Clementine Kentucky Mule

Clementine Kentucky Mule is a twist on the classic cocktail. Bright clementine and Meyer lemon flavors blend with the sweet honey whiskey to create an unforgettable cocktail that’s as easy as it is refreshing.

For this recipe you’ll need: Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey, Barsmith Honey Ginger cocktail syrup, Clementines, Meyer lemons, club soda, ice cubes, cocktail shaker, on the rocks glasses

I am not such a big whiskey fan. Oh, there are bourbon cocktails that I like but generally I’ll pick a vodka or gin and tonic if I am having something at home or some sort of crazy martini if I am having a cocktail out. Except at Logan’s where I will suck down their Peach Roadhouse Tea by the gallon and have to be carried to the car.

Not really. I usually just have one or two but I love those things, as you know if you follow me on Instagram.

I have enough alcohol in my pantry to make just about anything anyone could want thanks to clients that appreciate me and/or want me to create new recipes for them. It’s kind of cool because when we have people over I can show off my mad bartender skills. I grew up in the 60s — I learned to mix cocktails by the time I was eight. If you think Madmen was fictional then you are obviously from a later generation.

I was going through the alcohol inventory yesterday to see what I had and what I needed. All of the kids were home for Christmas and we went through a lot of booze. Anyway, deep in the dark corners of the cocktail shelf I found an almost empty bottle of Jack Daniels Honey Whiskey and suddenly had a craving for a cocktail of some sort. I am OCD enough to HATE having bottles with just an ounce or two of something in them taking up space.

I decided to make a Kentucky Mule, not one of my normal drinks but it would get rid of that bottle. I was concerned about the honey whiskey because it is so sweet anyway I thought making a relatively sweet cocktail with it would be overkill. Hmmm… how to brighten that up and cut through all of that cloying sweetness?

Citrus!

You may be wondering about the Kentucky Mule vs the Moscow Mule. Well, the only real difference is that the Moscow Mule is made with vodka and the Kentucky Mule is made with bourbon. Both a Moscow Mule and a Kentucky Mule are  often served in chilled copper mugs, sometimes with mint leaves added. The copper keeps the drink icy cold and it looks gorgeous. I can’t drink out of the copper mugs because of my sensory processing disorder – I can’t handle the way the copper feels on my lips but I love to serve them that way. So pretty. Now you know the difference… 🙂

Recently I discovered Barsmith Cocktail Syrups. Normally I try to shy away from cocktail mixers because they have so many icky ingredients but these don’t. They are made with pure cane sugar and natural flavors and I really like them. This is NOT a sponsored post — I honestly really like the syrups. Very high quality.

Anyway, I mixed my Kentucky Mule and added the Meyer lemon and Clementine… WOW!

I may have to rethink my penchant for vodka cocktails.

The honey flavor is definitely distinct and the cocktail is sweet but just as you think — eh, no complexity — the citrus flavors kick in and brighten up your mouth. Just about the time that fades away the rich whiskey kicks in and you realize that the cocktail had way more personality that you realized.

If you don’t like your Kentucky Mule as sweet then use a regular bourbon whiskey. You can also substitute a good ginger ale for the club soda.

You May Need

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Barsmith Honey Ginger Syrup

Copper Barrel Mug for Moscow Mules

Clementine Kentucky Mule Recipe

Here’s the Kentucky Mule recipe.

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