May 12, 2021 • 35 mins
This cocktail of vodka, ginger beer, and lime gets its kick from the way it sets off our heat sensors. Anney and Lauren burn through the spicy science and scattered history of the Moscow Mule.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Hello, and welcome to Savor Prediction. I Heart Radio. I'm
Annie Reese and I'm Lauren vogel Bom, and today we're
talking about the Moscow Mule. Yes, as always with these
Cocktail Hour episodes, drink responsibly, Yes, of course, and and
even outside of these episodes responsibly. I'm glad you're always
here to keep me honestly anytime. And it's been a
(00:31):
it's been a minute since we've done a cocktail Hour episode.
I think it has been Um. I was was inspired
to do this one because, um, I I went out
and had drinks with friends on a patio, what I know,
(00:53):
and it was so lovely, and one of them ordered
a Moscow mule, and I was like, it has been
a long time since we've done a cocktail Hour. Did
it come in the mug? It did not come in
the mug. Came in a regular old glass. Toss hands
up in the air. It's interesting because you suggested this
(01:17):
one after this lovely experience on a patio, and I
had just received a bunch of like old advertisements as
sometimes happens with our child. Oh right, right, yeah, yeah,
about moscow mules, like from the sixties. Oh yeah, But
By the way, if y'all hear any any purring or
(01:38):
jingle jangling in the background, Um, that is our third
co host for the day, Miss Trudy Peru. She is
a cat. She is orange cat. Um in the household
of my two cats, Gray cat and orange cat. And uh,
and she's she's just chilling and you know, I don't
feel like stopping her. So that's just what's happening today.
(01:58):
That's what's happening today. See. I don't know why, but
I keep thinking of the trouble with Trudy. I feel
like I don't know why the Star Trek thing is
in my head because I made another Star Trek reference
right before this. But that's all, it's all happening in
my brain. No, no, no, no, that that's I mean.
And Trudy is frequently a troublemaker, so I think this
(02:21):
is appropriate. I saw I got a good glimpse of
half of her face in front of the computer camera earlier,
and then I heard her laying on top of the recorder. Yeah, waite,
Lawrence pleased to go away? Where with more expletives involved,
they're they're usually more expletives involved when it comes to
(02:42):
these cats. Um, who I love dearly. Um, but Moscow mules. Yes,
but Moscow mules. I went through a really brief but
intense Moscow mule phase. I can't honestly say why. I
think I had one really good one at restaurant and
this was a thing and I haven't been drinking it.
(03:04):
And then after that they were all kind of I
mean not sub far maybe, but so far compared to
that one. Yeah. Um, so it was like a bright
star that burned out very quickly. Yeah, they can, they
can be a little bit cloying, um, if they're if
they're made with a with a less biting ginger beer.
But but we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves. Um.
(03:24):
There are a bunch of related episodes though, um, and
I'm gonna be talking about them, uh pretty much incessantly
throughout the course of this of this episode, but um,
but yeah, you can see our lime episode from April
of our Ginger episode from November. Furthermore are Collins episode
(03:45):
from April and a hard look at soft drinks from
November of I had to think about how far away
that was when we were just a tiny little podcasting babies.
Oh so far we've come, and yet the puns are
still there. Nope, nope, not tired ourselves out yet, not yet,
(04:13):
an I doubt ever. All right, let's get to our question. Yes,
the Moscow Mule. What is it? Well, the Moscow Mule
is a straightforward cocktail made of vodka, ginger beer, and
lime juice, served on ice and typically with a lime
(04:34):
garnish in a copper mug. Uh. Okay, so let's let's
let's break that down a little bit. Yeah. Um, so,
vodka is a clear, mostly neutral tasting liquor with a
watery consistency. Um, it's got to burn on the palette
due to the alcohol content and maybe a little bit
of sweetness. Um, maybe some tiny bits of flavor in there,
(04:54):
but it's it's pretty nondescript overall. Um. And I looked
this up while while reading for this episode. M Alcohol
burns because it apparently lowers like the trigger point of
heat receptors in your mouth from somewhere around a hundred
and seven fahrenheit that's forty two celsius all the way
(05:15):
down to like ninety three fahrenheit or thirty four celsius, which,
if you're keeping track, is below your body temperature. So
for a few seconds while the alcohol is messing with
those heat receptors, your mouth is reporting that it's actually
on fire. Oh interesting, yeah, right, heck, it's the same
(05:39):
heat receptors that we talk about when we talk about capsasin.
So and meanwhile, uh, it feels warm alcohol in your
throat and stomach because it's dilating the blood vessels there.
Ah see, I'm glad you put this in here because
I didn't know that first of all. But secondly, way
back when we first started and Lauren you, I think
(06:01):
he probably lucked out that I never bought this cocktail
to D and D, but I had a flaming cocktail.
Oh and I had to learn like different points, different
alcohols that you could use to make this flaming cocktail safely.
And I just got kind of curious about it. Went
(06:21):
on a very many rabbit hole and then I was like, oh,
maybe one day we'll do an episode of this. Oh yeah, no,
definitely flaming flaming cocktails would be an interesting one. Um. Also, yes,
I I just any any you're very dear to me
and I the amount of accident prone that you are
makes me feel like probably flaming cocktails is not a
(06:44):
category that you should really pursue often or deeply. I
don't know what you mean. No, I think I had
a brief period. It worked out well for a minute,
and then I learned that even glasses that say they
are heat resistance and won't explode very well might goodness? Okay, well,
(07:10):
uh with my point. Thus, if not proven, at least
proven adjacent um, let's continue with our outline. UH. Ginger
beer is is a generally non alcoholic carbonated beverage made
(07:31):
with water, ginger root, and a sweetener of some kind.
It was traditionally brewed using friendly yeasts to create the carbonation,
but these days may be manufactured. UM ginger has has
that pungent, spicy sweet smell and taste. It also feels
warm on the palate um and it tastes kind of yeah,
citrusy and like peppery, maybe a little bit resinous or piney.
(07:54):
And carbonation in a beverage also brings in a type
of artificial heat. Carbon dioxide bubbles trigger um specialized nerve
cells in the nasal cavity, which are the same ones
that register the burn of like horse, radish and mustard.
It also tastes uh carbonated beverages taste a little bit
acidic or sour to us. Um. Lime is of course
(08:17):
a tart and slightly sweet and slightly bitter citrus fruit. Um.
The acid really pops on your tongue. So if you
mix vodka and ginger beer and lime together in a
copper mug or a plain old glass and then add
some cube and or a crushed ice, the result is
this cooling and warming, refreshing fizzy drink that really just
(08:40):
kicks your palate with heat and tartness um tempered by
sweetness and a hint of bitter. It's a really fun,
really simple drink and can be just like dangerously quaffable. Yeah,
I hadn't really thought about that. How much of those
kind of heat elements are in that one? Yeah, really
exciting for your your tongue in your mouth is yeah. Uh.
(09:02):
Subrecipes do add some simple syrup which is just fifty
fifty sugar and water melted together into a syrup. But
you know, your mileage may vary. And this isn't a
category of cocktails that was traditionally called a buck, which
is just the term for for any cocktail made primarily
of ginger ale or ginger beer mixed with a liquor
(09:22):
and a citrus juice. However, the popularity of the Moscow
mule in particular has made the term mule more common
these days than buck, and you can find all kinds
of variants on the mule called different cute things, like, um,
the Bohemian mule, which swaps out vodka for absinthe, or
the Gingin mule, which is ginger engin. Yeah, ginger, so cute. Um.
(09:48):
But what about the copper mug? What about it? Okay,
to be honest, I think the primary reason that this
cocktail is served in these shiny, burnished copper mugs is
that it's good marketing and they're pretty, you know, like
if you're in a bar and a server carries one by,
it's attention catching and like you want one, Like, what's
(10:09):
that cute thing? I want that cute thing? Bring me
one of those. Um. That being said, copper is is
neat in that it's a lot more heat conducive um
or conductive rather than than than glass. So it feels
really cold to the touch, Like when you touch it
pulls some of the heat from your fingertips um in
(10:30):
a way that glass does not. There is a lot
of marketing info out there about copper like enhancing flavors
or enhancing carbonation or reflecting light and thus staying cooler longer.
But I couldn't really find any solid science to back
all of that up, right, Yeah, I've definitely heard those
things before the light get in and therefore, yeah, I
(10:55):
think that in in for for like all practical results
at normal temperature, under normal drinking conditions, it's not making
that drastic of a difference. But but I don't know.
I'm not chemist or a physicist. I'm certainly not both. Well,
we'll never We'll never get to the bottom of this
(11:17):
copper mug mug al mule conundrum. Not at this rate. Well,
what about the nutrition. Drink responsibly, It depends. It depends
on the type of ginger beer or ginger ale or
if you add simple syrup like it can be relatively
light um in in in calories. But yeah, just just
(11:41):
about yourself. Drink drink of water to always hydrate, always hydrate.
We do have some numbers for you, we do. The
Moscow Mule has had its ups and downs, but it
is currently one of the most well known cocktails in
the world. From Mini placement of the Mosque a Mule
in the US rose about the drink made up seven
(12:05):
of all bar orders. Obviously that's not It would be
hard to get a read on all bars and all orders.
But this is what these surveys said. Yeah, yes, I
will say that. The New Orleans Festival and Trade Conference
Tales of the Cocktail named the Year of the Mule,
(12:30):
Year of the Mule. Yeah, I read Summer seen was
a really big year for it too. It was one
of the cocktails people were getting. Apparently, in a recent
episode of the Hulu show The Great, which is about
Katherine the Great of Russia, her lover Leo created the
drink in this show, and as Catherine was trying it,
(12:51):
she realized she was late to the cool meeting, so
she hopped on a mule to get there quickly. And
that's short of the name comes from fun. But yeah,
I'm not sure at all. Yeah, Well, it's not a
it's not a historically accurate show. That's not that's not
what they're going. It's a comedy. Yeah, yes, absolutely. A
lawyer apparently ordered Moscow mule at during lunch in the
(13:16):
TV show Better Call Song Cool Cool. Well, I haven't
seen that episode, but I feel like that that's trying
to communicate a lot but future a different type of
research later dates. UM, we do have some history for you.
(13:37):
We do, but first we've got a quick break for
a word from our sponsor and we're back. Thank you sponsor, Yes,
thank you. Uh So the way that all of these
ingredients for the Moscow Mule got to Los Angeles, which
(14:00):
is probably where the Moscow Mule was basically invented. Um.
All of these can be and in some cases already
are different episodes. Um. Uh. For example, as we discussed
in our coluns and gin and Tonic episodes, and probably
other cocktail hours that I'm forgetting about. UM. Lime was
(14:23):
a common ingredient in early cocktails, basically thanks to scurvy
because during the air of colonization, sailors and other folks
warded off scurvy with citrus and it got mixed into
these curative drinks, along with liquors and other medicinal stuff like,
for example, quinine and ginger, which can be and has
certainly been used as a digestive aid. Ginger beer developed
(14:46):
in European cultures around the seventeen hundreds with the British
control of Caribbean, where a lot of ginger was grown.
Carbonated beverages were also generally thought to be healthful. Soda
fountains originally developed in the eighteen hundreds alongside pharmacies as
a method of dispensing medications and UH. This eventually by
the end of the eighteen hundreds led to the creation
(15:08):
of all kinds of cocktails, both alcoholic and non um
from soda jerks and bar tenders and other interested parties,
like the Collins, which is a sparkling lemonade spiked with liquor,
or the Horse's Neck, which was originally just a non
alcoholic ginger beer or ginger ale and a long strip
of lemon peel um. Today it does contain liquor as well.
(15:31):
If you ordered a Horse's Neck expecting a non alcoholic drink,
that's probably not what you would receive. Um, But from
that horse's neck variations arose, like the Scotch Lassie, which
is made from whiskey, lime juice and ginger beer. Yes,
which right is basically a Moscow mule minus the vodka.
(15:54):
Uh vodka different episode definitely um oh my heck yeah no.
Originated somewhere in Eastern Europe and says or thereabouts made
its way to the United States via France after World
War Two. Um oh an ice ice another episode tie in? Yeah,
(16:14):
because by the middle of the twentieth century, UM, the
technology necessary to freeze water cheaply and easily had become
pretty widely available in the United States. Um. You can
see our ice episode for lots more on that. But
so we have all these ingredients and historical predecessors. But
how did the Moscow Mule itself come together? There's a
(16:39):
kick in the aspun here that I'm sure has been made.
Always always got to have those pun wheels turning. Oh oh,
I would expect nothing less. Yes, um, so, yes, this
is another cocktail our, another episode full of computing origin
(16:59):
story for a drink that's probably been around basically for
longer than any of these claims. Yeah, yes, but okay,
claim one. The Moscow Mule was invented in or at
least by ninety one by John G. Martin of J. F.
HU Blind and Brothers, which was a company that imported
food and spirits and reportedly made a one pop star
(17:22):
in the United States along with John Jack Morrigan. No,
not that one. UM owner of the l a British
pub Cock and Bull. Towards the end of the nineteen
thirties that Morrigan purchased the rights to Smirnov of vodka
for who Blind Um it had been on the verge
of bankruptcy. Smirnov had after the Russian Revolution and moving
(17:45):
to America. Um and and so it was moved to
America and Hu Blind purchased it for fourteen thousand dollars. However,
he had a problem. Americans are pretty wary of drinking vodka. Um,
it wasn't really something people drank in the US at
the time. Simultaneously, he had ordered way too much of
(18:08):
ginger beer and he was looking to use it up.
Or possibly this was Morgan's own brand of ginger beer.
There's a lot of confusion even within each confusing Yes, yes,
sound was like, wait a minute to try to follow
up all these loose ends and never was elucidated to me. Yeah,
(18:29):
the stories are slippery, They are quite slippery. And further, allegedly,
Morgan's then girlfriend, Astoline Schmidt owned a company that made
copper mugs, which is where the copper mugs came in.
Or maybe not um or maybe it wasn't his girlfriend,
even if that is true at all. All right, so
(18:49):
this seems so largely come from the Moscow Copper website,
which is a business. So grain of Salt, But the
story goes Lustie. A woman named Sophie bear Zinski traveled
to the US with two thousand copper mugs. Her father
owned the Moscow Copper Company, and she had created the
design for this mug that we all associate with the
(19:11):
Moscow Mule. Again according to the company website, However, they
were having trouble selling these mugs and Russia. Sophie made
the journey to the US with the mugs in an
attempt to sell them. In the site's version of the story,
Sophie's husband threatened to throw them out if she didn't
get them out of the house, like they were just
cluttering up the house, these two thousand mugs. And he
(19:34):
was like, I don't care what you do, just just
get him out exactly. And she didn't want to see
her products at a way, so she went from door
to door in Hollywood trying to find a buyer for them.
Eventually she ended up at the Cock and Bull Bar
on Sunset Boulevard. In this version of the tale, Martin
was still struggling to sell Smyrnoff. Morgan was still struggling
(19:56):
to sell his ginger beer. Sophie was struggling to sell
her bugs. And the story gets even murkier here. It
sort of hops to them all working together to craft
a drink that would solve all their problems. It sort
of felt like she stumbled in and the two dudes
had been like commiserating over a drink perhaps of what
can we do to solve our problems? And then I
(20:19):
don't know, that was just a vibe by guy. So
they ideated and experimented, eventually arriving at the Moscow Mule,
a mixture of Spear and Off vodka Morgan's ginger beer
contained in Sophie's copper mugs with a squeeze of lemon
and ice. The name came soon after, either because of
Sophie or because the vodka was from Russia, while the
(20:43):
ginger beer gave it a kick like a mule. Again,
this is all this kind of pearsay, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Morgan allegedly called the whole process, however, happened as quote
shoving toward inventive genius alternate version. The cup was a
(21:06):
marketing attempt by Martin to show off the smearing off.
He would take them to bars to try to sell
the vodka and take two pictures of bartenders holding both items,
leaving one of the pictures with them to display. And
this marketing poy, if it's true, seems to have worked
also cementing the copper mug as the popper cup for
(21:27):
the drink. The Cock and Bull served beer and copper
mugs as well. So makes sense, okay, yeah? And uh
and this this was all when polaroid cameras, which was
the type of camera that he was supposedly using. Um,
we're pretty new. I think that they were forty seven
or forty nine thereabouts. Um, and so so it was
(21:49):
like the whole the whole process was flashy and I
didn't intend either of those puns. But here we are, Um,
I'm happy to be here, herryh yeah yeah yeah. So
he would he would take two snaps. He would he
would leave one polaroid with the bar that that he
took him at for display, and then take the other
one to another bar somewhere else and be like isn't
(22:11):
this heck and great? Don't you want to be like this?
Bartender and they would be like oh yeah, um so
so yeah, okay, so that is that is the first story. Yes,
let us move on to claim too. It was not
invented by Jack Morgan, but instead of bartender at Cock
(22:33):
and Bowl named West Price. Also in Price's words, quote,
I just wanted to clean out the basement, he later claimed,
quote it caught on like wildfire. After he served it
to actor Broderick Crawford. He resigned from the bar in
N three, saying he was never appreciated or compensated for
(22:56):
his invention. Yes, that brings us to claim three. Yes,
a article in the New York Harold Tribune positive that
this drink was invented in Manhattan by the president of
Hoo Blinds Vodka division and president of the Pierre Smirnov Company,
Rudolph Kunitt. In this version, Kune, Morgan and Martin basically
(23:18):
did the same thing where they got tipsy um, tried
to solve each other's problems, and eventually arrived at the
Moscow mule. Here's a quote from that article. Martin and
Kunet had their minds on their vodka and wondered what
would happen if a two ounce shot joined with Morgan's
ginger beer and the squeeze of a line ice was ordered,
(23:38):
lives procured, mugs ushered in, and the concoction put together.
Cups were raised. The men counted five and down. With
the first taste, it was good. It lifted the spirit
to adventure. Four or five later the mixture was christened
to the Moscow Mule. And for a number of obvious reasons. Okay, okay,
(24:02):
so you know, hard to say which is true, but
there are some common dreads there. Yeah. The first own
recorded mentioned of the Moscow Mule appeared into in a
syndicated newspaper called Inside Hollywood. Quote, there is a new
drink that is a craze in the movie Colony. Now
(24:24):
it is called Moscow Mule recipe equal parts vodka, lime
juice and ginger beer with an exclamation point. So they
were excited about it. The records indicate it was being
served in the classic mug By at least nine. In
ninety eight, copper mugs were specifically mentioned, and Yeah, Woody
Allen featured in several ads from Moscow Mules or Smearnoff
(24:47):
mules as they were often called in the beginning in
the nineteen sixties, among other people that I think they
I hesitate to say celebrity because I didn't recognize them,
but I think you know, people knew who they were
at the time. Yes, I forgive you. I would forgive
any of us if we are not super up to
date on our nineteen sixties celebrities. Um. Also, I do
(25:11):
want to put in here I didn't I didn't give
like an exact recipe back at the top. But I
do not think that you should use equal parts vodka,
lime juice, and ginger beer in this drink. That sounds
like quite a bit of lime juice. It does maybe
like like two parts of vodka to three parts ginger beer,
and like a solid half to one part lime juice
(25:35):
is what you're probably going for, less less than one
I'm I'm guessing anyway. Who I just thinking about that
is that is like a that sounds like a smoothie
that I do not want. It would be very tangy,
that would be it would it would give you a
pucker um. But probably bartenders knew what was up and
(26:00):
we're using better proportions because the popularity of the Moscow
Mule was such that it like really bumped vodka sales
in the United States and probably is what primed the
market for the vodka martini craze that really took off
in the nineteen seventies. Oh um, and yeah, the Moscow
Mule may have been partially inspired by a similar drink
(26:22):
called the Mamie Taylor, named after the renowned opera singer.
It was popular during nineteen forty and was essentially the same,
only the liquor involved with Scotch instead of vodka. For
a time it was about as well known as the singer.
And then it just really from what I was reading,
people like, no one makes the same more. Yeah, I
think the I think the popularity of the Moscow Mule
(26:44):
really tanked it. Um. But but yeah, so so the
Mamie Taylor, which by the way, is spelled differently than
the Broadway singer spelled her name. But they didn't have
Google back then, I guess, so so anyway, Um, yes, yes,
the Maimie Taylor was originally called the Scotch Lassie as
(27:07):
discussed above, and originated in the South back in the
eighteen hundreds. So there you go, there you go, there
you go. Um. During the height of McCarthy is um
and the cold War. There was a conspiracy theory that
Smirnov was involved in some anti American movement and some
(27:28):
bars boycotted Smearnoff and therefore the Moscow and spearnof mule
because of it. Mhm mm hmm. In two who blinds
sold itself and Smearnoff to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company for one point for billion dollars, which is a
lot bigger amount than the fourteen thousand. Yes, there are
(27:50):
a number of zeros that are different between those two numbers.
The popularity of mules around or so um was such
that the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division of their of their
Health Department released this this notice that pure copper mugs
should not be used to serve acidic drinks, as copper
(28:11):
could leach into the drink and lead to copper poisoning.
But chemists came out with relieving notices that to to
leach like a dangerous amount of copper into a drink,
pure lime juice would have to be sitting in a
pure copper mug for a matter of hours. So so
you're probably fine. You're probably fine with your cocktail um.
(28:34):
Other sources, many of whom sell copper products simultaneously came
up with articles about how copper infusions are good for you. Um,
these are also basically false. Using using copper mugs probably
has neither any harm nor any benefit. What an emotional
(28:55):
roller coaster to us. Lord, Sorry, it's the but that's
that's how I felt going through the reading. I was like, oh, oh, okay,
nothing to panic about. Yeah, it's fine. It's like a
flat roller coaster. Yeah, yeah, dad, They're always whatever drives
(29:16):
clicks man, And anyway, anyway, a lot of copper mugs
are lined with different less leachy metals anyway, so it's
it's you're gonna be okay. Mm hmm, mhmm. That does
sound like a Speaking of sixties movies, that sounds kind
(29:37):
of to me like a a war film where the
murder it turns out like he left lime Judice and
La copper mug fifteen days. It's a big choice at
the end. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I guess yeah, just I mean,
(30:00):
don't don't do that. Just don't don't do that. Probably,
no good, no good. It is pretty impressive that the
they had to release a public health statement about it
because this drink was so popular. Wow, they were like,
we see what you're doing and it's bad. A lot
of ups and downs in this one twist and turns.
(30:24):
This this has been a true roller coaster of an episode.
It really has. But Alas, it's time to get off
of this roller coaster for now, for now. But we
do have some listener mail for you. We do, but
first we have one more quick break for word from
our sponsor, and we're back. Thank you sponsored, Yes, thank you,
(30:50):
And we're back with roller coaster. Yeah, obviously I think
we were on two different roller coasters. But I but
I think we were like waving at each other. From him,
that's like you're an old dueling dragons. Yeah, that's what
(31:10):
we were doing. Jeremiah wrote, I continue to really enjoy
listening to your show. I just had a couple of
thoughts about some recent episodes. First, Old Bay, it is
a next level popcorn seasoning. Oh yes, bones are damn delight. Third,
(31:31):
Laurence sexation over stupid marketing terms like bone broth or
something I resonate with deeply. I see. Last. My son
asked me the other day why there aren't more high
cus about donuts. My response was to start writing them.
M bring me my coffee. How about a donut too
while you were at it? Breakfast Deity one is never adequate.
(31:54):
I'll have three donuts, beautiful Brava. Yes, yes, snaps. Also yes,
your son is right. Why aren't there more? I'm glad
you are the hero we need right now? Yes, always
(32:14):
don't haiku uh uh, Jared wrote, I spent almost my
entire life up to age within the collective borders of
Idaho and Utah, considering the predominant religious culture in those
two states forbids alcohol consumption and looks side eyed at
caffeated beverages. Root Beer is a very popular choice of
(32:38):
pop outside of this region. Up until relatively recently, it
was a regular occurrence to go to a fast food
place and ask if they have root beer to hear
the most frustrating sentence a root beer connoisseur can hear,
we have Dr Pepper or something along those lines. Dr
Pepper is not root beer, It's carbonated prune juice. According
to my dad. Also, we learned how to brew root
(33:00):
beer much in the same way one might brew son t.
We used hires root beer concentrate a glass cider jug,
technically anything with a squirre on lid that wouldn't split
from the pressure works water and sugar. We mixed it
all up and set the jug outside to set in
the sun for a few hours. It was well known
in our extended family on my dad's side that his
mother made her root beer quite a bit stronger than
(33:22):
anyone else in the family. Once an older brother made
jokes along the lines of one was enough. Then you'd
run around for a bit, then get kind of sleepy.
You'd take a nap and wake up with a little headache,
But one more glass of Grandma's root beer, you'd feel
a little better. Having been given a beginner's home root
beer brewing kit, I was motivated to give it a
(33:42):
try someday. I fantasized about being able to develop my
own unique formula. Also, until you pointed it out in
the episode, I had never noticed the mint flavor in
root beer, But as soon as he said it, I
recalled my sense memory of all the root beer I've
drunk over the years and was able to retroactively notice
and appreciate the mintiness. I love this. I love hearing
(34:05):
from people making their own root beer. Yes, oh yes, oh,
and you know me too about the mint thing. Like
I had never really put it together. But then as
soon as I read it, I was like, oh, yeah,
that's absolutely a note in there. Weird, weird. I don't know,
like I guess, I guess it. It It all just blended
together in my head. It was just like roots, it's
made of roof stuff. It's not a route. Yes. I
(34:32):
also made this unfortunate mistake that you pointed out where
I asked Lauren if Dr Pepper was root beer. So
I've come a long way. I've come a long way.
You have, you have, We're gonna and we're gonna get
you some. We're gonna get you some soon. Yes, Yes,
in the meantime, Thanks to both of those listeners for
(34:54):
writing in. If you would like to write to us,
you can our emails hello at savorpod dot com. Are
also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook,
and Instagram at savor pod and we do hope to
hear from you. Savor is production of I Heart Radio.
For more podcasts to my heart Radio, you can visit
the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
listen to your favorite shows. Thanks as always to our
(35:16):
super producers Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. Thanks to you
for listening, and we hope that lots more good things
are coming your way.
Hello, and welcome to Savor Prediction. I Heart Radio. I'm
Annie Reese and I'm Lauren vogel Bom, and today we're
talking about the Moscow Mule. Yes, as always with these
Cocktail Hour episodes, drink responsibly, Yes, of course, and and
even outside of these episodes responsibly. I'm glad you're always
here to keep me honestly anytime. And it's been a
(00:31):
it's been a minute since we've done a cocktail Hour episode.
I think it has been Um. I was was inspired
to do this one because, um, I I went out
and had drinks with friends on a patio, what I know,
(00:53):
and it was so lovely, and one of them ordered
a Moscow mule, and I was like, it has been
a long time since we've done a cocktail Hour. Did
it come in the mug? It did not come in
the mug. Came in a regular old glass. Toss hands
up in the air. It's interesting because you suggested this
(01:17):
one after this lovely experience on a patio, and I
had just received a bunch of like old advertisements as
sometimes happens with our child. Oh right, right, yeah, yeah,
about moscow mules, like from the sixties. Oh yeah, But
By the way, if y'all hear any any purring or
(01:38):
jingle jangling in the background, Um, that is our third
co host for the day, Miss Trudy Peru. She is
a cat. She is orange cat. Um in the household
of my two cats, Gray cat and orange cat. And uh,
and she's she's just chilling and you know, I don't
feel like stopping her. So that's just what's happening today.
(01:58):
That's what's happening today. See. I don't know why, but
I keep thinking of the trouble with Trudy. I feel
like I don't know why the Star Trek thing is
in my head because I made another Star Trek reference
right before this. But that's all, it's all happening in
my brain. No, no, no, no, that that's I mean.
And Trudy is frequently a troublemaker, so I think this
(02:21):
is appropriate. I saw I got a good glimpse of
half of her face in front of the computer camera earlier,
and then I heard her laying on top of the recorder. Yeah, waite,
Lawrence pleased to go away? Where with more expletives involved,
they're they're usually more expletives involved when it comes to
(02:42):
these cats. Um, who I love dearly. Um, but Moscow mules. Yes,
but Moscow mules. I went through a really brief but
intense Moscow mule phase. I can't honestly say why. I
think I had one really good one at restaurant and
this was a thing and I haven't been drinking it.
(03:04):
And then after that they were all kind of I
mean not sub far maybe, but so far compared to
that one. Yeah. Um, so it was like a bright
star that burned out very quickly. Yeah, they can, they
can be a little bit cloying, um, if they're if
they're made with a with a less biting ginger beer.
But but we're getting a little bit ahead of ourselves. Um.
(03:24):
There are a bunch of related episodes though, um, and
I'm gonna be talking about them, uh pretty much incessantly
throughout the course of this of this episode, but um,
but yeah, you can see our lime episode from April
of our Ginger episode from November. Furthermore are Collins episode
(03:45):
from April and a hard look at soft drinks from
November of I had to think about how far away
that was when we were just a tiny little podcasting babies.
Oh so far we've come, and yet the puns are
still there. Nope, nope, not tired ourselves out yet, not yet,
(04:13):
an I doubt ever. All right, let's get to our question. Yes,
the Moscow Mule. What is it? Well, the Moscow Mule
is a straightforward cocktail made of vodka, ginger beer, and
lime juice, served on ice and typically with a lime
(04:34):
garnish in a copper mug. Uh. Okay, so let's let's
let's break that down a little bit. Yeah. Um, so,
vodka is a clear, mostly neutral tasting liquor with a
watery consistency. Um, it's got to burn on the palette
due to the alcohol content and maybe a little bit
of sweetness. Um, maybe some tiny bits of flavor in there,
(04:54):
but it's it's pretty nondescript overall. Um. And I looked
this up while while reading for this episode. M Alcohol
burns because it apparently lowers like the trigger point of
heat receptors in your mouth from somewhere around a hundred
and seven fahrenheit that's forty two celsius all the way
(05:15):
down to like ninety three fahrenheit or thirty four celsius, which,
if you're keeping track, is below your body temperature. So
for a few seconds while the alcohol is messing with
those heat receptors, your mouth is reporting that it's actually
on fire. Oh interesting, yeah, right, heck, it's the same
(05:39):
heat receptors that we talk about when we talk about capsasin.
So and meanwhile, uh, it feels warm alcohol in your
throat and stomach because it's dilating the blood vessels there.
Ah see, I'm glad you put this in here because
I didn't know that first of all. But secondly, way
back when we first started and Lauren you, I think
(06:01):
he probably lucked out that I never bought this cocktail
to D and D, but I had a flaming cocktail.
Oh and I had to learn like different points, different
alcohols that you could use to make this flaming cocktail safely.
And I just got kind of curious about it. Went
(06:21):
on a very many rabbit hole and then I was like, oh,
maybe one day we'll do an episode of this. Oh yeah, no,
definitely flaming flaming cocktails would be an interesting one. Um. Also, yes,
I I just any any you're very dear to me
and I the amount of accident prone that you are
makes me feel like probably flaming cocktails is not a
(06:44):
category that you should really pursue often or deeply. I
don't know what you mean. No, I think I had
a brief period. It worked out well for a minute,
and then I learned that even glasses that say they
are heat resistance and won't explode very well might goodness? Okay, well,
(07:10):
uh with my point. Thus, if not proven, at least
proven adjacent um, let's continue with our outline. UH. Ginger
beer is is a generally non alcoholic carbonated beverage made
(07:31):
with water, ginger root, and a sweetener of some kind.
It was traditionally brewed using friendly yeasts to create the carbonation,
but these days may be manufactured. UM ginger has has
that pungent, spicy sweet smell and taste. It also feels
warm on the palate um and it tastes kind of yeah,
citrusy and like peppery, maybe a little bit resinous or piney.
(07:54):
And carbonation in a beverage also brings in a type
of artificial heat. Carbon dioxide bubbles trigger um specialized nerve
cells in the nasal cavity, which are the same ones
that register the burn of like horse, radish and mustard.
It also tastes uh carbonated beverages taste a little bit
acidic or sour to us. Um. Lime is of course
(08:17):
a tart and slightly sweet and slightly bitter citrus fruit. Um.
The acid really pops on your tongue. So if you
mix vodka and ginger beer and lime together in a
copper mug or a plain old glass and then add
some cube and or a crushed ice, the result is
this cooling and warming, refreshing fizzy drink that really just
(08:40):
kicks your palate with heat and tartness um tempered by
sweetness and a hint of bitter. It's a really fun,
really simple drink and can be just like dangerously quaffable. Yeah,
I hadn't really thought about that. How much of those
kind of heat elements are in that one? Yeah, really
exciting for your your tongue in your mouth is yeah. Uh.
(09:02):
Subrecipes do add some simple syrup which is just fifty
fifty sugar and water melted together into a syrup. But
you know, your mileage may vary. And this isn't a
category of cocktails that was traditionally called a buck, which
is just the term for for any cocktail made primarily
of ginger ale or ginger beer mixed with a liquor
(09:22):
and a citrus juice. However, the popularity of the Moscow
mule in particular has made the term mule more common
these days than buck, and you can find all kinds
of variants on the mule called different cute things, like, um,
the Bohemian mule, which swaps out vodka for absinthe, or
the Gingin mule, which is ginger engin. Yeah, ginger, so cute. Um.
(09:48):
But what about the copper mug? What about it? Okay,
to be honest, I think the primary reason that this
cocktail is served in these shiny, burnished copper mugs is
that it's good marketing and they're pretty, you know, like
if you're in a bar and a server carries one by,
it's attention catching and like you want one, Like, what's
(10:09):
that cute thing? I want that cute thing? Bring me
one of those. Um. That being said, copper is is
neat in that it's a lot more heat conducive um
or conductive rather than than than glass. So it feels
really cold to the touch, Like when you touch it
pulls some of the heat from your fingertips um in
(10:30):
a way that glass does not. There is a lot
of marketing info out there about copper like enhancing flavors
or enhancing carbonation or reflecting light and thus staying cooler longer.
But I couldn't really find any solid science to back
all of that up, right, Yeah, I've definitely heard those
things before the light get in and therefore, yeah, I
(10:55):
think that in in for for like all practical results
at normal temperature, under normal drinking conditions, it's not making
that drastic of a difference. But but I don't know.
I'm not chemist or a physicist. I'm certainly not both. Well,
we'll never We'll never get to the bottom of this
(11:17):
copper mug mug al mule conundrum. Not at this rate. Well,
what about the nutrition. Drink responsibly, It depends. It depends
on the type of ginger beer or ginger ale or
if you add simple syrup like it can be relatively
light um in in in calories. But yeah, just just
(11:41):
about yourself. Drink drink of water to always hydrate, always hydrate.
We do have some numbers for you, we do. The
Moscow Mule has had its ups and downs, but it
is currently one of the most well known cocktails in
the world. From Mini placement of the Mosque a Mule
in the US rose about the drink made up seven
(12:05):
of all bar orders. Obviously that's not It would be
hard to get a read on all bars and all orders.
But this is what these surveys said. Yeah, yes, I
will say that. The New Orleans Festival and Trade Conference
Tales of the Cocktail named the Year of the Mule,
(12:30):
Year of the Mule. Yeah, I read Summer seen was
a really big year for it too. It was one
of the cocktails people were getting. Apparently, in a recent
episode of the Hulu show The Great, which is about
Katherine the Great of Russia, her lover Leo created the
drink in this show, and as Catherine was trying it,
(12:51):
she realized she was late to the cool meeting, so
she hopped on a mule to get there quickly. And
that's short of the name comes from fun. But yeah,
I'm not sure at all. Yeah, Well, it's not a
it's not a historically accurate show. That's not that's not
what they're going. It's a comedy. Yeah, yes, absolutely. A
lawyer apparently ordered Moscow mule at during lunch in the
(13:16):
TV show Better Call Song Cool Cool. Well, I haven't
seen that episode, but I feel like that that's trying
to communicate a lot but future a different type of
research later dates. UM, we do have some history for you.
(13:37):
We do, but first we've got a quick break for
a word from our sponsor and we're back. Thank you sponsor, Yes,
thank you. Uh So the way that all of these
ingredients for the Moscow Mule got to Los Angeles, which
(14:00):
is probably where the Moscow Mule was basically invented. Um.
All of these can be and in some cases already
are different episodes. Um. Uh. For example, as we discussed
in our coluns and gin and Tonic episodes, and probably
other cocktail hours that I'm forgetting about. UM. Lime was
(14:23):
a common ingredient in early cocktails, basically thanks to scurvy
because during the air of colonization, sailors and other folks
warded off scurvy with citrus and it got mixed into
these curative drinks, along with liquors and other medicinal stuff like,
for example, quinine and ginger, which can be and has
certainly been used as a digestive aid. Ginger beer developed
(14:46):
in European cultures around the seventeen hundreds with the British
control of Caribbean, where a lot of ginger was grown.
Carbonated beverages were also generally thought to be healthful. Soda
fountains originally developed in the eighteen hundreds alongside pharmacies as
a method of dispensing medications and UH. This eventually by
the end of the eighteen hundreds led to the creation
(15:08):
of all kinds of cocktails, both alcoholic and non um
from soda jerks and bar tenders and other interested parties,
like the Collins, which is a sparkling lemonade spiked with liquor,
or the Horse's Neck, which was originally just a non
alcoholic ginger beer or ginger ale and a long strip
of lemon peel um. Today it does contain liquor as well.
(15:31):
If you ordered a Horse's Neck expecting a non alcoholic drink,
that's probably not what you would receive. Um, But from
that horse's neck variations arose, like the Scotch Lassie, which
is made from whiskey, lime juice and ginger beer. Yes,
which right is basically a Moscow mule minus the vodka.
(15:54):
Uh vodka different episode definitely um oh my heck yeah no.
Originated somewhere in Eastern Europe and says or thereabouts made
its way to the United States via France after World
War Two. Um oh an ice ice another episode tie in? Yeah,
(16:14):
because by the middle of the twentieth century, UM, the
technology necessary to freeze water cheaply and easily had become
pretty widely available in the United States. Um. You can
see our ice episode for lots more on that. But
so we have all these ingredients and historical predecessors. But
how did the Moscow Mule itself come together? There's a
(16:39):
kick in the aspun here that I'm sure has been made.
Always always got to have those pun wheels turning. Oh oh,
I would expect nothing less. Yes, um, so, yes, this
is another cocktail our, another episode full of computing origin
(16:59):
story for a drink that's probably been around basically for
longer than any of these claims. Yeah, yes, but okay,
claim one. The Moscow Mule was invented in or at
least by ninety one by John G. Martin of J. F.
HU Blind and Brothers, which was a company that imported
food and spirits and reportedly made a one pop star
(17:22):
in the United States along with John Jack Morrigan. No,
not that one. UM owner of the l a British
pub Cock and Bull. Towards the end of the nineteen
thirties that Morrigan purchased the rights to Smirnov of vodka
for who Blind Um it had been on the verge
of bankruptcy. Smirnov had after the Russian Revolution and moving
(17:45):
to America. Um and and so it was moved to
America and Hu Blind purchased it for fourteen thousand dollars. However,
he had a problem. Americans are pretty wary of drinking vodka. Um,
it wasn't really something people drank in the US at
the time. Simultaneously, he had ordered way too much of
(18:08):
ginger beer and he was looking to use it up.
Or possibly this was Morgan's own brand of ginger beer.
There's a lot of confusion even within each confusing Yes, yes,
sound was like, wait a minute to try to follow
up all these loose ends and never was elucidated to me. Yeah,
(18:29):
the stories are slippery, They are quite slippery. And further, allegedly,
Morgan's then girlfriend, Astoline Schmidt owned a company that made
copper mugs, which is where the copper mugs came in.
Or maybe not um or maybe it wasn't his girlfriend,
even if that is true at all. All right, so
(18:49):
this seems so largely come from the Moscow Copper website,
which is a business. So grain of Salt, But the
story goes Lustie. A woman named Sophie bear Zinski traveled
to the US with two thousand copper mugs. Her father
owned the Moscow Copper Company, and she had created the
design for this mug that we all associate with the
(19:11):
Moscow Mule. Again according to the company website, However, they
were having trouble selling these mugs and Russia. Sophie made
the journey to the US with the mugs in an
attempt to sell them. In the site's version of the story,
Sophie's husband threatened to throw them out if she didn't
get them out of the house, like they were just
cluttering up the house, these two thousand mugs. And he
(19:34):
was like, I don't care what you do, just just
get him out exactly. And she didn't want to see
her products at a way, so she went from door
to door in Hollywood trying to find a buyer for them.
Eventually she ended up at the Cock and Bull Bar
on Sunset Boulevard. In this version of the tale, Martin
was still struggling to sell Smyrnoff. Morgan was still struggling
(19:56):
to sell his ginger beer. Sophie was struggling to sell
her bugs. And the story gets even murkier here. It
sort of hops to them all working together to craft
a drink that would solve all their problems. It sort
of felt like she stumbled in and the two dudes
had been like commiserating over a drink perhaps of what
can we do to solve our problems? And then I
(20:19):
don't know, that was just a vibe by guy. So
they ideated and experimented, eventually arriving at the Moscow Mule,
a mixture of Spear and Off vodka Morgan's ginger beer
contained in Sophie's copper mugs with a squeeze of lemon
and ice. The name came soon after, either because of
Sophie or because the vodka was from Russia, while the
(20:43):
ginger beer gave it a kick like a mule. Again,
this is all this kind of pearsay, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Morgan allegedly called the whole process, however, happened as quote
shoving toward inventive genius alternate version. The cup was a
(21:06):
marketing attempt by Martin to show off the smearing off.
He would take them to bars to try to sell
the vodka and take two pictures of bartenders holding both items,
leaving one of the pictures with them to display. And
this marketing poy, if it's true, seems to have worked
also cementing the copper mug as the popper cup for
(21:27):
the drink. The Cock and Bull served beer and copper
mugs as well. So makes sense, okay, yeah? And uh
and this this was all when polaroid cameras, which was
the type of camera that he was supposedly using. Um,
we're pretty new. I think that they were forty seven
or forty nine thereabouts. Um, and so so it was
(21:49):
like the whole the whole process was flashy and I
didn't intend either of those puns. But here we are, Um,
I'm happy to be here, herryh yeah yeah yeah. So
he would he would take two snaps. He would he
would leave one polaroid with the bar that that he
took him at for display, and then take the other
one to another bar somewhere else and be like isn't
(22:11):
this heck and great? Don't you want to be like this?
Bartender and they would be like oh yeah, um so
so yeah, okay, so that is that is the first story. Yes,
let us move on to claim too. It was not
invented by Jack Morgan, but instead of bartender at Cock
(22:33):
and Bowl named West Price. Also in Price's words, quote,
I just wanted to clean out the basement, he later claimed,
quote it caught on like wildfire. After he served it
to actor Broderick Crawford. He resigned from the bar in
N three, saying he was never appreciated or compensated for
(22:56):
his invention. Yes, that brings us to claim three. Yes,
a article in the New York Harold Tribune positive that
this drink was invented in Manhattan by the president of
Hoo Blinds Vodka division and president of the Pierre Smirnov Company,
Rudolph Kunitt. In this version, Kune, Morgan and Martin basically
(23:18):
did the same thing where they got tipsy um, tried
to solve each other's problems, and eventually arrived at the
Moscow mule. Here's a quote from that article. Martin and
Kunet had their minds on their vodka and wondered what
would happen if a two ounce shot joined with Morgan's
ginger beer and the squeeze of a line ice was ordered,
(23:38):
lives procured, mugs ushered in, and the concoction put together.
Cups were raised. The men counted five and down. With
the first taste, it was good. It lifted the spirit
to adventure. Four or five later the mixture was christened
to the Moscow Mule. And for a number of obvious reasons. Okay, okay,
(24:02):
so you know, hard to say which is true, but
there are some common dreads there. Yeah. The first own
recorded mentioned of the Moscow Mule appeared into in a
syndicated newspaper called Inside Hollywood. Quote, there is a new
drink that is a craze in the movie Colony. Now
(24:24):
it is called Moscow Mule recipe equal parts vodka, lime
juice and ginger beer with an exclamation point. So they
were excited about it. The records indicate it was being
served in the classic mug By at least nine. In
ninety eight, copper mugs were specifically mentioned, and Yeah, Woody
Allen featured in several ads from Moscow Mules or Smearnoff
(24:47):
mules as they were often called in the beginning in
the nineteen sixties, among other people that I think they
I hesitate to say celebrity because I didn't recognize them,
but I think you know, people knew who they were
at the time. Yes, I forgive you. I would forgive
any of us if we are not super up to
date on our nineteen sixties celebrities. Um. Also, I do
(25:11):
want to put in here I didn't I didn't give
like an exact recipe back at the top. But I
do not think that you should use equal parts vodka,
lime juice, and ginger beer in this drink. That sounds
like quite a bit of lime juice. It does maybe
like like two parts of vodka to three parts ginger beer,
and like a solid half to one part lime juice
(25:35):
is what you're probably going for, less less than one
I'm I'm guessing anyway. Who I just thinking about that
is that is like a that sounds like a smoothie
that I do not want. It would be very tangy,
that would be it would it would give you a
pucker um. But probably bartenders knew what was up and
(26:00):
we're using better proportions because the popularity of the Moscow
Mule was such that it like really bumped vodka sales
in the United States and probably is what primed the
market for the vodka martini craze that really took off
in the nineteen seventies. Oh um, and yeah, the Moscow
Mule may have been partially inspired by a similar drink
(26:22):
called the Mamie Taylor, named after the renowned opera singer.
It was popular during nineteen forty and was essentially the same,
only the liquor involved with Scotch instead of vodka. For
a time it was about as well known as the singer.
And then it just really from what I was reading,
people like, no one makes the same more. Yeah, I
think the I think the popularity of the Moscow Mule
(26:44):
really tanked it. Um. But but yeah, so so the
Mamie Taylor, which by the way, is spelled differently than
the Broadway singer spelled her name. But they didn't have
Google back then, I guess, so so anyway, Um, yes, yes,
the Maimie Taylor was originally called the Scotch Lassie as
(27:07):
discussed above, and originated in the South back in the
eighteen hundreds. So there you go, there you go, there
you go. Um. During the height of McCarthy is um
and the cold War. There was a conspiracy theory that
Smirnov was involved in some anti American movement and some
(27:28):
bars boycotted Smearnoff and therefore the Moscow and spearnof mule
because of it. Mhm mm hmm. In two who blinds
sold itself and Smearnoff to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company for one point for billion dollars, which is a
lot bigger amount than the fourteen thousand. Yes, there are
(27:50):
a number of zeros that are different between those two numbers.
The popularity of mules around or so um was such
that the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division of their of their
Health Department released this this notice that pure copper mugs
should not be used to serve acidic drinks, as copper
(28:11):
could leach into the drink and lead to copper poisoning.
But chemists came out with relieving notices that to to
leach like a dangerous amount of copper into a drink,
pure lime juice would have to be sitting in a
pure copper mug for a matter of hours. So so
you're probably fine. You're probably fine with your cocktail um.
(28:34):
Other sources, many of whom sell copper products simultaneously came
up with articles about how copper infusions are good for you. Um,
these are also basically false. Using using copper mugs probably
has neither any harm nor any benefit. What an emotional
(28:55):
roller coaster to us. Lord, Sorry, it's the but that's
that's how I felt going through the reading. I was like, oh, oh, okay,
nothing to panic about. Yeah, it's fine. It's like a
flat roller coaster. Yeah, yeah, dad, They're always whatever drives
(29:16):
clicks man, And anyway, anyway, a lot of copper mugs
are lined with different less leachy metals anyway, so it's
it's you're gonna be okay. Mm hmm, mhmm. That does
sound like a Speaking of sixties movies, that sounds kind
(29:37):
of to me like a a war film where the
murder it turns out like he left lime Judice and
La copper mug fifteen days. It's a big choice at
the end. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I guess yeah, just I mean,
(30:00):
don't don't do that. Just don't don't do that. Probably,
no good, no good. It is pretty impressive that the
they had to release a public health statement about it
because this drink was so popular. Wow, they were like,
we see what you're doing and it's bad. A lot
of ups and downs in this one twist and turns.
(30:24):
This this has been a true roller coaster of an episode.
It really has. But Alas, it's time to get off
of this roller coaster for now, for now. But we
do have some listener mail for you. We do, but
first we have one more quick break for word from
our sponsor, and we're back. Thank you sponsored, Yes, thank you,
(30:50):
And we're back with roller coaster. Yeah, obviously I think
we were on two different roller coasters. But I but
I think we were like waving at each other. From him,
that's like you're an old dueling dragons. Yeah, that's what
(31:10):
we were doing. Jeremiah wrote, I continue to really enjoy
listening to your show. I just had a couple of
thoughts about some recent episodes. First, Old Bay, it is
a next level popcorn seasoning. Oh yes, bones are damn delight. Third,
(31:31):
Laurence sexation over stupid marketing terms like bone broth or
something I resonate with deeply. I see. Last. My son
asked me the other day why there aren't more high
cus about donuts. My response was to start writing them.
M bring me my coffee. How about a donut too
while you were at it? Breakfast Deity one is never adequate.
(31:54):
I'll have three donuts, beautiful Brava. Yes, yes, snaps. Also yes,
your son is right. Why aren't there more? I'm glad
you are the hero we need right now? Yes, always
(32:14):
don't haiku uh uh, Jared wrote, I spent almost my
entire life up to age within the collective borders of
Idaho and Utah, considering the predominant religious culture in those
two states forbids alcohol consumption and looks side eyed at
caffeated beverages. Root Beer is a very popular choice of
(32:38):
pop outside of this region. Up until relatively recently, it
was a regular occurrence to go to a fast food
place and ask if they have root beer to hear
the most frustrating sentence a root beer connoisseur can hear,
we have Dr Pepper or something along those lines. Dr
Pepper is not root beer, It's carbonated prune juice. According
to my dad. Also, we learned how to brew root
(33:00):
beer much in the same way one might brew son t.
We used hires root beer concentrate a glass cider jug,
technically anything with a squirre on lid that wouldn't split
from the pressure works water and sugar. We mixed it
all up and set the jug outside to set in
the sun for a few hours. It was well known
in our extended family on my dad's side that his
mother made her root beer quite a bit stronger than
(33:22):
anyone else in the family. Once an older brother made
jokes along the lines of one was enough. Then you'd
run around for a bit, then get kind of sleepy.
You'd take a nap and wake up with a little headache,
But one more glass of Grandma's root beer, you'd feel
a little better. Having been given a beginner's home root
beer brewing kit, I was motivated to give it a
(33:42):
try someday. I fantasized about being able to develop my
own unique formula. Also, until you pointed it out in
the episode, I had never noticed the mint flavor in
root beer, But as soon as he said it, I
recalled my sense memory of all the root beer I've
drunk over the years and was able to retroactively notice
and appreciate the mintiness. I love this. I love hearing
(34:05):
from people making their own root beer. Yes, oh yes, oh,
and you know me too about the mint thing. Like
I had never really put it together. But then as
soon as I read it, I was like, oh, yeah,
that's absolutely a note in there. Weird, weird. I don't know,
like I guess, I guess it. It It all just blended
together in my head. It was just like roots, it's
made of roof stuff. It's not a route. Yes. I
(34:32):
also made this unfortunate mistake that you pointed out where
I asked Lauren if Dr Pepper was root beer. So
I've come a long way. I've come a long way.
You have, you have, We're gonna and we're gonna get
you some. We're gonna get you some soon. Yes, Yes,
in the meantime, Thanks to both of those listeners for
(34:54):
writing in. If you would like to write to us,
you can our emails hello at savorpod dot com. Are
also on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook,
and Instagram at savor pod and we do hope to
hear from you. Savor is production of I Heart Radio.
For more podcasts to my heart Radio, you can visit
the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
listen to your favorite shows. Thanks as always to our
(35:16):
super producers Dylan Fagan and Andrew Howard. Thanks to you
for listening, and we hope that lots more good things
are coming your way.
Savor News
Hosts And Creators
Anney Reese
Lauren Vogelbaum
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