Take the Mule to Italy with this Campari Mule

Last Updated on November 29, 2021 by Heather Wibbels

If you love Negronis you’ll love this twist on a mule – the Milano Mule – with Campari, lime and just a touch of simple syrup. We’ll top it, as always with a mule, with a healthy dose of ginger beer and a fun garnish.

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What is a Mule?

The category of the mule cocktail was first known due to the popularity of the Moscow Mule. When a company that couldn’t get its ginger beer to sell collaborated with a spirits company that was having trouble selling its vodka, magic happened. Adding the two ingredients together with a splash of lime created a refreshing and tasty cocktail.

Later, copper mugs became the traditional vessel used for the mule. Probably because when you put a cocktail in a fancy or unique container it piques interest visually, which leads to more sales.

While mules are traditionally served in copper mugs, I can’t help but put something with this beautiful vibrant color in a glass so you can see it for your own eyes. When it comes down to it, you can serve it however you prefer, but if you want to see the color, choose a large rocks glass.

Flavors in this Milano Camparo Mule

I had thought about using Aperol instead of Campari to lighten the bitterness, but Campari worked better as we’re topping the cocktail with ginger beer.

The sweetness from the ginger beer and the bitterness from the Campari build on one another. It’s as if each sip is sweet, but the finish lingers in the mouth with the bitterness of Campari.

If you’re more a fan of the Aperol Spritz than the Negroni, absolutely substitute Aperol from Campari. It’s still a wonderful cocktail!

Combining lime juice and Campari as the base for the mule left it far too bitter, so I added peach simple syrup. If I’d still had my oleo from a few weeks ago, that would have made a fantastic match in the glass. However, I use what I have and the peach was lovely to balance out Campari’s bitterness in the cocktail.

I have some favorite mules for you to try:

Angry Suze Mule – Read the article to find out why I call it my “angry” mule.

The Green Mule

Jalisco Mule with tequila and watermelon

How to Garnish this Campari Mule Cocktail

For garnish, I went with sage because mint felt too sweet in a drink where I wanted to drive up the bitter factor. Paired with a lime or orange zest it matched the cocktail perfectly so each sip of the Milano Mule had the slightly bitter, savory smell of sage.

If you enjoy Campari cocktails, take a look at my Campari Old Fashioned – Bitter Lessons, the Bougie Boulie and the Boulevardier of Tiki Dreams.

Milano Mule – Campari Mule

Heather Wibbels

Celebrate the bitterness of a traditional Italian digestif with this Campari mule. With lime juice and a little peach simple syrup to balance out the cocktail's Campari before topping with ginger beer, it's a delightful sip. It’s bitter and sweet to taste, and that lingering bitter aftertaste just leaves you wanting another. You Negroni and Boulevardier lovers will thoroughly enjoy this cocktail

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 3 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 oz Campari
• 1 oz lime juice
• 1 oz peach simple syrup however, use oleo saccharum if you have it
• 3-4 oz ginger beer
• Garnish: sage leaf, lime or orange twist

Instructions

 

• In a chilled mule mug or large old fashioned glass, combine Campari, lime juice and simple syrup.
• Stir briefly, fill with ice then top with ginger beer.
• Garnish with sage leaves and lime or orange twist.

Keyword campari, ginger beer, lime, mule, peach

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