While vodka had been imported into the US in small quantities since the turn of the century, it never really caught on as anything but a crude spirit. Immediately following prohibition, the first vodka distillery was established in America by Rudolph Kunnett, who had purchased the American rights to the "Smirnoff" name. His efforts at marketing this new spirit failed. He then attempted to market a whiskey, which also failed. He finally had to sell his business, and it was purchased in 1939 by G. F Heublein and Company. When they began bottling the vodka to send out, they discovered that they didn't have any corks for the bottles, so instead used leftover corks from the Whiskey, which unfortunately had "Smirnoff Whiskey" imprinted on them. This shipment went off to South Carolina, where the salesman, confused about these bottles of clear "whiskey" sampled one, and immediately came up with the slogan “Smirnoff’s White Whiskey, No Taste, No Smell.” He sold out almost immediately.
Unfortunately, World War II broke out, and during this time the Heublein company forestalled their sales, waiting for the end of the war.
The time was now 1946. The war was over and Heublein was once again making and marketing their Smirnoff vodka. Unfortunately it wasn't making good headway. One day, John Martin of the Heublein Company, was discussing his problems with Jack Morgan, the owner of the Cock 'n' Bull restaurant in Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. Jack, it seems, was also having some sales problems with the Ginger Beer he was trying to sell on the side. Bring into this picture a friend of Morgan's, who had a stock of copper mugs she was having trouble selling, and you suddenly have all of the players in a Moscow Mule.
As the story goes, these three concocted the drink by combining vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and specifically serving it in a copper mug. John Martin, using his Polaroid camera, took a picture of Jack serving this drink from his bar, so he could show it to other prospective bar managers as proof of its popularity. As originally concocted, this drink was garnished with both a lime wedge and a slice of cucumber, but these days it usually just includes the lime wedge.
Moscow Mule
- 2 ounces vodka
- 1 ounce lime juice
- 3 ounces ginger beer
Build in an ice filled highball glass (or copper mug).
Garnish with a lime wedge and slice of cucumber.
