Shikoku Mule (Yuzu Moscow Mule)

This Shikoku Mule is a creation based on the popular Moscow Mule cocktail.  It’s technically a Yuzu Moscow Mule but I also used Japanese shochu instead of vodka to make this new refreshing cocktail drink.

While I used Japanese ingredients to make this recipe, I didn’t simply want to name this “Japan Mule” (which just sounds odd) or something meaningless like “Tokyo Mule” just because that’s the city in Japan that everyone knows. I named this Shikoku Mule because Shikoku in Japan is where yuzu is predominately produced.

What is yuzu?

Yuzu is a citrus fruit that can be explained as “not quite a lemon, not quite a tangerine” but the flavor of it has been described as “a cross between a grapefruit and a lime.”  It’s very fragrant and has an elegant tart flavor that yuzu can be found in many cooking ingredients as well as in beauty and bath products. 

Where in Japan is Shikoku?

Shikoku is smallest of the four major islands of Japan. The name directly translates as “four countries” and true to its name, the island is made up of four prefectures.  Just so that you have a better idea of where Shikoku is, here is the map:

Shikoku, incidentally, is also a Japanese breed of dogs, a lesser known cousin to Akita or Shiba Inu.  That’s not why I named this drink Shikoku although, now that I’m thinking about it, I also made a Salty Shiba cocktail drink recently.  Hmm…I see a trend.  But there’s nothing wrong with combining my two favorite things: dogs and cocktails!

What is Shochu?

Shochu (pronounced show-chew) that I used as the base alcohol for this cocktail, is a Japanese alcoholic beverage distilled typically from sweet potatoes, barley, buckwheat, brown sugar or rice.  Shochu works great for this recipe since, unlike vodka, it doesn’t overpower the flavors of other ingredients in the drink.  So that you can enjoy the natural, vibrant flavors of yuzu and ginger beer.

Related article: Lean all the basics about Japanese shochu

Ginger beer

So, what exactly is ginger beer?  It’s a carbonated drink, with spicy ginger flavor, that is usually non-alcoholic. 

Since also I found alcoholic ginger beer, I made them two different ways – one using alcoholic ginger beer Wild Ginger and another one using the non-alcoholic version, Fever-Tree Premium Ginger Beer. They are equally refreshing.  The alcoholic version just has a little more boost.   

Shikoku Mule (Yuzu Moscow Mule) Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 oz yuzu juice or yuzu syrup
• 1 oz shochu
• 4 oz ginger beer

Glass:
Copper mule mug or old-fashioned

Garnish:
One or a combination of:

• Lime wedge
• Lemon wedge
• Lemongrass

Instructions:

• Fill a glass with ice cubes.
• Add shochu and yuzu juice.
• Fill the glass to the top with ginger beer.
• Gently mix, garnish and serve.

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