Name: Skinny Minny Mule {Minnesota Mule}
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 2 oz vodka; 4 oz diet ginger beer; 6 oz club soda; 1/2 lemon (juiced)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Born on the shores of Kraemer Lake in central Minnesota, the Skinny Minny mule takes the cake for the most refreshing cocktail of 2020! Tried, true, and tested by friends and family all summer long, I am finally ready to share my signature lakeside drink.

Minnesota mule in insulated mug with lake in background

What makes a “mule” a mule

By definition, a “mule” is a cocktail served with a spirit (alcohol), ginger beer, and lime juice. A Moscow mule is one of the most renowned drinks and is made with vodka. There are several Moscow mule variations that substitute vodka for the following:

Mexican mule – tequila
Irish mule – Irish whiskey
Kentucky mule – bourbon
Jamaican mule – spiced rum

While a Minnesota mule has no distinct definition, using a Minnesota made spirit such as Gray Duck or Prairie organic vodka could make the name more “official”.

We tend to stock a steady supply of Tito’s vodka at our house, so I cheat and make my mule Minnesotan by serving it in a Twins cup. That counts right?! 🙂

The skinny on the “Minne” mule

This skinny Minnesota mule, or as I also like to call it, a “Minne-Mule”, is a low carb spinoff of your traditional Moscow mule. Imagine a tamer, less spicy mule with a refreshing blast of lemon. The perfect day (and night) drink.

Diet ginger beer, club soda, and fresh lemon juice add minimal calories and only one gram of sugar per serving. Potent yet carb-friendly, this skinny mule is meant to be enjoyed in excess {clears throat}, I mean… in moderation. 🙂

Boozy blunders

Like other life-altering inventions such as the microwave and Velcro, this low carb Minnesota mule recipe was created by accident. One evening, after running short on limes, I decided to substitute lemon in our Moscow mules.

This exchange, although small, was a game changer, and I haven’t made a mule with lime since! Besides the swap of lemon for lime juice, I also wanted to lighten up the ginger flavor.

To calm the bite from the ginger beer and help hydrate while you dehydrate, I welcomed the addition of club soda, or should I say club soooooda {in my thickest Minnesotan accent}. 🙂

Club soda adds volume to the drink, and if you need to slow your roll (aka buzz), simply lighten up on the vodka and add extra club soda. This is especially why I love this skinny mule recipe because I find myself adding extra club soda more times than not, and I feel top-notch the next morning.

For best results, be sure to enjoy this Minnesota mule recipe or my low carb raspberry Moscow mule lakeside with your favorite shades and toes buried in the sand. Stay hydrated my friends!

In health,

Kayla Girgen, RD, LD
Bariatric Dietitian & Mindset Coach
Digital Creator, LIFe app

^Indicates affiliate links. When you make a purchase through any of the links, there is no additional cost to you, and I may make a small {and very appreciated} commission. Thank you for your support!