History On The Rocks is Goya’s summer cocktail series in partnership with Smitha Menon. Here, we explore the often-unknown origin story behind our favourite classic cocktails. We will also be bringing you a modern take on the classic, from some of our favourite bars in the country. This week, the Moscow Mule.

Vodka, ginger beer and lime: three simple ingredients that come together to make the internationally recognised cocktail, the Moscow Mule. But its origins are far more unassuming than its global fame would have you believe.

In 1941, it was birthed as part of a guerrilla marketing campaign by a fledgling vodka company. The company in questions? Smirnoff. At the time, John Martin was in possession of the floundering Smirnoff Vodka distillery — America had no interest in vodka and sales were down. His friend, Jack Morgan was in a similar bind; the owner of Cock ‘n Bull ginger beer was trying to introduce America to the fizzy drink. While discussing a possible future, they bumped into Sophie Berezinski who had immigrated to the United States from Russia carrying solid copper mugs made by her father in their factory in Russia. The union of the three turned out to be fortuitous, and led to a the creation of the drink, the Moscow Mule. It had vodka, the fizziness of ginger beer, and the cooling properties of copper.

Another story has it that in Cock ‘n Bull in Hollywood, bartender Wes Price, created the drink to get rid of excess vodka and ginger beer in the basement.

Whatever the origin story, the Moscow Mule has endured through time.

Pune’s high-energy cocktail bar, Cobbler & Crew, does experimental and bold drinks. Their take on the Moscow Mule has a deliciously spicy finish.