Wired Mule

Try this holiday cocktail if you like Moscow Mules. It offers a kick of warming spices, refreshing delicate citrus, and round caramel notes. Any light, not-too piney/juniper-forward gin will work; feel free to adjust the amount of ginger beer to your liking. In this recipe I recommend Second State Coffee’s Guatemala Ixlama beans, a medium roast, balanced coffee with notes of dark chocolate, soft blackberry, and vanilla.

*Elevate this drink by charring a stick of cinnamon for 10 seconds on a sheet pan. You can do this using a small blow torch or lighting the stick on a gas stove. While lit, cover with your glass to trap in flavorful smoke before flipping over to add ingredients.

Variation: For a zero-proof refresher, skip the gin and whiskey and substitute ¾ ounce of brown sugar syrup.