The Yuzu Ginger Mule might be the most refreshing drink you haven't made yet. It takes everything great about a Moscow Mule — the cold sting of ginger, the tartness, the copper mug aesthetic — and upgrades the citrus with yuzu, a Japanese fruit that's more floral, more complex, and frankly more interesting than lime ever was.
With the OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule mix, this is a three-minute drink. No muddling, no special equipment, no sourcing obscure ingredients. Just great flavor, built-in electrolytes and B vitamins, and a drink that actually respects your morning-after self.
Here's everything you need to make it — cocktail version, mocktail version, and a couple of riffs worth trying.
The Classic Yuzu Ginger Mule (Cocktail)
What You'll Need
- 1 packet OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule mix
- 1.5 oz vodka (or tequila for a twist — more on that below)
- 6–8 oz sparkling water or ginger beer
- Ice (plenty of it)
- Copper mug or tall glass
- Lime wedge and fresh ginger for garnish (optional but worth it)
Instructions
- Fill your copper mug or glass with ice all the way to the top. The colder the better — mule-style drinks are at their best when they're ice cold.
- Pour in 1.5 oz of vodka over the ice.
- Empty one OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule packet directly into the glass and give it a quick stir to dissolve.
- Top with 6–8 oz of sparkling water or ginger beer. If you want more ginger heat, go with ginger beer. If you want the yuzu flavor to shine more clearly, sparkling water lets it come through.
- Give it one more gentle stir, squeeze in your lime wedge if using, and garnish.
- Drink immediately while everything is still cold and fizzy.
Serves: 1 • Prep time: 3 minutes • Alcohol: Yes
The Mocktail Version
The OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule is one of the rare drink mixes that holds up just as well without alcohol. The yuzu flavor is complex enough — floral, tart, layered — that it doesn't need vodka to feel like a complete drink. This isn't a compromise. It's just a different version of the same great cocktail.
What You'll Need
- 1 packet OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule mix
- 8–10 oz ginger beer or sparkling water
- Ice
- Copper mug or tall glass
- Lime wedge and mint sprig for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Load your glass with ice.
- Empty one OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule packet and stir briefly to dissolve.
- Top with 8–10 oz sparkling water or ginger beer — a little more liquid than the cocktail version since you're not replacing vodka volume with anything.
- Stir, garnish, serve.
Serves: 1 • Prep time: 2 minutes • Alcohol: None
The mocktail version is also perfect for designated drivers, anyone doing a dry month, or guests who just don't want to drink — without making them feel like they got a lesser drink. For more ideas on building a great non-alcoholic spread, check out our guide to sober-curious drinking with OFTN.
The Batch Pitcher Version (For Hosting)
This is the move when you're having people over and don't want to be stuck behind the bar all night making individual drinks. Scale up, make a pitcher, keep it on ice.
What You'll Need (Serves 6–8)
- 6 packets OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule mix
- 1 bottle (750ml) vodka (optional — skip for a full-batch mocktail)
- 4 cans (12 oz each) sparkling water or ginger beer
- A large pitcher or punch bowl
- Plenty of ice
- Lime wheels and fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
- Combine all 6 OFTN packets and vodka (if using) in your pitcher and stir until the mix is fully dissolved.
- Add the sparkling water or ginger beer slowly to keep the carbonation.
- Add a big scoop of ice directly to the pitcher, or serve over ice in individual glasses.
- Garnish the pitcher with lime wheels and mint.
- Keep cold. Refill as needed. Accept compliments.
Pro tip: Make an ice ring by freezing water with lime slices and mint leaves in a bundt pan overnight. It keeps the pitcher cold without diluting it as fast as regular ice.
Two Riffs Worth Trying
The Yuzu Mezcal Mule
Swap the vodka for mezcal and you get something smokier, earthier, and genuinely more complex. The smokiness of the mezcal plays well against the brightness of the yuzu in a way that's surprising and worth trying at least once. Use a lightly smoked mezcal (not an aggressively peaty one) and keep the ratio the same: 1.5 oz mezcal, one OFTN packet, top with sparkling water.
The Spicy Yuzu Mule
Add two or three thin slices of fresh jalapeño to your glass before you add the ice and let them sit for 30 seconds. Then build the drink on top. The jalapeño adds heat that layers with the ginger heat in a way that's addictive — and the yuzu's floral quality actually cools it down at the finish. It sounds aggressive, but it's more balanced than you'd expect.
For an even spicier version, muddle the jalapeño slices with a small amount of the OFTN mix before adding ice. Difford's Guide notes that spice and citrus combinations have become some of the most popular flavor profiles in modern cocktail culture — and the Spicy Yuzu Mule sits right in that sweet spot.
Ginger Beer vs. Sparkling Water: Which Is Better?
Short answer: it depends what you want.
Use ginger beer if: You want more heat, more spice, and a fuller mule flavor. The ginger beer adds its own sweetness and intensity that pairs naturally with the OFTN yuzu mix. For the cocktail version, this is usually the better choice.
Use sparkling water if: You want the yuzu flavor to come through more clearly without competition, you're watching sugar intake, or you're making the mocktail version and want it to feel lighter. The sparkling water lets the OFTN mix shine on its own.
Either way, go for plain sparkling water or a quality ginger beer without a lot of added artificial flavors. The Spruce Eats recommends Fever-Tree and Bundaberg as two of the best ginger beers for cocktails — both work great here.
Ready to Make One?
Everything you need is in one little packet. Grab a box of OFTN Yuzu Ginger Mule mix and you're three minutes away from the best mule you've ever made at home. Or try all three OFTN flavors — Watermelon Margarita, Pineapple Mimosa, and Yuzu Ginger Mule — with the Variety Pack.
Celebrate now. Feel good tomorrow.
