Last post’s Buttermilk Cake was a sweet tribute to my late Great-aunt Helen. And as we do with all of these sweet tributes, it’s time to find an adult beverage pairing.
Because I’ve been enjoying classic Moscow Mules (a.k.a. Vodka Bucks) lately, I considered suggesting that this vodka-lime cocktail accompany the cake. But somehow the flavors of the cake and cocktail didn’t seem to mesh.
My thoughts next turned to bourbon, as they often do, and I remembered a Mule variation I also enjoy: The Kentucky Mule.
Sadly, none of my cocktail cookbooks carried this recipe, so I googled and found this beauty. Three ingredients were mixed and I soon had a Kentucky Mule in hand.
Some recipes I’d found also contained mint, hinting at another bourbon favorite–the Mint Julep. But I stuck with the simplicity of bourbon, ginger beer, lime juice and was richly rewarded. More tart than sweet, it could have used an extra pour of ginger beer, but overall it was refreshing and lovely.
Opportunity to pair it with the cake was missed as the cake didn’t last long enough to meet the Mule. The Kentucky Mule doesn’t need a cake partner, though, and I’ll happily toast food for fun readers with a glass. Thanks for being here!
food for fun 
Oh, boy! More bourbon! We can never go wrong with bourbon!
ha, thanks Kerry. I would agree 🙂
cheers and any cake is just a bonus )
Yep, cocktail first cake second. That is my motto 🙂 Thanks for coming over, Beth!
Great, and the cake can come any time 🙂
Thanks, Cecilia! Am honored to have you here 🙂
Nowwww we’re talking!!! The Kentucky Mule is one of my new favorite cocktails and just ordered one the other night in fact! I’d cozy up to the bar and sip on one of those with you anyyyy day!! Cheers my friend!
Love that you found the Kentucky Mule on your own. Can see that you’d like it lots. Someday we will cozy up to a bar and sip together, yes! Hope things go well on your end.
Sounds great. I even have all the ingredients already, perhaps my reward after swim lessons, dinner and putting the kids to bed tonight?!
Hope you rewarded yourself, Gretchen 🙂 Sounds like you’re crazy busy as usual!
It is always nice to reward myself! A drink here or there perhaps?! The real treat comes memorial weekend when we ditch the kids for a night and get a nice date night, peace and quiet for a whole night and early morning!
Sounds pretty good for the Preakness Saturday to me, Liz. Since we missed the Kentucky Derby, the second leg of the Triple Crown in Baltimore this week is the next best thing for a good weekend cocktail in front of the flat screen rooting on your favorite 3-year-old. No mules in that race. 🙂
Did you watch the horses run on the flat screen, cocktail in hand? Here’s hoping you did!
My dear wife Karen and I did just that, Liz. It was a mudder of a race!
Love Moscow Mule! And I could go for this one right about now…you always have such fun posts! This one makes me want to enjoy a good drink and a piece of cake.
Thank you, Seana! Your comment makes me so happy 🙂 A good drink and piece of cake should be mandatory at least once a week, yes?
Whiksey and cake forever please! So glad you found my recipe 🙂
Oh, well–the cake would probably sop up all the bourbony goodness anyway. You make me feel like I’ve got to get cracking on using all the fresh mint in the back yard, going to waste–except for last night’s mojito. I don’t think I’ve ever had ginger beer. Interesting!
Oh yes, you must enjoy your fresh mint 🙂 I have my planter going, so should get cracking on that myself. Buy yourself some ginger beer stat. So many yummy drinks to make!
Great to see the Bundaberg Ginger Beer….a great brew.
Liz….you continue to amaze me with the phenomenal recipes that you produce! When are you going to start up your restaurant? When you do, don’t forget to send me an invitation as I want a table positioned strategically right next to your kitchen to make sure I see every dish! Cheers, Steve
Hey, thanks Steven. It’s my fave ginger beer 🙂 You’re so generous with your comments! The restaurant isn’t happening, but will send you an advance copy of my book whenever that happens 😉
Now that looks refreshing. I am interested in your book, whenever it happens!
ha, I can’t even keep up with blogs right now, so the book is a long ways off! Thanks for coming over and enjoying a virtual refresher with me 🙂 Hope things go well on your end.
Glad to know you’re still alive. I was beginning to worry. Hang in there!
Hi Liz – HI! This is “Kalamitykelli” – Kelli and I’ve been following your blog from mine (Kelliskitchen.org) for a long time. Recently, my daughter and I purchased a food photography site called Yum Goggle – Yumgoggle.com where bloggers from all over the world submit their recipes and we promote them on 10 or so social media sites. This will increase your traffic and all we ask in return is that you follow us on as many social media platforms as you can and that you mention us (with a link) to your readers occasionally. If you would like to submit, there is no registration or cost and we will not spam you.
We have completely redesigned the site since purchasing in early March and while we are young and relatively small – we work very hard for our submitters and try to be as blogger friendly as we can. I hope you will come and check us out and submit some of your wonderful recipes! Kelli from Yum Goggle.
I am absolutely interested, Kelli–thanks for thinking of me! Has been a busy time with my family so have fallen off the blogging wagon, but your site is on my List. Am excited to work with you on this 🙂 Hope all is well in your corner. Congratulations on your new endeavor.
I actually love mint. That cocktail looks so refreshing! Who can resist bourbon and cake?
I, for one, can not resist bourbon and cake 🙂 Enjoying your boxes very much! Thanks for stopping over, Mary.
Mmmmm, cocktails. What I would give for one right now but #working and also #fasting Still, there’s always the weekend 😉
Working and fasting? Arrrgh. Hope there will also be time for playing and feasting 🙂 Good to see you, mum–thanks for coming over!
yeah, it is NOT a great combo ;( Happily I don’t need to fast again til next week so hurrah!
Liz, I have a confession to make… I’ve never had a Very Old Barton before. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
Well, shame on you then, Dave 😉 I can’t find it in Minnesota. Probably just a Kentucky thing. But you can still make a mean cocktail with whatever bourbon you have.
I’ve got a bottle of ginger beer in the fridge right now…I’ll have to give this mule a try.
Hope you did, Karen. Thanks for coming over 🙂 I am so overdue on bloggy things. Sorry to take so long to respond!
I totally understand, I get behind myself. Life can get hectic.
I would probably pair another sweet with the cake. The yummy and sweet beverages of an amaretto sour, Baileys and cream or chocolate mudslide sound like ones I would enjoy.
Liz, I would love your Kentucky Mule with a salty treat(but sweet) like peanut or cashew bark or brittle. Just stopping by to say a belated Happy Fourth of July. Your Great Aunt Helen’s recipes are a real gift you share with others.
all of your cocktail picks sound amazing. A virtual toast to you! Appreciate your supportive comments very much. I feel the same about wanting to share Helen’s recipes, so am putting myself back in the saddle again. Yeehaw 🙂 Hope to see you around. Thank you much for coming by.