Blood orange Moscow mules - made with fresh citrus juice and spicy ginger beer - are easy enough to make on a whim yet impressive enough to serve at parties. Serve as a cocktail (with vodka) or as a non-alcoholic mocktail!

Cocktail garnished with fresh blood orange and lime slices in a copper Moscow mule mug.

The older I get, the more I prefer a night in with friends to a night out, especially during the cold winter months. Give me a tasty cocktail, some great friends, and good conversation (and maybe a board game) and I'm happy!

When we're whipping up cocktails at home, I love a cocktail recipe that comes together in just a few minutes but still feels special. Bonus points if it doesn't require any fancy bartending skills or specialty ingredients! And that's exactly why I love this blood orange Moscow mule recipe!

This sweet-tart spin on a classic Moscow mules combines fresh blood orange juice and lime juice with zippy ginger beer and vodka to create a beautiful winter cocktail that highlights one of citrus season's most beautiful fruits.

The combination of sweet-tart citrus and spicy ginger beer creates a flavor that's both refreshing and cozy. And since the drink takes just minutes to make, it's perfect for winter entertaining. Whether you're making one drink or a whole pitcher for friends, this recipe makes it easy to create bar-quality cocktails at home.

And just like my popular, 3-ingredient apple cider punch, it's easy to make this drink alcohol-free...simply skip the vodka!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient list and measurements.

Recipe ingredients with labels on a white surface.

Blood Orange Juice - Blood oranges are the star of the show, with their sweet citrus flavor and gorgeous, deep red color. You can find them in the produce section of your local grocery store during their peak season from January through March.

Can't find blood oranges or prefer to use another citrus juice? Go for it! Other oranges (like cara cara or navel) and even grapefruit would be delicious in this recipe.

Lime Juice - Fresh lime juice tastes better than bottled juice, so it's worth taking an extra second to juice the limes.

Ginger Beer - Ginger beer packs a stronger (and spicier) ginger flavor than ginger ale. Choose a quality brand made with real ginger flavor (I like Fever Tree). Ginger beer's robust ginger flavor is part of a classic Moscow Mule, but you can substitute ginger ale if you prefer a sweeter, more delicate ginger flavor. Ginger beer is alcohol-free and can be found with other cocktail mixers in your local grocery store.

Vodka - No need to use top shelf vodka in this recipe, since the flavor comes from the juice and ginger beer. I recommend using your favorite mid-tier vodka. Want to make this drink alcohol-free? Easy... just leave out the vodka (and maybe add a little extra ginger beer).

Special Equipment

This recipe can be made using basic kitchen equipment, like a measuring cup and spoon. The only "special" equipment you'll want to use is:

A citrus juicer, for juicing the oranges and lime. Fresh juice always provides the best flavor, so this is a helpful tool to have on hand.
Copper mugs, for serving the cocktail. They're not a must-have, but they are classic and beautiful, and the metal helps to keep the drink cold. If you don't have copper mugs, a highball glass or other drinking glass will work just fine!

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

See recipe card at the bottom of this post for detailed recipe instructions.

Hand juicing blood oranges with a citrus juicer on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1: Juice the oranges and lime.

Pouring red blood orange juice into a copper mug.

Step 2: Add vodka, lime juice, and blood orange juice to a copper mug and stir to combine.

Pouring ginger beer into a copper mug with ice.

Step 3: Fill the mug nearly to the top with ice, then top with ginger beer.

Hand adding a blood orange slice to a copper mug.

Step 4: Garnish with fresh citrus slices and enjoy!

Allison's Top Tips

To keep the drink extra cold, be sure to chill the fruit juice, vodka, and ginger beer before mixing your cocktail.

To save time, you can juice the citrus up to two days ahead of time and store it in the fridge in a sealed jar until you're ready to mix the drinks.

Pitcher Instructions

Want to make serving these blood orange Moscow mules to friends even easier? Prep a batch of the cocktail in a pitcher!

For six servings, combine 18 ounces of blood orange juice, 3 ounces of lime juice, and 9 ounces of vodka in a pitcher. Stir well and refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving.

When you're ready to serve, fill mugs (or glasses) with ice and add the orange juice mixture so that each mug is about two-thirds full. Top off the drinks with ginger beer and garnish. Adding the ginger beer at the last minute keeps the drink fizzy.

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