the store-bought. For this recipe, you’ll use about 4 fresh limes. If you want to garnish with a lime wheel, then purchase about 5 limes total.

If you do chose to use fresh limes, you can extract the juice using a tabletop juicer.

What To Enjoy Alongside Bourbon Apple Cider Mule Cocktails

I love a great mule cocktail to go alongside my meal. You can enjoy it on it’s own with appetizers too. Serve some dips, a charcuterie board or spiced mix nuts. This recipe only takes a few minutes to whip up, so you’ve got a fresh cocktail in a short amount of time.

How Many Cocktails Does This Bourbon Apple Cider Mule Make?

You’ll get one serving from the recipe, but it can easily be doubled for two servings. I always like to make one and then use the same cocktail shaker for second.

What Type Of Bourbon To Use

You don’t need to pick a top-shelf bourbon for this recipe since you’ll be mixing it with other strong flavors. You want to taste the bourbon, but it’ll be blended for the best drink. I used Bulleit Bourbon for this recipe. 

What You’ll Need From The Grocery Store & Liquor Store:

• Bourbon
• Fresh Limes
• Ginger Beer
• Apple Cider (fresh and filtered preferred)
• Optional: Apple for Garnish

Step-By-Step Directions To Make Bourbon Apple Cider Mule Drink

Combine 1/4 c bourbon, 1/4 c filtered apple cider, and 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.

Shake about 30 seconds, strain into copper mug filled with ice.

Top with nonalcoholic ginger beer, garnish with a lime wheel and apple slice.