Moscow Mule Pitcher

It might have been invented as a way to get rid of a surplus of vodka, ginger beer and copper, but the Moscow Mule has transcended its beginnings and become a celebrated, go-to vodka cocktail. While it’s not a complicated cocktail, making mug after mug of the spicy, spritzy drink can get tiresome if you’re trying to host a party. That’s where this crowd-pleasing punch comes in. It’s big enough to serve 4-6 people, and can easily be scaled up and made for even more thirsty guests. Tip: If you want to use a full, 750-ml bottle of vodka, scale everything else up by a factor of three.

As with individual Moscow Mules, this pitcher-sized version of the cocktail relies on the quality of its ingredients. Be sure to use a good ginger beer—it doesn’t have to be so spicy it cleans out your sinuses, but it should have some kick—as well as fresh lime juice and vodka you wouldn’t mind drinking straight. If you’re making this punch ahead of time, wait to add the ginger beer until you’re just about to serve it—if you add it too far ahead of time, it will go flat. Keep the mix of lime juice and vodka in the fridge (don’t add the ice yet) along with pre-sliced limes in a separate container. Then, when it’s time to party, all you have to do is add the ginger beer and ice and serve. If you really want to go all-out, giant Moscow Mule mugs can be found online, but a standard pitcher will look just fine.