This recipe calls for making your own cranberry concentrate, and even though it adds a few minutes of prep time, it’s totally worth it; premixed cranberry concentrate is just too sweet for the smooth, refreshing taste you get with a Mule. The red and green from the cranberry and lime garnish make this the perfect cocktail to harken Christmastime — and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t had my Christmas playlists on repeat since August, anyway, #because2020.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup cranberry juice
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 4 cups of ice
  • 2 16oz bottles of ginger beer (I like Reed’s brand)
  • 1 lime

Directions:

Pour two cups of cranberries, cranberry juice, water, and brown sugar into a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Let simmer on low for five minutes, until the cranberries have burst, stirring frequently. Use a fine-mesh strainer to strain the cranberry concentrate before cooling. Finally, pour the concentrate, lime juice, ice, and ginger beer into a cocktail mixer. Gently shake before pouring into individual glasses. Add the remaining cranberries and slices of lime to garnish.

Adapted fromThe Kittchen