Tennessee Berry Mule
Muddle; Shake ∙ 4 min ∙ 12.5% ABV ∙
The Tennessee Berry Mule is a whiskey highball built with muddled raspberries, Tennessee whiskey, amaretto, cranberry and lime juice, topped with ginger beer. Crushed berries thicken the sip into something velvety, while a tart citrus edge and fizzy ginger snap keep the nutty sweetness from ever feeling heavy.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- In the base of the shaker, muddle: Fresh raspberries 8 pcs
- Add the next 4 ingredients: Tennessee whiskey 45 mlAmaretto liqueur 30 mlCranberry juice 45 mlLime juice 15 ml
- Shake with ice and strain into the ice-filled glass
- Top with Ginger beer, lightly stir and serve with a straw
- Garnish with a raspberry, a lime wheel and a mint sprig
Tips
- Muddle the raspberries gently in the shaker base — just enough to release juice, not so hard the seeds turn the drink bitter.
- Pre-chill the highball glass so the ice-filled serve stays cold longer once the ginger beer is added.
History
The Tennessee Berry Mule was adapted in 2003 from a recipe created by British bartender Alex Kammerling for the TGI Fridays restaurant chain in the UK, swapping vodka for Tennessee whiskey and adding muddled raspberries and cranberry juice to the ginger beer base for a fruitier, sweeter profile.
It belongs to the Mule family of drinks descended from the Moscow Mule, generally traced to Los Angeles in 1941, when John G. Martin of the Heublein spirits company and Jack Morgan, owner of the Cock 'n' Bull pub, are credited with pairing Smirnoff vodka with ginger beer to boost sales of both; accounts differ on the exact roles played by other figures said to be involved, including the supplier of the drink's signature copper mugs. The Tennessee Berry Mule keeps the ginger beer but replaces the vodka with whiskey and folds in berry flavors, following a wave of Mule variations built on different base spirits.
FAQ
How do you make a Tennessee Berry Mule?
Muddle fresh raspberries in the shaker, add Tennessee whiskey, amaretto, cranberry juice, and lime juice, then shake with ice and strain into an ice-filled highball glass. Top with ginger beer, stir lightly, and serve with a straw, garnished with a raspberry, a lime wheel, and a mint sprig.
Is the Tennessee Berry Mule sweet?
Yes, it is sweet-tart, thanks to the muddled raspberries and sweetened cranberry juice, balanced by fresh lime juice and the ginger beer's spice.
What is the difference between a Tennessee Mule and a Kentucky Mule?
The difference is the whiskey: a Tennessee Mule is built with Tennessee whiskey, while a Kentucky Mule uses bourbon, both topped with ginger beer over ice. This Tennessee Berry Mule uses Tennessee whiskey as its base but adds muddled raspberries, amaretto, and cranberry juice for a fruit-forward take on that format.
